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Girls’ Volleyball: Quartet, coach collect All-CIF honors

(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)
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Sage Hill School junior outside hitter Kekai Whitford earned the CIF Southern Section Division 3A Player of the Year award, highlighting one of four Newport-Mesa girls’ volleyball players receiving All-CIF honors.

Whitford is on the Division 3A team with Sage Hill junior outside hitter Halland McKenna and junior setter Maddy Abbott, while Corona del Mar junior outside hitter Hayley Hodson made the Division 1AA team.

Sage Hill Coach Dan Thomassen was named the Division 3A Coach of the Year. He guided the Lightning (28-6, 11-1 in league) to a third straight section finals, winning twice during the span.

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Whitford, McKenna and Abbott helped Sage Hill claim a share of the Academy League title, win a CIF Southern Section Division 3A title, and reach its first CIF State Southern California Regional Division III finals.

Whitford, a two-time All-CIF pick, recorded 424 kills, 350 digs and 84 service aces. She was named the All-Academy League MVP.

McKenna, a two-time All-CIF pick, finished with 377 kills, 342 digs and 73 aces. She made the All-Academy League first team.

Abbott produced 920 assists and 70 aces. She was a first-team All-Academy League member.

Hodson, a two-time All-CIF pick, finished with 407 kills and a .356 hitting percentage. She averaged 5.2 kills per set.

Hodson, the All-Pacific Coast League MVP, helped the Sea Kings (25-6, 10-0 in league) win the Pacific Coast League title and qualify for the quarterfinals.

Los Alamitos’ Crissy Jones and Mater Dei’s Frankie Shebby shared the Division 1AA Player of the Year award.

— From staff reports

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