CUMBERLAND — After being named the unanimous area champion, Northern led the way for the All-WestMAC teams with four first-team selections.
The WestMAC coaches selected first and second-team players along with a player and coach of the year.
Northern’s Demi Ross was named the Player of the Year while Jamie Bailey was named Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
Fort Hill and Mountain Ridge earned two first-team representatives while Allegany and Southern had one each.
The Rams led the second-team with three selections, followed by Allegany, Fort Hill and Mountain Ridge with two players each.
As player of the year, Ross was an automatic first-team All-WestMAC selection.
Joining her on the first team are teammates Callie Pudlak, Allahna Lacy and Marisa Perez.
Jovie Breitfeller and Kamryn Rice earned first team selections from Fort Hill.
Kealana Pua’auli and Ryan Whitehead represent Mountain Ridge as first team selections.
Allegany’s Ava Strother and Southern’s Myah Watson round out the first team.
The second team All-WestMAC consisted of Emelee Parks, Ava Witt and Madi Wolfe from Southern, Mackenzie Monahan and Addison Buskirk of Allegany, Tatum Bishop and Addison Furstenberg from Fort Hill and Aubreigh Wilson and Macy Barth of Mountain Ridge.
Demi Ross, Player of the Year
Ross led the Huskies with 172 kills, also adding 31 aces, 93 digs, five blocks and three assists.
“She has really matured into a fantastic player and leader of our team,” Northern head coach Jamie Bailey said. “She is always working hard and pushing her teammates.”
Ross was a first-team All-WestMAC selection last season.
“Demi not only is a great hitter but also a solid defensive player,” Bailey said.
Callie Pudlak
Pudlak recorded 134 kills and 42 blocks (28 solo) for Northern this season.
She was also a first-team All-WestMAC selection last season.
“Callie has brought a lot of fun and personality to our team,” Bailey said. “This year she really dialed in her hitting, learning to place it better. She also started shutting hitters down at the net with big blocks. Only having her three years has not been long enough.”
Allahna Lacy
Lacy led the Huskies with 51 solo blocks, leading the team by 33.
“Allahna Lacy, aka “The Baby,” fit into this seamlessly,” Bailey said. “She brought a lot of natural talent to our team.”
Her 66 total blocks were best on the team by 24.
She also recorded 140 kills, 14 aces and 59 digs.
“Her ability to hit a hard ball just past the 10-foot line was awesome to watch,” Bailey said. “She has a great ability to see the court and tip a perfect ball to a hole in the defense. She can read hitters well and shut many hitters down this year.”
Marisa Perez
Perez led Northern with 42 aces, also recording 216 assists, 51 kills, 15 blocks (seven solo) and 59 digs.
“Marisa Perez is a dynamic setter,” Bailey said. “She is fast, smart and was able to get my hitters where I needed them. She was great at spreading the court — keeping our opponents on their toes. She also has a wicked serve that is hard to read and receive.”
Ross, Pudlak, Lacy and Perez led Northern to a 13-3 record, 7-1 in the WestMAC and went five sets against the two-time defending state champion Clear Spring in the region semifinals.
Jovie Breitfeller
Breitfeller is a four-year starter on varsity who helped the Sentinels turn around the program.
In two years, Fort Hill went from 2-14 to 14-4 and a spot in the region final.
“She is a true leader and all around player,” Fort Hill head coach Jordan Fradiska said. “This season she filled every column on the stat sheet. Her stats were remarkable and could have very easily joined the player of the year.”
Breitfeller recorded 256 digs, 123 kills, 45 aces, 39 assists and 161 service points.
Breitfeller was a second team All-WestMAC selection last season.
“Jovie is a true all-around player,” Fradiska said. “I’m proud of her and we will miss having her around. She is my Player of the Year.”
Kamryn Rice
Rice finished the season with 311 assists despite only setting for three quarters of the season.
“She was moved from that position to help the team and didn’t question it one bit,” Fradiska said. “Kamryn is a true team player.”
Rice also recorded 164 digs, 31 aces and 135 service points.
“I’m proud of Kamryn and her leadership will be missed as well,” Fradiska said.
Kealana Pua’auli
Pua’auli led the Miners with 203 kills, 181 digs and 181 points.
She finished second in blocks (11), third in assists (13) and fourth in aces (23).
“There were many times where our offense centered around this athlete,” Mountain Ridge head coach Valery Broadwater said. “Her offensive skills are advanced and her athletic skills make her an outstanding athlete on the court.”
Pua’auli was named the Outstanding Offensive Player for Mountain Ridge.
“Even though she is just a sophomore, she rose to the challenge each game and expanded her array of offensive skills, so that she could swing, roll, push, or tip and basically keep the opponent’s defense guessing,” Broadwater said. “She is one of those players who is versatile and talented enough to play all the way around the rotation.”
Pua’auli was awarded the Minds in Motion award by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA), awarded to student-athletes with a 3.25 GPA or higher.
“She has great athletic qualities that will be a pleasure to watch and coach for the next couple of years,” Broadwater said.
Ryan Whitehead
Whitehead led Mountain Ridge with 36 aces and also led in hitting percentage. She finished in kills (187) and digs (72), fourth in assists (10) and service points (103).
“This young lady has grown into an outstanding all-around player in our program,” Broadwater said. “She has been on the varsity since her freshman year, but her role with us has definitely changed.”
She started out as a defensive player, playing on the back row.
She moved to middle hitter for two years and earned second-team All-WestMAC honors last season.
After losing two outside hitters to graduation, she took over this season.
Whitehead was the Miners’ Most Improved Player last season and the Most Valuable Player this year.
“This athlete put a lot of time into volleyball during the off-season and this was evident by her play on the court,” Broadwater said. “
Whitehead also won the Minds in Motion Award and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Ava StrotherStrother earned her second All-WestMAC selection after appearing on last year’s second team.
“Ava is exactly the leader and captain every coach would want on their team,” Allegany head coach Cassie Murray said. “Since her freshman year, she has worked hard 100% of the time, pushed herself to be her best, and was always willing to learn and try new skills. Her positive attitude and optimistic outlook was also an attribute that she stood out for. She was never afraid to play anyone and always thought a win was possible.”
Myah Watson
Watson was named Southern’s 2024 Volleyball Most Valuable Player.
She led the Rams in aces (48), attacks (402) and blocks (56).
Watson was also awarded the Best Celebrations award by Southern.
“Myah is a great leader on and off the court,” Southern co-head coach Crystal Piras said. “She gives maximal effort and strives to improve her play every day.”
She finished with a .216 hitting percentage and a 84.8% serving percentage.
Watson recorded 145 kills, 73 points and 167 digs.
She was a second-team All-WestMAC selection last fall.
“She is a well-rounded player offensively and defensively,” Piras said. “If you need an ace cheer or some comic relief, Myah will be the one to create a dance move just for you.”