Unveiling the 2023-24 Volusia-Flagler All-Area Volleyball Team

The Volusia-Flagler area featured three top-100 teams and four top-120 teams in the state by the end of the 2023 season.

DeLand spent the year atop the local standings, breezing to a district trophy, a regional quarterfinals appearance in Class 7A and a final ranking of 49th in Florida. No. 95 Spruce Creek joined the Bulldogs in the regional bracket after finishing right behind them in the district tournament.

In Class 6A, New Smyrna Beach slotted 82nd and was a district runner-up. It also won the Five Star Conference tournament. Matanzas sat 120th in the state.

And then there was Pine Ridge at the 5A level. The Panthers, who ended up just outside of the state’s top 120 at No. 130, stayed alive longer than any other local team in the postseason. They claimed their fourth straight district title and advanced to the region semifinals.

All of those teams and more are represented on this list.

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The Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the athlete of the year nominees for girls volleyball. The winners will be announced during the live show on Monday, June 3, at the Ocean Center.

The show is presented with the support of Halifax Health.

During the live show, athletes of the year in 30 state-sanctioned sports will be honored. In addition, top teams, coaches and overall athletes will be honored as will a Courage Award winner. Nominated athletes who RSVP will receive a complimentary ticket to the event thanks to sponsors. Details on how additional tickets can be obtained will be available soon.

For more information about the show and to opt into email updates, visit its website and you can follow it on Facebook.

The Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. This year, one school from the area will win a $1,000 donation to its school’s athletic department through our School Spirit Contest. Details on how to vote for your school will be coming soon.

Without further ado, let’s meet the nominees.

Nominees

Taylor Fonseca, Spruce Creek: As a sophomore, Fonseca not only led her team but the area in digs and serve receptions. She finished with 565 digs and 563 serve receptions as the Hawks advanced to the regional playoffs.

Kaelyn Fredette-Huffman, New Smyrna Beach: The senior posted team highs in kills (227), aces (34) and serve receptions (445). She also accumulated 259 digs during the Barracudas’ run to the district championship match.

Erynn Gotsch, DeLand: The junior was a key component to the Bulldogs’ regional postseason appearance, racking up 208 kills, 80 digs and 40 blocks.

Alyssa Kornegay, New Smyrna Beach: In her final go-round of high school volleyball, Kornegay paced the area in assists — again. She tallied 796 and added 216 digs.

Mollie Martin, Seabreeze: Martin put down 283 kills to lead the area as a senior and compiled 235 serve receptions and 195 digs.

Rylan Miller, Matanzas: As a nationally touted libero prospect, the sophomore gathered team highs in digs (472) and aces (64). She had 297 serve receptions.

Ella Pringle, DeLand: The junior accounted for 191 kills, a team-leading 375 digs, 382 serve receptions and 31 aces as the Bulldogs qualified for the regional playoffs.

Lily Puritis, Flagler Palm Coast: The senior paced the Bulldogs with 266 kills while also picking up 304 serve receptions, 269 digs and 62 aces.

Aly Rosa, Pine Ridge: As a senior captain, Rosa served as an integral part of the region semifinalist Panthers. The outside hitter played her best when it counted most, leading the team with 19 kills in a regional quarterfinal win over River Ridge.

Sarah Randolph, Seabreeze: The senior finished with the most blocks (94) in the area and turned in 138 kills.

Grace Taylor, Matanzas: Just a freshman, Taylor wasted no time establishing herself among the area’s top setters, cruising to 769 assists, 203 digs and 43 aces.

Emma Van Deusen, DeLand: The senior rattled off 250 kills to lead the Bulldogs to a region quarterfinals appearance. She also recorded 184 serve receptions and 138 digs.

Other Athletes of Note

Alison Bierwagen, DeLand: Bierwagen played multiple roles for the regional quarterfinalist Bulldogs and ended her junior campaign with 360 assists, 206 digs, 68 kills and 38 aces (team high).

Ella Dietrich, Spruce Creek: The senior concluded her final high school season with a team-high 74 blocks in the middle. She also registered 134 kills.

Faith Dailey, Flagler Palm Coast: The sophomore setter served an area-leading 75 aces while handing out 502 assists and tacking on 176 digs.

Keri Petro, Matanzas: Another of the Pirates’ star underclassmen, Petro set a team high in kills with 265. The freshman also collected 356 serve receptions and 214 digs.

Senna Thayer, Matanzas: As a senior, Thayer piled up 217 kills, 218 digs and a team-leading 406 serve receptions.

Gabby Conway, Spruce Creek: The senior helped the Hawks crack the regional playoff bracket with a squad-leading 187 kills along with 358 digs and 320 serve receptions.

Taylor Timko, Father Lopez: Timko remained among the area’s elite hitters during her senior year. Her numbers included team-high marks in kills (202) and aces (39), plus 136 serve receptions and 69 assists.

Elisa Stoltzfus, DeLand: The Bulldogs’ senior libero submitted a team-best 402 serve receptions and added 361 digs.

Megan Lee, New Smyrna Beach: In her first year as a Barracuda, the junior contributed 218 kills, 161 serve receptions and 140 digs.

Gracie Newell, New Smyrna Beach: The senior led the district runner-up Barracudas with 51 blocks and finished with 198 kills.

Ivy Westfall, New Smyrna Beach: The senior libero chipped in 284 serve receptions and 276 digs for the district runner-up Barracudas.

Mili Avila-Bauzo, Pine Ridge: The senior formed a dynamic duo with Rosa on the outside. Avila-Bauzo paced the Panthers in kills (17) during their district title match against Tavares and had 13 kills in their regional quarterfinal win over River Ridge.

Top Coach

Ruthie King, Pine Ridge: Though the Panthers had claimed three straight district titles before King’s arrival, they took it to another level in her first year. Pine Ridge improved its record from 10-8 in 2022 to 21-6 and won another district championship. It also secured its first regional postseason victory during its four-year district reign. The Panthers were the last Volusia-Flagler squad standing, advancing to the Region 2-5A semifinals.

Honorable Mention

DeLand: Deanna Disinger, Emily Lamb, Victoria Stoltzfus

Deltona: Morgan Noel, Kaitlyn Purtell

Father Lopez: Bergyn Baliton, Emma Dhainaut

First Baptist Christian: Sanigh Arneaud

Flagler Palm Coast: Marina Carlisi, Kenna Kirshy

Matanzas: Frankie Good

New Smyrna Beach: Bailey Jones, Quinn Kraljic, Libby Nickels

Pine Ridge: Karino Crespo, Lauren Powell, Kay Roman

Riverbend: Madison Ethridge

Seabreeze: Ava Brantley, Andie Litz, Lilli Litz

Spruce Creek: Rebecca Boone, Annabelle Gentry, Skylar Johnston, Marion Myers

Taylor: Jocelynn Aguirre, Lexi Frank, Dayamy Mancilla

University: Katie DeSousa, Keira Dickens, Cimber Jenkins

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia-Flagler All-Area: Meet the 2023-24 Volleyball Team