The Top Freshman Girls Volleyball Players from Orange County
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This past girls volleyball season has had a lot of notable girls volleyball players, but there was freshman that stepped up for their teams to turn heads. These class of 2027 players made their teams better and took some of…
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Continue ReadingThis past girls volleyball season has had a lot of notable girls volleyball players, but there was freshman that stepped up for their teams to turn heads. These class of 2027 players made their teams better and took some of the pressure off the other players on their team.
Here are some of the top freshman girls volleyball players from Orange County:
Kingston was one of the reasons why the Monarchs won the CIF-SS Division 1 Championship and the CIF State Open Division Championship. She totaled 113 kills and 125 blocks, leading all freshman in the state of California in blocks. One of Kingston’s best matches might’ve come in the CIF SoCal Regional finals when Mater Dei played reigning state champion Cathedral Catholic of San Diego when she went toe-to-toe with Michigan-bound middle blocker Jenna Hanes Jenna Hanes 6’3″ | MB Cathedral Catholic | 2024 State #76 Nation CA . Mater Dei head coach Dan O’Dell said Kingston not only had an amazing match, but she did so against, “one of the best middles in California.” Kingston had nine blocks and eight kills in the win.
Highlights
Ella Olson
Ella Olson
Olson made a tremendous impact for the Sailors this season, helping guide them to a winning season and even a berth in the CIF State Playoffs. Olson had 510 kills, which led all freshman in California in that category. Some of Olson’s biggest matches came in the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs, totaling 34 kills and 13 digs in a five-set win over Chaminade of West Hills in the opening round and 30 kills and 13 digs in a five-set over Santa Margarita in the second round. Olson, who also totaled 239 digs, 56 service aces and 44 blocks, was named MVP of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and was All-CIF First Team.
Westley Matavao
Westley Matavao
One of the reasons why the Lancers made the CIF-SS Division finals for the first time since 2017 was because Matavao stepped up when she needed to. She had 494 kills which was second from all freshman from California in that category and added 237 digs. Matavao also hit .288 on the season, which ranks in the top 10 of freshman from California. A couple of her notable matches were against Ontario Christian on September 5 in a non-league game where she had 30 kills and 10 digs in a five-set road win and 27 kills, six digs, three service aces and three blocks in a five-set win over Redondo Union in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals. Matavao also made the All-CIF First Team.
Matavao’s big freshman year and the Lancers’ deep playoff run was not possible without Robinson setting for the team. Robinson amassed 703 assists, 256 digs, 65 kills and 32 service aces. Just like Matavao, Robinson came up big in the semifinal win over Redondo Union, registering 43 assists – the most she had this season and 12 digs. Robinson made All-CIF First Team, joining Matavao on the list of recipients.
Highlights
Ireland Real
Ireland Real
Real started off playing middle blocker for the Eagles, but once Eagles head coach Katy Daly-Gammon moved her to opposite to be a six rotations player in the second set of a Dave Mohs Tournament match against Newport Harbor, that’s when Real unlocked another strong asset to her game: her serving. Real has a strong and fast serve that can be tough to control and in that tournament match against Newport Harbor, her serving helped Santa Margarita come back from a 16-9 deficit to eventually win the set 25-22 and the best two out of three match. Real finished the season with 148 kills and 55 blocks. The blocks are fifth among all freshman from California.
Korynn Mayo
Korynn Mayo
The Vikings this season had a lot of new on their team, consisting of head coach, division placement and players. Mayo was one of the new players who made a big impact on Marina this year, following the graduation of last year’s kill leader Dominique VadeBoncoeur, who is currently playing at Concordia-Irvine. Mayo finished with 361 kills with 23 of them coming in a crucial tiebreaker match against Laguna Beach to decide second place in the Wave League. That match was a match that Mayo rose to the occasion for the Vikings, who wound up winning in straight sets and earning the league’s automatic qualifier to the CIF-SS playoffs. Another match that Mayo stepped up in was Marina’s CIF-SS Division 3 first round playoff match against Glendora, where she put down a season-high 31 kills and added 15 digs in a five-set win.
This season was a special year for Lions, winning their first-ever CIF-SS championship and Nowak was one of many talented players on the team who helped make it happen. Nowak finished with 182 kills and 284 digs. The 284 digs are sixth among freshman in California. Nowak’s biggest match came in round two of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs where she totaled 11 kills and 20 digs in a four-set win over Rancho Cucamonga. She also posted a season high 14 kills two different times for JSerra, who finished second in the always-tough Trinity League.
Highlights
Sofia Dajnowiec
Sofia Dajnowiec
While the Sea Kings’ starting lineup was senior-laden, Dajnowiec one of the players that caught the attention of most spectators. She led the team in kills with 293 and added 183 digs, 14 blocks (second on the team) and 32 service aces. Dajnowiec eclipsed 20 or more kills three different times with two of those times coming against crosstown rival Newport Harbor. Her contributions helped the Sea Kings not only sweep the season series against the Sailors, but halt a four-match losing streak going into the season. Dajnowiec also helped the Sea Kings go a perfect 6-0 in the Wave League en route to claiming the league championship.