Sage Hill’s Abbott Academy League MVP
Sage Hill School senior setter Maddy Abbott took home the Academy League girls’ volleyball MVP honor after lifting the program to its first outright league title, its second straight CIF Southern Section title, and its second straight CIF State Southern California Regional Division III runner-up finish.
Abbott is joined on the first team by Lightning senior outside hitters Kekai Whitford and Halland McKenna. The trio keyed Sage Hill’s incredible four-year run that included four section finals appearances.
The program won in Division 3AA this year, won in Division 3A last year, lost in Division 3A two years ago, and won in Division 4AA three years ago.
Sage Hill (25-4, 12-0 in league) lost to Saddleback Valley Christian in four sets in the CIF State Southern California Regional Division III finale.
Abbott, Whitford and McKenna are repeat first-team selections. McKenna, who’s bound for Stanford, has made the first team four times. Abbott, bound for Michigan, and Whitford, bound for Loyola Marymount, are both two-time first-team picks.
Abbott amassed 955 assists and 50 service aces.
Whitford totaled 315 kills, 422 digs and 72 aces. She had a .305 hitting percentage.
McKenna finished with 295 kills, 361 digs, 59 aces and a .325 hitting percentage.
Sage Hill sophomore middle blocker Jamie Dailey and sophomore libero Sahar Rohani are on the second team, while freshman outside hitter Jade Blevins received honorable mention.
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Craig, Harris Co-MVPs in PCL
Corona del Mar High senior Katie Craig and junior Jessie Harris shared the Pacific Coast League MVP award for leading the girls’ volleyball team to a league title and the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA playoffs.
Craig, an outside hitter, and Harris, a setter, opposite and outside hitter, are two of four players from CdM (25-6, 10-0 in league) to earn first-team all-league accolades. The other two are middle blocker Natalie Bruening and libero Payton Carter, both juniors.
The Sea Kings, who won their ninth straight league crown, lost in four sets to No. 4-seeded Mater Dei in the semifinals.
Craig, a two-time first-team selection, finished with 347 kills, 164 digs and 25 blocks. Sea Kings Coach Steve Astor said Craig is bound to Colorado State as a recruited walk-on player.
Harris totaled 274 kills, 438 assists, 152 digs and 20 blocks.
Bruening recorded 228 kills and 50 blocks, while Carter amassed 270 digs.
Paige Migliori, a senior setter, and Samantha Jones, a senior middle blocker, made the second team for CdM.
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Tars’ Yeager, Brown shine
Newport Harbor High senior libero Sammie Yeager and junior opposite Jaclyn Brown garnered first-team All-Sunset League girls’ volleyball honors.
Yeager and Brown helped the Sailors (14-14, 6-4 in league) place fourth in league and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA playoffs as an at-large team. Newport Harbor lost in three sets at No. 4-seeded Los Angeles Marymount in the first round.
Yeager finished with 420 digs and 17 service aces. She made the first team for the second straight year.
Brown produced 210 kills, a .250 hitting percentage and 23 blocks.
Newport Harbor junior outside hitter Remy Wilson and junior setter Ellie Hagadorn are second-team members.
Huntington Beach’s Rachel Hall was the Sunset League MVP.
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Three locals stand out in OCL
Costa Mesa High senior middle blocker Stephanie Willett and senior outside hitter Catherine Krikorian, as well as Estancia senior outside hitter Eliza Jason are first-team All-Orange Coast League recipients in girls’ volleyball.
Willett and Krikorian were vital to the Mustangs (10-12, 6-4 in league) finishing third in league and reaching the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA playoffs. Costa Mesa fell in three sets at La Cañada in the opening round.
Willett is a repeat first-team pick.
Jason helped Estancia (4-14, 3-7) place fifth in league.
Costa Mesa senior libero Karina Cruz and Estancia freshman setter Finley Garnett are on the second team.
Laguna Beach’s Sabrina Stillwell earned the Orange Coast League MVP award.