Girls’ Volleyball: Sage Hill’s McKenna CIF Player of Year
Sage Hill School senior outside hitter Halland McKenna is the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA Player of the Year in girls’ volleyball, making her one of four local players earning All-CIF honors.
Sage Hill senior outside hitter Kekai Whitford and senior setter Maddy Abbott are on the Division 3AA team, while Corona del Mar senior outside hitter Katie Craig made it in Division 1AA.
Sage Hill’s Dan Thomassen is the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Thomassen guided Sage Hill to its first outright Academy League championship, including back-to-back CIF Southern Section titles for the first time, and a second straight trip to the CIF State Southern California Regional Division III final.
McKenna, Whitford and Abbott led Sage Hill (25-4, 12-0 in league) to four section finals appearances in as many years. Sage Hill defeated rival St. Margaret’s, 25-12, 26-28, 25-22, 25-16, for the Division 3AA title in November, giving the program three section championships in four seasons.
McKenna record 295 kills, 361 digs, 59 service aces and a .325 hitting percentage. McKenna, who’s bound for Stanford, is a three-time All-CIF pick and four-time All-Academy League pick.
Whitford, who made All-CIF for a third time, finished with 315 kills, 422 digs, 72 aces and a .305 hitting percentage. Whitford, a first-team All-Academy League selection headed for Loyola Marymount, was the CIF Southern Section Division 3A Player of the Year in 2013.
Abbott, a two-time All-CIF member, collected 955 assists and 50 aces. Abbott, who’s bound for Michigan, earned the Academy League MVP award.
Craig helped CdM claim its ninth consecutive Pacific Coast League title and reach the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA playoffs. The Sea Kings (25-6) lost to No. 4-seeded Mater Dei.
Craig, who shared Pacific Coast League MVP honors, totaled 347 kills, 164 digs and 25 blocks. She is going to Colorado State as a recruited walk-on player.
— From staff reports