Introducing the Herald-Tribune 2024 All-Area Beach 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 and Kristen Benigni
Year: Juniors
School: Bradenton Christian
Highlights: The No. 1 pair for the Panthers, who finished 11-3 and reached the FHSAA Play-in No. 2 round.
Helena Hebda and Izzy Russell
Years: Hebda a senior, Russell a junior
School: Cardinal Mooney
Highlights: Hebda and Russell played No. 1 pairs for the Cougars, who reached the FHSAA State Playoffs. Hebda is a team captain and a standout defender, and Russell is a standout blocker, according to Coach Gretchen Hand.
Riley Greene and Katie Powers
Year: Juniors
School: Cardinal Mooney
Highlights: Greene and Powers played No. 2 pairs for the Cougars, who reached the FHSAA State Playoffs. Greene is a standout blocker, and Powers is a standout defender, according to Coach Gretchen Hand.
Kelsey Fisher and Kate Montesano
Year: Fisher a sophomore, Montesano a junior
School: Cardinal Mooney
Highlights: Fisher and Montesano played No. 3 pairs for the Cougars, who reached the FHSAA State Playoffs. Fisher is strong in both blocking and defending, and Montesano is a standout defender, according to Coach Gretchen Hand.
Layla Larrick and Charleston Hermann
Year: Larrisk a sophomore, Hermann a freshman
School: Cardinal Mooney
Highlights: Larrick and Hermann played No. 4 pairs for the Cougars, who reached the FHSAA State Playoffs. Larrick is strong in blocking and defending, and Hermann is a standout blocker, according to Coach Gretchen Hand.
JaLynn Gardner and Brighton Ferguson
Year: Gardner a senior, Ferguson a junior
School: Venice
Highlights: The No. 1 pair finished with a 14-2 record for a Venice team that finished 11-7 and reached the FHSAA Play-in No. 1 round.
HONORABLE MENTION
Jaliyah Elder / Courtney Parrish, Braden River
Zoe Kirby / Sydney Sparma, Cardinal Mooney
Elizabeth Burnette / Elizabeth Heidel, Manatee
Nevaeh Pryer / Bella Scott, North Port
Mai Nguyen / Ava Light, Palmetto
Tanner Snelling / Peyton Hayworth, Parrish Community
Lyla Bailey / Courtney Parrish, Riverview
Liza Collier / Sydney Mullen, Sarasota
Ashlynn Poznanski / Delaney Wagler, Sarasota Christian
Jayda Lanham / Hilary Hupp, Venice
COACH OF THE YEAR
Gretchen Hand
School: Cardinal Mooney
Highlights: Taking over as coach early in the season, Hand guided the Cougars to the FHSAA State Tournament as the No. 2 seed. Cardinal Mooney finished with a 19-3 record, losing in the first round of the state tournament.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Here is the Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2024 All-Area Beach Volleyball Team
