Class of 2024 Varsity Standouts of Tampa Bay

Brittany Behensky

October 4, 2020 @ 08:29 PM

For a volleyball player, to be on your school's Varsity team is a high accomplishment. To be on the Varsity team as a Freshman is an even higher accomplishment. For perspective, some of the schools on this list are in the top 10 in the state and top 100 in the country, and most of these schools had more than 75 girls try out for the team. It is easy to say that these five girls are already impressing coaches and will continue to stand out over the next four years.   Zoe Vanputten - 5’8” - MH, OH - Sunlake High School <img class=" wp-image-111159 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/IMG-0554-256x300.jpg" alt="" width="141" height="166" />Zoe Vanputten joined Sunlake’s varsity team this season as a freshman. Although she has not played in many sets yet, her rising stardom is apparent during practice. Sunlake’s team is packed with powerhouse hitters, and as they graduate, Zoe is there to fill in the gaps. Her talent is already impressing the coaches that have seen her play. Without a doubt, she is a player to keep an eye on in the coming years.     Kennedy Coakley - 6’0” - OH, RS - Steinbrenner High School Kennedy Coakley is an impressive volleyball player that has joined Steinbrenner’s Varsity Volleyball team this season as only a freshman. Not only is she a talented indoor volleyball player, but also a high-ranking beach player as well. She has played in 31 sets this season with a total of 65 kills and countless block touches. Her height and training on the sand make her a dynamic player with big swings and bigger blocks on the right side. Even as a freshman, she is an asset to one of the best teams in the state of Florida.   Lorelei Church - 6’1” - MH, OPP - Carrollwood Day High School - Class of 2025 Lorelei Church first joined Carrollwood Day High School’s Varsity Volleyball team as a seventh-grader in 2019-20. Despite being extremely young, she dominates the net with her outstanding blocks and powerful swings on the right side. Using her height and athleticism she makes extremely smart plays that frustrate veteran opponents. As Lorelei continues to grow as a player, she is sure to be a dangerous opponent in the coming years.   Taylor Parks - 5’7” - S - Calvary Christian School Taylor Parks is the starting setter for the Calvary Christian High School’s Varsity Volleyball team. Although she is only a freshman, she is single-handedly running the offense of a powerhouse team. So far this season, Taylor has played in 60 sets and accumulated 620 assists, 181 digs, and 35 kills. These are impressive stats for a freshman, but more impressive is her ability to be a leader on the court and coordinate plays at such a young age.   Kristina Rhoden - 5’8” - OH - East Lake High School <img class=" wp-image-111156 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/IMG-0563-214x300.jpg" alt="" width="164" height="230" />Kristina Rhoden is a standout hitter on East Lake’s Varsity team this year. Being only a freshman on such a powerhouse team like East Lake is not easy. When Kristina does get her chance to shine in the front row, she takes this opportunity to go for the kill with big swings on outside hits. She is a fearless player; she doesn't hesitate or allow her inexperience, compared to the older players on the team, deter her from making big plays and taking chances on the court. Kristina has played in 28 sets this season so far and has scored 38 kills. There is no doubt that Kristina will continue to grow as a player and should definitely be on the list of girls to watch over the next few years.