Meet the members of the Daily News Girls Volleyball All-Star team for fall 2023

Local athletes made names for themselves with star-studded performances and trophy-towing moments this past fall.

After combing over statistics and results, and with the guidance of local athletic directors and coaches, we at the Daily News selected All-Stars for girls volleyball, golf, field hockey, boys and girls cross-country, boys and girls soccer and football.

Although the sports and skill sets may vary, there’s no denying that this group put up otherworldly numbers this fall while helping their respective teams find success – whether that be on the course, field or in the gymnasium.

Without further ado, the Daily News presents its 2023 All-Stars for girls volleyball:

Quinn Anderson, Westborough

The 2022 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year followed it up with maybe an even better senior finale. She set a school record with 430 kills, which led the state. Anderson, bound for Stony Brook, added 191 digs and 63 aces. The four-time all-state selection won her third consecutive Midland Wachusett A MVP and is a two-time Central Mass. Player of the Year. Westborough also captured a second consecutive Division 2 state championship. "She is a humble leader who elevates those around her while holding herself to the highest standards," Westborough coach Roger Anderson said. "She has been the go to player in many moments this year, and while every opponent plans to stop her, she still is tremendously effective." Quinn Anderson will take up outdoor track in the spring and enjoys reading, puzzling and singing.

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Adriana Aquino, Hopkinton

The junior was named to the Division 2 all-state team and led the Hillers to the Round of 16. She put down 232 kills - third in the Tri-Valley League. That included 14 games with double-digit kills and two where she hit 20. Aquino added 163 digs, 60 aces and 16 blocks. She powered Hopkinton's 8-game winning streak during the season. "Adriana is a strong hitter and defensive player who plays all of the way around for us. She is the offensive player that most opponents plan their defense around," Hopkinton coach Emma Sweetapple said. Aquino started her career as a libero in Virginia before moving to Hopkinton after her freshman year. She's also a libero for her club team CMass 17 Black. Her time not playing volleyball is spent watching the sport or volunteering at youth clinics. She'd like to study sports medicine in college and "break the glass ceiling in sports medicine where women are still under-represented."

Leah Austin, Natick

The middle blocker is a Bay State Conference all-star and two-year captain. Her 118 kills, 76 aces and 56 blocks helped the Redhawks reach the Division 1 Round of 16 as a senior. "Leah was our MVP all season, she was our best player on and off the court. She is a natural leader," Natick coach Robert Harless said. "Leah was amazing all season. She led the team in serving and blocking, and as a MB she was our go to player when we needed it." Austin also participates in unified track at Natick. She'll study business at Fairfield University next year.

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Vanessa DeSimone, Holllison

The Panthers' libero was named a TVL All-Star en route to a Division 3 state quarterfinal berth. She had 381 digs with 42 assists and 32 aces. DeSimone also managed 24 kills. She passed 1,000 career digs against Chicopee in the opening round of the state tournament and has 1,022 in her career. "Vanessa is a perfect combination of strength and grace, on and off the court," Panthers coach Bob Scumaci said. "She strives to work her hardest every day and that work ethic casts a large shadow over the team." She's a Kenpo karate black belt and has played softball for 12 years. DeSimone is also fluent in French, earning a Seal of Biliteracy as a junior, and underwent a French exchange program as a junior.

Katelyn Julian, Nipmuc

The Warriors' all-time assists leader piled up 507 more in her senior season. Her career total sits at 1,518. Julian also had 112 digs and 84 aces, which led the Dual Valley Conference. Nipmuc started the season 17-0 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Division 3 tournament. "If you have a good setter, that's the foundation to everything, as far as I'm concerned," Nipmuc coach Brian Berard said this season. "She's got beautiful hands. She's very smart. That's one of the reasons why she's the captain because people do follow her and she's go one of the greatest serves in the league. Nothing, nothing scares her. She's fearless. We've been blessed."

Maiwenn Kamdje, Wellesley

The two-time Bay State Conference MVP was also named to the Division 1 All-State team. She put down 301 kills, a blistering rate of 4.6 per set. Her .358 hitting percentage ranked No. 2 in Division 1 and ninth in the state. The Tufts commit led the Raiders to the Division 1 Sweet 16 before they ran into top seed Newton North, which won its second straight title. She's a dedicated acapella singer and Psycology Club co leader.

Makayla Kuykendall, Franklin

The sophomore has been named a Hockomock all-star in each of her two varsity seasons. She had 197 kills and a team-high 351 digs and 74 aces. Kuykendall added 17 blocks, as the Panthers reached the Division 1 Final Four for the second time in three years. "Makayla Kuykendall is an extremely gifted player who wants to do their best for their team before themselves," Franklin coach Samantha Redmond said. "We are really excited to watch Makayla grow."

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Taylor Lacerda, Franklin

The four-year varsity starter was named a Hockomock All-Star in every season. She led the Panthers back to the Final Four. Lacerda contributed 240 kills, 303 digs and 42 aces as a senior. She capped her career with 773 kills, 1,031 digs and 151 aces,. "Her volleyball IQ is off the charts so she has been a fun player to watch and help develop. Taylor is one of the top performers in every category and for good reason, her work ethic is unmatched because she cares so much. Taylor is a strength that will be missed by Franklin Volleyball and a hard person to replace," Redmond said. She is the president of Students Against Destructive Decisions and the marketing officer for DECA. Lacerda also coaches with her club team and at The Adirondack Club.

Joyce Li, Lincoln-Sudbury

Despite battling an injury for most of the season, the junior still accumulated 213 assists, 156 digs and 77 kills in just 55 sets. She was named all-Dual County League, as the Warriors pulled an upset as the No. 24 seed to reach the D1 Sweet 16. "Joyce is one of the best all around players in the state, and showcased that despite grinding through injury this season," Lincoln-Sudbury coach Greg Falcone said. "She is an incredibly dynamic and versatile player with a high volleyball IQ."

Caroline Macaulay, Algonquin

The senior powered a record-setting season for the titans. She racked up 244 kills, 220 digs and 44 aces in leading Algonquin to its first Final Four. Macaulay closed her career with a career-high 20 kills, as the Titans pushed undefeated Canton to the brink in the state semifinals. She was named to the Division 2 all-state team. In Macaulay's career, she's accumulated 400 digs, 377 ills and 105 digs. She also plays ice hockey and the piano.

Mia Milani, Bellingham

The freshman stormed onto the scene leading the TVL in hitting percentage, aces and kills. She amassed a team-high 249 kills and 84 aces to go along with 162 digs and 10 blocks. In addition to a TVL All-Star, Milani was named to the Division 3/4/5 All-State team and to the MAVCA All-Tournament team for Division 4, as the Blackhawks reached their first state final. "She took the big swings all year in the most crucial moments," Bellingham coach Steve Mantegani said. Milani also competes for the Lockdown Volleyball Club's National 15U team.

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Addyson Moore, Westborough

The Division 2 All-Sate selection also is a two-time Mid Wach A All-Star. She pulled up 2017 digs with 45 aces in 2023. That gives her 494 digs and 143 aces in her career. "Addyson Moore is the backbone of our defense and her communication and coverage of the court are absolutely outstanding.  She also disrupts opponent offenses with the toughness of her serve," Roger Anderson said. "She is a tremendous teammate who makes those around her better."

Samantha Norman, Westborough

The junior setter led the state with 10.7 assists per set. Her 663 assists ranked eighth in Massachusetts. She also contributed 68 digs, 21 aces and 15 blocks en route to a Mid Wach A All-Star nod and the MAVCA Division 2 All-Tournament team. "Sam led our team to be the top offense in the state.  She was a servant leader on the court distributing the ball to her hitters so they could score the point," Roger Anderson said. "Sam worked relentlessly every single day to improve and it showed in the biggest moments." She also plays for the Central Mass Edge Volleyball Club and volunteers for the Westborough Senior Center and at a local food pantry.

Bella Rand, AMSA

She started all five years of her varsity career and amassed 1,374 career digs and 254 aces as an all-state libero and led AMSA to two Final Fours. Lacking experienced hitters, the Eagles moved Rand outside for her senior season. She swung through 198 kills with 57 aces and still pulled up 308 digs. "She was willing to play out of position to do what was best for the team," AMSA coach Joe Bengiovanni said.

Lauren Shurling, Hudson

Hudson volleyball won't ever be the same after Shurling. She won two straight Mid Wach B MVPs and was a three-year captain in her five varsity seasons. She put down 225 kills with 194 digs and 95 aces. The outside hitter is a three-time Mid Wach B all-star and made the all state team and Division 4 all-tournament team in leading Hudson to its first Final Four. "Lauren is a 6-rotation player, who brings positivity and leadership on the court," Hudson coach Bobbi-Jo Trodella said. "MVP she will be greatly missed by the Hudson program next year." Sree also plays basketball and volleyball and volunteers with her family at the Hudson Food Pantry.

Sophia Soto, Bellingham

The TVL Small MVP was also an all-state selection and a member of the Division 4 all-tournament team. She pulled up a TVL-high 331 digs and added 61 assists, 56 aces and even 26 kills. "Sophia is the motor that gets us running.  She is the key to our serve receive and our defense," Mantegani said. Soto also plays for the CMass Juniors club program. She wants to improve her photography skills and dreams of playing Division 1 volleyball.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MetroWest Girls Volleyball All-Stars: Meet the Fall 2023 team