Harrisburg sophomore standout Gabi Zachariasen named SD Gatorade volleyball player of the year
Jan. 18—HARRISBURG, S.D. — Harrisburg High School sophomore standout Gabi Zachariasen was named South Dakota's Gatorade volleyball player of the year, it was announced recently.
Zachariasen is only the second sophomore in the award's nearly 30-year history to be named South Dakota Gatorade state player of the year, joining Sioux Falls O'Gorman legend Bergen Reilly, who won the first of three consecutive honors in 2020 as a sophomore and is now starring at the University of Nebraska.
A 6-foot outside hitter helped the Tigers to a Class AA state championship, with 529 kills and a .442 kill percentage. Zachariasen, who was a first-team all-state selection in Class AA, added 238 digs, 31 blocks, 26 aces and 327 service receptions, posting a 91.3 serve-receive percentage. Her 529 kills is a Harrisburg single-season record.
"Gabi dominated in the state's high class this past season. In my opinion, no one in the state came close to her level in 2023," O'Gorman volleyball coach Cale Hecht said in a news release.
Zachariasen joins Harrisburg alumnae Sami Slaughter (2016) and Avery Thorson (2017) as past Gatorade player of the year winners for the Tigers.
