Introducing the Herald-Tribune 2023 All-Area Volleyball Team
At the end of each season, The Herald-Tribune selects All-Area teams honoring the best athletes for every sport. Coaches from Sarasota and Manatee county schools are sent nomination forms and are asked to nominate and rate their athletes as well as those from other teams. That data combined with The Herald-Tribune's research led to the selection of the All-Area teams.
FIRST TEAM
Faith Allen
School: Bradenton Christian
Year: Junior
Highlights: An outside hitter/defensive specialist, Allen finished with 268 kills, 267 digs, 23 aces, 13 blocks.
Jillian Davidson
School: Sarasota
Year: Senior
Highlights: A Herald-Tribune selection last year, Davidson, a middle hitter, finished with 168 kills, 127 blocks, including 84 solo blocks.
Jocelyn Diaz
School: Southeast
Year: Junior
Highlights: Diaz, a libero, finished with 35 aces and 254 digs to break the school record of 219 set in 2003.
Brighton Ferguson
School: Venice
Year: Junior
Highlights: A Herald-Tribune selection last year, Ferguson, a libero, finished with 348 digs for a Venice team that reached the regional final. She also had 392 serves received, 75 assists and 37 aces.
JaLynn Gardner
School: Venice
Year: Senior
Highlights: A Herald-Tribune selection last year as a member of Charlotte High, Gardner, a middle hitter, finished with 164 kills and 77 blocks for a Venice team that reached the regional final.
Riley Greene
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Year: Junior
Highlights: Greene, a middle hitter, finished with 284 kills, 77 blocks and 55 aces.
Helena Hebda
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Year: Senior
Highlights: A Herald-Tribune selection last year, Hebda, a setter, finished with 439 assists, 170 digs and 37 aces.
Hilary Hupp
School: Venice
Year: Senior
Highlights: Hupp, a middle hitter/outside hitter, finished with 129 kills and 72 blocks for a Venice team that reached the regional final. She also had 17 aces.
Summer Kohler
School: Venice
Year: Junior
Highlights: A Herald-Tribune selection last year, Kohler, a outside hitter/setter, finished with 363 kills. She served as a setter early in the season in the 6-2 offense for a Venice team that reached the regional final. Kohler also had 165 assists, 44 blocks and 40 aces.
Katie Powers
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Year: Junior
Highlights: A Herald-Tribune selection last year, Powers, a libero, finished with 397 digs, 62 assists and 32 aces.
Brynna Sands
School: Braden River
Year: Senior
Highlights: A Herald-Tribune selection last year, Sands, an outside hitter, finished with 327 digs, 211 kills, 29 blocks, 29 aces and 21 blocks.
Aryanna Spainhower
School: Braden River
Year: Senior
Highlights: Spainhower, an outside hitter, finished with 387 digs, 200 kills, 26 aces, 21 blocks and 11 assists.
SECOND TEAM
Annabelle Balser, Out-of-Door Academy
Riley Hinkle, Braden River
Jayda Lanham, Venice
Lauren Leach, Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Taylor Orris, Venice
Aubrie Roe, Sarasota
Izzy Russell, Cardinal Mooney Catholic
HONORABLE MENTION
Abby Backstrom, North Port
Keira Baldwin, Out-of-Door Academy
Ava Banks, Out-of-Door Academy
Ava Jade Broschart, North Port
Piper Carson, Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Amari Clark, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal
Ava Collins, Lakewood Ranch
Taryn Eddy, Lakewood Ranch
Tatiana Harker-Barnes, North Port
Krystal Hershberger, Sarasota Christian School
Zoe Kirby, Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Layla Larrich, Cardinal Mooney Catholic
Krystal Hershberger, Sarasota Christian School
Delaney Wagler, Sarasota Christian School
Jillian Zoerman, Bradenton Christian School
COACH OF THE YEAR
Brian Wheatley
School: Venice
Highlights: In his 30th season as coach, all at Venice, Wheatley guided his team to a 22-7 record. Playing the eighth toughest schedules in the state, Venice lost in the Class 7A-Region 3 final at eventual state champion Plant High. Venice finished ninth in the state in the MaxPreps rankings and the FHSAA power rankings.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Here is The Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2023 All-Area Volleyball Team
