Introducing the 2023 News-Press All-Area Volleyball Team
At the end of each season, The News-Press selects All-Area teams honoring the best athletes for every sport. Coaches from area schools are sent nomination forms and are asked to nominate and rank their athletes as well as those from other teams. That data combined with The News-Press' research led to the selection of the All-Area teams.
FIRST TEAM
Molly Dunn
School: Canterbury
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Dunn moved into a full-time setter role this year and was dominant, leading the team with 442 assists to help the Cougars finish 17-9 with a district championship.
Kerrigan Habing
School: Bishop Verot
Year: Senior
Highlights: Headed to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Habing was Verot's offense this year, posting 358 kills, a .320 hitting percentage, 4.4 kills per set, and a kill percentage of 44.6 percent. The senior added 150 digs, 57 aces, 20 blocks, and 390 serve receptions as the Vikings posted a 20-7 record.
Madison Hammermeister
School: Canterbury
Year: Senior
Highlights: The North Florida-bound outside hitter came through for the Cougars in big moments, finishing with 190 kills, a kill percentage of 39.7 percent, 21 aces, 36 blocks, and 99 digs to help Canterbury finish with a regional quarterfinal appearance in Class 3A-Region 3.
Aaliyah Harlow
School: Canterbury
Year: Junior
Highlights: Harlow makes the All-Area First Team for the first time after finishing with 364 digs, 32 aces, and 82 assists as libero for Canterbury. Harlow added a team-high 426 serve receptions as the Cougars won back-to-back district titles.
Sofia King
School: Estero
Year: Junior
Highlights: The Mercer commit played a key role in Estero's 19-11 finish, leading the way with 526 assists as the setter. King added 77 kills, 37 aces, 139 digs, and 28 blocks to help the Wildcats win back-to-back district championships.
Gia Rosencrans
School: Estero
Year: Senior
Highlights: The middle blocker makes her debut on First Team after a senior season with 197 kills, a .389 hitting percentage, and a kill percentage of 49.5 percent. Rosencrans added a team-high 61 blocks and 11 aces to help Estero get to the Class 4A-Region 3 championship game.
Brighten Sedmack
School: Canterbury
Year: Junior
Highlights: Sedmack led the offensive charge for the Cougars, posting 233 kills and a team-high .268 hitting percentage. The junior added 148 digs, 48 blocks, and 13 aces for a Canterbury team that played the toughest schedule in Southwest Florida.
Olivia Znotens
School: Riverdale
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Znotens may only be a sophomore, but her 534 kills ranked third statewide this season. Adding 284 digs, 41 aces, and 27 blocks, Znotens makes First Team for the second consecutive year.
SECOND TEAM
Ashlynn Ban, Estero
Sidney Blackwood, Bishop Verot
Maddie Knaak, Bishop Verot
Emily Martinez, SFCA
Marissa Peck, Bishop Verot
Addison Piatt, Canterbury
Jules Schwartz, Bishop Verot
Ashlee Tenkley, Fort Myers
HONORABLE MENTION
Bishop Verot: Ella Portu, Delaney Shovelin
Bonita Springs: Kiara Kelley, Grace Thompson
Cape Coral: Mackenzie Hepola, Maria Higgins
Canterbury: Olivia Hoy, Charlotte Laquis
Cypress Lake: Evelynn Mufalli, Olivia Mufalli
Dunbar: Cynthia Mauvis, Myra Shields
East Lee County: Emily De Leon, Astrid Rodriguez
Estero: Katelyn Carroll, Sophie Perkins
Evangelical Christian: Ashlyn Anderson, Sydney Strom
Fort Myers: Brianna Gutierrez, Jessica McKee
Gateway: Lucy Engler, Rylee Taber
Gateway Charter: Maria Juantorena, Emily Salas
Ida Baker: Taylor Foster, Saige Thibodeaux
Island Coast: Aubrey Curry, Keala Millentree
LaBelle: Marissa Burchard, Bailey Smallwood
Lehigh: Alexah Martinez, Karina Rivera Santiago
Mariner: Micaela Barraza, Vanessa Moriarty
North Fort Myers: Presleigh Lucas, Hailey Painter
Oasis: Jordan Baksh, Mia Poskon
Riverdale: Jaylynn Campbell, Emily Grant
South Fort Myers: Jasmin Castaneda, Cailin Daugherty
SFCA: Elianna Darby, Bianka Noah
COACH OF THE YEAR
Charlie Castillo
School: Canterbury
Highlights: Castillo built a tough schedule, leading to a 17-9 finish with a district championship for the second straight season. The Cougars went 14-4 against area competition, making it to the Class 3A-Region 3 quarterfinals as Lee County's best team despite losing a handful of key pieces from last year's squad.
Follow Southwest Florida Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Meet the 2023 News-Press All-Area Volleyball Team
