ACCIDENT — After an undefeated regular season, Northern led this year’s All-Western Maryland Athletic Conference (WestMAC) volleyball teams with four selections.
The first and second teams, along with the Player and Coach of the Year, were voted on by the WestMAC coaches.
Northern’s Demi Ross was named the Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Her coach, Jamie Bailey, also went back-to-back as Coach of the Year.
Allahna Lacy and Marisa Perez join Ross on the first team from Northern.
Fort Hill’s Addison Furstenberg, Mountain Ridge’s Kealana Pua’auli and Southern’s Myah Watson round out the first team.
The second team consists of Macy Barth (Mountain Ridge), Tatum Bishop (Fort Hill), Samara Streets (Northern), Summer Welsh (Fort Hill), Chloe DeBlock (Allegany), Aubreigh Wilson (Mountain Ridge) and Ava Witt (Southern).
Demi Ross
Ross earned her second consecutive WestMAC Player of the Year award after recording 78 aces, 229 kills, six blocks and 128 digs.
“She is an all-around great player,” Bailey said. “It has been an absolute joy watching her grow as a player, leader and young lady. Demi is a smart hitter and defensive player. She has been leading this team since her sophomore year.”
Marisa Perez
Perez finished second in the Player of the Year voting after posting 43 aces, 26 kills, four blocks, 571 assists and 123 digs.
Perez was also a first-team selection last season.
“Her setting skills continued to get better every year during her high school career,” Bailey said. “She always ran the court with a strong leadership and cool demeanor. Her strong work ethic and setting IQ was undeniable.”
Perez and Ross were Northern’s two seniors this season.
“Northern volleyball is going to have a huge leadership gap with the graduation of Demi and Marisa,” Bailey said. “Hopefully, someone picks up the torch next year.”
Allahna Lacy
Lacy earned consecutive first-team selections after finishing with 24 aces, 166 kills, 34 blocks, four assists and 53 digs.
“Allahna has grown so much this year,” Bailey said. “She has a drive that continues to make her better. She is far from her peak and I know next year will be even better. She is hitting her stride, and I know she will be putting in a lot of work in during the off-season.”
Addison Furstenberg
Furstenberg was a second-team selection last season and earned first-team honors this fall.
“This season, Addison played very well, being the center piece to our offense with 114 kills in WestMAC games alone,” Fort Hill head coach Jordan Fradiska said. “Whenever we needed a critical point, our plan involved setting her when she was on the floor.
“In my opinion, as a player, Addison is just scratching the surface of her potential,” Fradiska said. “Given she is only a sophomore, she had a lot of responsibility, acknowledging that her team relied heavily on her. With opportunities for improvement, I am excited to get back to work with her and the team. I am excited to see the player she becomes and can’t wait to see what her junior and senior seasons bring. Addison has the potential to become a truly exceptional volleyball player.”
Kealana Pua’auli
A two-year letter winner in volleyball who also competes in basketball and track and field, Pua’auli is also part of the National Honor Society and a Minds in Motion Award winner.
“Kealana has developed into an outstanding all-around player in the Mountain Ridge program,” Mountain Ridge head coach Valery Broadwater said. “When we needed something to happen in a game, we depended heavily on her array of skills.”
Pua’auli earned her second consecutive first-team All-WestMAC selection in volleyball after leading the Miners in kills and finishing second in points and digs, third in aces and fourth in assists.
“We love her versatility and the fact that she is as important to our program on the defensive side as she is on the offensive side,” Broadwater said. “Her athletic qualities, such as leaping ability, quickness, agility, and power make her a true weapon both offensively and defensively.”
Myah Watson
Watson was a four-year starter for Southern and was a team captain this season.
Watson led the Rams in attacking, blocking, serving and passing, finishing with 221 attacks, 113 kills, 21 aces, 48 blocks and 95 digs.
She averaged 3.53 kills per set for a 43.3% kill percentage and had a 90% serving percentage with 1.5 blocks per set.
Watson was also a first-team selection last season.
Watson is pursuing a college volleyball career but is uncommitted.
“She is a well-rounded player and will be missed,” Southern head coach Crystal Piras said. “We wish her all the best in her collegiate volleyball career.”