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2025 All-Area Volleyball Coach of the Year: Cissna Park’s Josh Landon | Sports

Published

2 weeks ago

December 20, 2025

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gallery AA VB COY landon 1 — Cissna Park volleyball coach Josh Landon guided the Timberwolves to a Class 1A state championship on Nov. 15, and he stopped by The News-Gazette in Champaign this past Sunday with three of his biggest supporters: from left, his 14-year-old daughter Kate, his wife Sarah and his 11-year-old daughter Annalise.

Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette

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Meet the 2025 All-Area Volleyball Coach of the Year: Cissna Park’s Josh Landon

Why he’s Coach of the Year

Cissna Park’s third consecutive time in the Class 1A state tournament was the charm, as the Timberwolves capped a 40-1 season with their first-ever state championship. Coach Josh Landon stopped by The News-Gazette with players Addison Lucht, Josie Neukomm and Sophie Duis to chat with staff writer Joey Wright about the program’s sustained success:

How do you put this season into words?

➜ Landon: It’s honestly still tough to put into words. The more we talk about it, now that we’ve had a month since being state champs, it’s kind of setting in what we were able to accomplish. And that’s the thing, it was the expectations coming in on paper. You have everything back and only replacing two seniors.

It was the challenge of making sure that everybody stayed focused on one goal, and that was trying to be their best every single day. But man, what a run that they were able to put together. Looking at the postseason and not losing a set, it’s just remarkable what they were able to accomplish.

And you didn’t call a timeout.

➜ Landon: I did not. I wasn’t keeping track of that, but some of the girls did let me know that.

How do you approach a season like this one, where you have all those expectations both from the outside and within?

➜ Landon: It was a challenge. I shared with our assistant coach, Nicole Trumble, and I shared with my wife, Sarah that this is going to be one of the harder years to coach just because of those expectations and things. But it was one of those for us as a staff, we started looking outside the box on different things. We looked for different drills to help motivate, different ways that we could challenge the team every day in practice, and setting small, little goals.

We were fortunate enough that Gabby Wessels was coming back to the area, and she was able to volunteer with us as an alum, bringing some of the mindfulness, so to speak, from her time being at Chattanooga, where she got her master’s. That was a different side of the game that we were able to present to the girls.

For the players, has it set in for you that you are state champions?

➜ Lucht: Having a month now to reflect on it, it really is beginning to set in how big of a thing it was that we just accomplished. Right after we were really happy. But then obviously we had to get right into basketball, but now that we’ve kind of had time to reflect on it, I think it just keeps getting cooler and cooler by the day just being able to think that we did that, and to be able to know that I ended my last game of my volleyball career with a win on the biggest stage as a state champ.

➜ Duis: It’s been really cool, definitely. It’s set in a little bit, but I think it’s still a little surreal for me. Just super exciting. We’re just so proud of each other and grateful we got to do it together. And I just think we wouldn’t have asked for anything else to end the season

➜ Neukomm: I’m going have to agree with Addie.

Like she said, we want to win on the biggest stage, but more importantly, with all the girls that we’ve been working through blood, sweat and tears on this season.

We’re leaving, but there’s still a big group of girls coming up after us that’s extremely talented. And I think it was amazing that we all were able to hone on one mission, and we were all able to get done together.

As an athletic director as well as being the coach, how do you balance everything that comes along with a busy season?

➜ Landon: I’m thankful for a 15-minute drive to and from work every day to get my mind right. But it’s the planning part of it, right? You wear different hats, but honestly, I think that’s what helps it maintain its course.

It allows you to become a little bit easier, so to speak. I’m not just focused on coaching volleyball in that particular moment. We’ve also got to make sure that we have things ready for the junior high basketball season, junior high baseball, where are the golfers going this particular day through my AD role. It doesn’t allow me to sit there and dwell on certain aspects. It allows me to stay fresh, so to speak.

What’s it like playing for Josh?

➜ Duis: It’s really nice that we’ve gotten to have him as a coach for so long and to have that relationship. I think we know them well, and I think likewise, they know us really well, and they know what we respond to and what helps us the most.

I think having that connection made it a lot easier just to connect with each other and to get us pushing farther.

➜ Neukomm: I don’t know if I can put it into words, but I mean, not only him, but our assistant coaches in Coach Trumble and Coach Wessels, they’ve all put their heart and soul into this team, and I think they expect nothing but the best from us.

Not only on the court, but off the court, they expect us to be in the classroom, trying our hardest and then coming after school every day with a focus and a fresh mind ready just to pound out new drills or whether it’s old stuff that we just need to focus on the little things to become better players.

➜ Lucht: It really helped us having that connection since we’ve been practicing since fourth grade, and they know how we play, and they know how we respond to things, so they know how to coach us and what gets us motivated.

I don’t think it even gets recognized how much they put into us as as girls and just as a team, because like you were saying, Coach Landon has lots of hats that he has to wear, being the athletic director, and also having two daughters, and just trying to balance all that during the busy time of the fall when there’s multiple sports going on.

So I think that could sometimes go unnoticed, but it’s really appreciated.

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Hawaii men’s volleyball overwhelms NJIT in season opener

Published

12 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The second event of 2026 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center brought a crowd and a vibe not seen or heard since the last time Hawaii men’s volleyball took center stage.

The second-ranked Rainbow Warriors opened the season in front of a raucous crowd of 5,685 that still sounded like it was celebrating the new year as they watched Hawaii sweep New Jersey Institute of Technology 25-11, 25-16, 25-14 on Friday night.

Nine months after beating Long Beach State for the Big West championship, which is the last time the arena drew a crowd this big for a UH sporting event, Hawaii returned to its home floor with five of its seven starters back from a run to the national semifinals.

Sophomore Kristian Titriyski, who missed the final eight matches of his freshman season with an ankle injury, led Hawaii with 12 kills.

All five starting pins and middles hit .455 or better for the match as UH hit .517 as a team and had 13 1/2 blocks.

“We didn’t get to practice in here until today. You could tell the guys had a lot of extra energy,” Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said. “This is something that we will never take for granted. So appreciative when (the fans) are taking the time and spending the money to come out and here and support us and we are doing everything we can to put on a good show and win matches.”

Sophomore Adrien Roure, who was an AVCA first-team All-American as a freshman, hit .538 with eight kills in two swings.

Louis Sakanoko, one of two third-year starters, had four kills in eight swings and sophomore middle transfer Trevell Jordan also had four kills with six blocks.

Justin Todd, who has played both in the middle and on the outside, switched back to middle during practice this week and put down all three of his kill attempts before resting in the third set.

Junior setter Tread Rosenthal, the floor captain, tied a career high with eight blocks and had 26 assists, three digs and two kills, including the match-ender after 95 minutes.

“It was impressive,” Wade said. “Two hitting errors in two sets and four errors total will get it done. Overall pretty efficient dominant performance and stoked to see the guys play that well.”

Rosenthal had two aces during Hawaii’s 5-0 run to start the match, setting the tone for what would be a quick night.

Hawaii hit .556 in the opening set with only one error and had three aces, with one from Titriyski that was initially ruled out but called in after a challenge that last about 15 seconds.

Hawaii continued its offensive efficiency in the second set, again hitting over .500 to control the set.

A triple block by Titriyski, Sakanoko and Todd ended the set and was the 10th for Hawaii, while the Highlanders had yet to record a block and were hitting .059.

UH made changes to the lineup in the third set, bringing in sophomores Ofeck Hazan in the middle and Finn Kearney on the outside.

Hawaii showed little drop-off and had a chance to hit over .500 in all three sets until it needed four swings to end match point.

“They were playing smart, staying high, not letting the ball go down to their level, and even when it was a bad set, they kept it in play and just kept playing,” Rosenthal said of his teammates. “I think our guys showed that they could play smart and pretty efficient.”

The Rainbow Warriors played without sophomore opposite Kainoa Wade and freshman middle Roman Payne, who are both injured.

Andre Aleixo had 10 kills to lead the Highlanders, who finished the match without a block.

The two teams will play again at 5 p.m. tonight.

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WBB: Huskies Fall Short 56–52 at UIW

Published

28 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

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SAN ANTONIO, Tx. – HCU women’s basketball team battled with a late comeback, but UIW held to secure a 56–52 Southland Conference win Saturday afternoon at the McDermott Center.

UIW (6-6, 4-1 SLC) opened the game with an early advantage, but the Huskies answered with points from Jordan Jackson and Grace Booth to keep the score tight early. A three-pointer from Sidney Carr midway through the first quarter brought HCU within one, and the Huskies closed the quarter trailing just 14–12.

The Huskies (4-8, 2-3 SLC) opened the second quarter with Jo Oly scoring twice, while Kamryn McLaurin added a pair of free throws following a drive to the basket. A three-pointer from Tove Caesar late in the half cut the deficit to one possession, but UIW responded to take a 29–25 lead into the break.

The Cardinals gained separation in the third quarter, opening with a pair of baskets and a three-pointer to build momentum. McLaurin scored on a layup early in the period and later added a free throw, but UIW stretched its lead to 43–33 entering the fourth quarter.

HCU responded with its strongest stretch of the game in the final quarter. Dasia Hyams scored on a fast-break layup to open the quarter, and McLaurin followed with consecutive baskets and a free throw to trim the margin. Jackson added a layup in transition and converted two free throws with under two minutes remaining, pulling the Huskies within one point.

With 50 seconds left, Hyams scored inside and converted the ensuing free throw to tie the game at 51–51. UIW answered with a three-pointer on the next possession, then closed the game at the free-throw line to maintain the lead in the final seconds.

McLaurin led the Huskies with 11 points, five rebounds, and five steals. Jackson finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while Caesar added seven points. Hyams and Oly each scored six off the bench, and Booth pulled down four rebounds. Houston Christian totaled 32 rebounds and scored 30 points in the paint.

Huskies continues Southland Conference play on Thursday traveling to Beaumont to face Lamar at 6:30 p.m.

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See who has been named to the All-Metro Volleyball Team | High Schools

Published

44 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

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FIRST TEAM

Ava Hebert, Teurlings Catholic

Ana-Camille Melancon, Westminster Christian

Marvel Potier, St. Thomas More

Valerie Brown, Notre Dame

Grace Alexander, Lafayette Christian

Amelie Trappey, Catholic-N.I.

Avery Monica, ESA

Eleanor Guidry, St. Thomas More

AC Hebert, Teurlings Catholic

Zsofia Pekar, Southside

Meg Griffin, Ascension Episcopal

Audrey Wheeler, St. Thomas More

Jade Guidry, Northside Christian

Kate Trahan, Notre Dame

Laila Gauthier, Westminster Christian

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Eleanor Guidry, St. Thomas More

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jessica Burke, St. Thomas More

SECOND TEAM

Ava Smith, St. Edmund; Ella Larpenteur, Lafayette High; Aubrey Smith, Iota; Bailey Smith, Rayne; Emmy Habetz, Southside; Demi Barrett, Lafayette Christian; Morgan Dunn, St. Thomas More; Carsyn Fontenot, Teurlings Catholic; Lillian Guidry, Notre Dame; Lauren Conroy, ESA; Kelis Burgess, Southside; Mackenzie Batiste, Catholic-N.I.; Isabella Guy, Westminster Christian-Opelousas, Jr.; Ali Louviere, Highland Baptist; Addison Prejean, Acadiana Renaissance.

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Ohio State football players lead religious revival among Gen Z

Published

1 hour ago

January 4, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Jan. 4, 2026, 6:01 a.m. ET

Like the Great Awakenings of years gone by, a religious revival is emanating from Ohio State’s campus.

The mouthpieces of revival aren’t buttoned-up pastors yelling about fire and brimstone. And they aren’t speaking under tents or at church pulpits.

They are Ohio State football players. Often, their platform is on the field and on social media. And it stays the same, even when they falter on the field, as they did in the College Football Playoff. Their message?

“JESUS WON.”

Mass baptisms spark ‘Buckeye Revival’

The “Buckeye Revival” caught fire on a warm August night in 2024 as hundreds gathered to listen to Ohio State football players TreyVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka and Gee Scott Jr. share their Christian faith.

Judson Overmyer, a northwest Ohio native, made the last-minute decision to drive to Columbus for the event.

He heard Scott, a senior tight end, read the story of the Prodigal Son aloud to the crowd. The Luke 15 parable describes the story of the child of a wealthy man who squanders his inheritance and doesn’t feel worthy to return home.

The son is then welcomed home with open arms.

“He got towards the end, and they started the altar call and it kind of went silent,” Overmyer said. “And then he said, ‘It only takes one.'”

Overmyer doesn’t remember being the first to stand up and walk to the front of the crowd. But that’s what he did, and when he turned around, he saw dozens of people walking up behind him.

Then he was baptized.

“It was the most surreal feeling. The second I hit the water and came back up, I felt weightless. Like the feeling of all the burdens on me that felt like they were physically weighing me down were taken away in that just outward profession of my faith,” he said.

Buckeyes build ‘Jesus hype’

Led by Henderson, Scott, Egbuka, J.T. Tuimoloau and Kamryn Babb, among others, the football team’s spiritual movement became defined by the players sporting T-Shirt bearing the words “JESUS WON,” holding a moment of prayer before each game and voicing outspoken declarations of faith in media interviews and on social media.

“What has taken place in my life and the lives of other people on this team — and I know I’m here to talk about football — but it’s a true testament of the Lord that I serve,” Scott told reporters during a January 2025 press conference.

Through the team’s 2024 national championship run, its march through the 2025 regular season and the first victory against Michigan since 2019, the players created what one Columbus faith leader called “Jesus hype.”

Nick Nye, the executive director of For Columbus, said he heard from a friend on staff at 614 Church that a congregant’s roommate started coming to church out of curiosity driven by the players’ faith.

“When my pastor friend, David, shared this story, he said it in a sense of, ‘Man, I just feel like I’ve heard stories like this happening several times,'” Nye said. “It’s been more than once.”

Even before the movement came into the public eye at the 2024 fall kickoff, the Buckeye Revival was catching fire behind the scenes: off the screens and off the field.

Months prior to Overmyer starting the altar call and being baptized, Scott baptized his teammates, the men who would later lead the movement, in front of his religious home, Gahanna’s One Church.

The reach of the ‘Buckeye Revival’

The revival that has taken over the Ohio State University campus has spread beyond the stadium, the Ohio Union and the Oval.

And it extended beyond the 2024 season and into the 2025 squad.

On Sept. 8, 2025, a panel of Buckeyes told their stories of faith and football for a crowd of nearly 2,000 people. A social media account that shares testimonies from the team’s Christian players said around 75 people were baptized that night.

“Jesus won. I’m good; I’m great. I can lose this game, and I’m still great. I still won. I think that was the biggest thing for me last year. I lost so much anxiety as the season went on. I started playing with peace, started playing for the Lord and just playing anxiety-free,” Styles said at the event, according to a video shared by The Courageous Athlete account.

Social media platforms (not to mention their visibility during nationally televised games) have helped the football-players-turned-evangelists extend their reach.

At the forefront of the movement is a digital platform, The Walk Foundation, led by podcaster and Christian content creator, Kevin Walsh.

Using his personal platform of sports content and Christian ministry, Walsh and his co-host, Jacob Byrd, began interviewing Buckeyes about their faith journeys on the series, “Buckeye Revival,” after the success of the 2024 fall kickoff.

The Walk Foundation, or “accessthewalk,” had more than 54,000 followers on TikTok and 43,000 followers on Instagram as of mid-December.

Clips from his interviews with Scott and Montgomery have 1.8 million and 3.2 million views on Instagram alone, with videos consistently reaching hundreds of thousands of views.

Walsh said the celebrity of the athletes helps spread the Christian message.

“Athletes are idolized so much that it actually points people to what these athletes really care about and where they’re rooted, which is in their faith in Jesus,” Walsh said.

Changing the next generation of athletes

Walsh has been most surprised by the depth of faith of the athletes.

“Football players or athletes get a little bit of a stereotype that they just hit heads on the field and may not be so down to earth or so vulnerable. You look at these guys and they’d be big, masculine, angry guys, but then you see how soft their hearts are,” Walsh said.

The vulnerability is likewise reaching younger generations, both on and off the field.

Like the Buckeyes, a group of players from Bishop Watterson High School pray before they take the field.

Nye recounted a player’s father pointing to the Ohio State athletes’ faith influence as the high school team took home the state title for the second year in a row on Dec. 5.

He said when pastors are intentional about reaching Generation Z or college-aged students, they are seeing upticks in attendance.

“Gen Z and Gen Alpha are now more likely to attend church more regularly than even the boomer generation, and are more interested in Christianity than Gen X, Boomers and Millennials,” he said. “It’s kind of creating this wave, and I think the football players are just the spotlighted version of that.”

Opponents-turned-brothers in faith

Walsh and Byrd now are interviewing athletes from universities around the country with The Walk Podcast’s College Football Series.

They have talked with athletes from Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame and even Michigan. But Walsh said it all started with the Ohio State football team.

“[The other athletes] saw these Ohio State football players sharing about their faith, and they’re like, ‘Wait, we can do that, too,'” Walsh said.

“The catalyst has been here in Columbus. That’s what’s been really cool. From there, it’s actually spreading out, and other athletes are just being encouraged by these Ohio State guys. Then they can build it up and feel confident doing that in their own communities.”

After Ohio State beat Penn State, Montgomery and injured Penn State quarterback Drew Allar prayed together on the field.

“JESUS WON, for both teams,” The Courageous Athlete posted following the game.

In an interview with Michael Taaffe, a Texas Longhorns defensive back, Byrd asked about challenges in Taaffe’s faith and football career.

“You miss a play in front of 10 million fans, and you’re getting humiliated on all social media platforms. It’s like, ‘Why is this happening. This is not what I asked for,” Taaffe said on the Nov. 25 podcast episode.

“. . . I always get reminded that I can’t do this alone. I think the pressure that we get put in as college athletes, the adversity I’ve had to face in my life, nobody can do it alone.”

Walsh said through gaining a peek behind the curtain of the athletes’ lives while leading the storytelling series, he learned that the athletes are “normal people.”

“These are normal guys just like me. They go through the same struggles that I might go through,” Walsh said. “The impact is, ‘I’m not alone.’ And athletes who you might think are on cloud nine, they’re so similar.”

Finding victory in loss: What happens next?

The Buckeyes’ lost twice in the 2024 season: an early conference season road game against Oregon, and a regular season-ending heartbreaker against archrival Michigan.

The 2025 season looked different, as the Buckeyes took down Texas in the season opener and cruised through Big Ten play, defeating Michigan in Ann Arbor on Nov. 29 for the first time since 2019.

Then came the Big Ten championship game. The No. 1 Buckeyes, favorites to win the conference title, fell 13-10 to the Indiana Hoosiers, in a game with eerie similarities to last year’s Michigan loss.

While they entered the College Football Playoff as a No. 2 seed with aspirations for a national championship repeat, the loss to Miami was a big blow to a team considered the country’s best for much of the year.

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2025 All-Johnson County volleyball team

Published

3 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Your Sports Nation

MVP

Defending her crown as the top player, this year’s All-Johnson County Most Valuable Player goes to Grandview outside hitter London Helm.

“When I hear MVP, I don’t think about stats or awards. To me, it means I did my job as a leader and a teammate,” said Helm. “It means the people around me felt supported, trusted me on the court and knew I was going to show up and work every day. That matters more to me than anything individually.”

In her final season with the Lady Zebras, Helm began her senior campaign by winning the MVP award at the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star game in July.

Eyeing a state championship with Grandview after the winningest season in program history and its first trip to the state tournament, Helm led the Lady Zebras to a 33-11 overall record, an undefeated District 18-3A run and a second consecutive appearance to the final four.

“What I’ll remember most about my senior year is getting to play alongside my sister [Paris] and share those moments and accomplishments with her,” Helm said. “I’ll also remember how much I grew as a leader. Not every season is perfect, and there were times when our team faced challenges and division, but those moments taught me how important selflessness, accountability, and trust are. Our coaches continued to push us and hold us to a standard, and that experience shaped me just as much as the wins did.”

Boasting 424 kills, 103 aces, 360 digs and 87 blocks, she earned the district MVP honor, while being named to the UIL 3A Div. I All-Tournament team, the TGCA 3A All-State team and the Texas Sports Writers Association’s third team.

Helm is now the program record holder in kills with 1,463 and in blocks with 317.

In deciding on where to further her playing career, what mattered most to Helm was her feelings while on campus. Whether the future involved volleyball or not, she believed Oklahoma Baptist University was the best place and signed with them in early December.

“I wanted to be somewhere I could grow as a player and as a person, with a coach who understands I still have a lot to learn and is willing to invest in me,” furthered Helm. “What I’m most excited about is the challenge. Signing doesn’t mean anything is given. It’s just the beginning. I’m ready to be pushed, compete as a freshman and work for every opportunity on the court as an outside [hitter].”

While playing volleyball, Helm will pursue a degree in engineering.

Offensive Players of the Year

Sharing the award of All-Johnson County Offensive Player of the Year are a pair of 6-foot-1 left-handed hitters who were hard to contain. The Co-OPOY award goes to Joshua’s Natalia Belisle and Cleburne’s Grace Thorne.

Leading the Lady Owl charge to one of the program’s best seasons, Belisle was voted the best player in District 8-5A among some of the County’s best teams in Centennial, Burleson and Cleburne.

Just behind Helm in season kills with 416, Belisle finished with a 31.9% hitting percentage and averaged nearly four kills per set.

Joshua’s senior middle blocker and right side hitter has yet to commit, but has received multiple offers.

On a youthful roster, the Cleburne Lady Jackets relied on the experience and talents of their seniors, including Thorne.

The right side and opposite hitter led the team with 254 kills, helping Cleburne reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

“I am thankful for the personal growth and opportunity to lead that being a part of Cleburne volleyball has given me,” said Thorne. “Looking back, it’s encouraging to see how even the struggles and challenging seasons have shaped me. Being presented with this award is very meaningful to me because confidence has not come easily. I am proud of my teammates and the direction this program is heading.”

On Nov. 13, Thorne signed her national letter of intent with Northwest Missouri University and is just thankful for the opportunity to play at the college level.

“Northwest really just fits all the things I am looking for, from its size and academic strengths to the volleyball program’s history and solid coaching staff. I am most looking forward to building relationships with my new teammates and making an impact.”

Defensive Player of the Year

Returning to the superlative list for 2025 is a middle blocker who’s been a constant throughout her time as a Ladycat and capped off her varsity career with another extraordinary season. The All-Johnson County Defensive Player of the Year is Godley’s Bella Van Wart.

The District 12-4A MVP and TGCA All-State selection finished with 81 blocks on the year and 211 digs, the most by any middle blocker in the area.

Van Wart will take her talents not too far from home, as she signed with Dallas Baptist University in mid-December.

Setter of the Year

Although many of the finalists are deserving of this award, the All-Johnson County Setter of the Year was a landslide victory for Grandview’s Gracie Lawson.

The district Setter of the Year and TGCA 3A All-State selection left everything on the court in the final season of her career, totaling 1,189 assists. For reference, the second-highest assist count came from Joshua’s Braedyn Holland with 808.

Setting up Grandview’s hardest hitters, such as Helm, Rylie Butler and Emma Bartosh, Lawson also set the program record with 3,110 career assists.

She will be attending Arkansas to focus on academics.

Server of the Year

Among a very young Lady Indian roster is the sole senior who earned the title of All-Johnson County Server of the Year — Alvarado’s Madison Kingsley.

The Lady Indian libero picked up 71 aces during the season.

Utility Player of the Year

Helping the Lady Elks to an 11-3 district record in her final season, the All-Johnson County Utility Player of the Year goes to Burleson’s Daelyn Cross.

Earning the same honor in District 8-5A, Cross was near the top in almost every category for the Lady Elks with 143 kills, 18 aces, 18 blocks and 102 digs.

The senior outside hitter is headed to Olathe, Kansas next fall after signing with Mid-America Nazarene University back in November.

Newcomer of the Year

Although her time with the Lady Chargers was short, the senior middle blocker made the most of her time. The All-Johnson County Newcomer of the Year is Keene’s Deonna Tell.

Adding size and power to the Keene lineup, Tell made her presence known in her only season with the program and assisted the team in clinching a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2021.

In district games, Tell had 126 kills, 26 blocks and 74 digs. She was recognized by District 18-3A for the same honor.

Liberos of the Year

Maintaining control of the back row, this pair of liberos was essential in the program’s success in 2025. The All-Johnson County Co-Liberos of the Year are Joshua’s Madilyn Lacey and Grandview’s Paisley Hayes.

Lacey nearly doubled the second-most digs on the Lady Owls (663) and was second in aces (41) in her junior year.

As the district Defensive Player of the Year, Lacey led all teams in digs and was top 10 in the area in that statistical category.

With the third most digs in the county at 462 and over 900 receptions, Hayes saw a significant increase in her production for the Lady Zebras from 2024 as the only libero listed on the roster.

“To play for a program like Grandview has been such an honor. My coaches and team have pushed me to not only be the best player I could be, but the best teammate too,” said Hayes. “I am so beyond grateful to have spent my high school career playing for such a successful team. The contributions I’ve been able to make are simply just a thank you to the life lessons and memories this group of girls has blessed me with.”

Hayes rounds out the three Grandview selections for superlative awards.

“London, Gracie and I came into this team as only freshmen hoping to make a mark on the program. To be able to say that we not only did that, but made history for Grandview volleyball is something I truly don’t take for granted,” Hayes said. “Not only are they my teammates, but my best friends and I wouldn’t want to share accolades with any other two people. Playing alongside them has been the best part of being on this team, and I’m grateful for the four seasons I have been able to call them my teammates. It’s been an incredible ride, and I’m glad to say that we have set the new standard for this program.”

Coach of the Year

In her first season at the helm, the Lady Eagles saw a dramatic change in their mindset and the results showed. The All-Johnson County Coach of the Year is Rio Vista’s Rebecca Anderson.

Bringing a “big-school mindset” to the 2A program, Anderson pivoted the Lady Eagles to be a much stronger version of themselves and garnered a 27-13 record and a second-place finish in District 13-2A.

It was the most wins in a season for Rio Vista since 2017.

The Lady Eagles made it all the way to the regional semifinals for the first time in five years.

Team of the Year

Droughts don’t get much longer than for the Lady Owls and a district championship. Despite winning season after winning season, topping the standings has evaded Joshua until 2025.

Behind Belisle, Lacey and a deep roster, Joshua claimed the District 8-5A title with a perfect 14-0 record; a first in 44 years.

With a 32-10 overall record, the All-Johnson County Team of the Year is the Joshua Lady Owls.

First team: Cleburne’s Arrisa Turner; Alvarado’s Kaetyn Hazard; Grandview’s Rylie Butler and Emma Bartosh; Godley’s Kase Grimsley, Bryce Reed, Alissa Sullivan and Lila Heiner; Joshua’s Braedyn Holland and Kensey Doss; Keene’s Aliana Lewis; Rio Vista’s Courtney Cooley, Kalli West and Shiloh Johnson; Burleson’s Camryn Bruder, Anna Davis, Brooklyn Lynes and Gemma Sweeney; Centennial’s Lauren Seeton, Channing Ward and Ty’Jahnique Minter.

Second team: Cleburne’s Jozlyn Tarango; Godley’s Abbi Lee; Joshua’s Ruby Vincent, Kinlee Alexander and Kaylee Elrod; Keene’s Brynleigh McFarlin; Rio Vista’s Gator Dayhuff and Emma Niemtschk; Burleson’s Morgan McAlpin and Guinevere VanderTol; Centennial’s Sophia Kirkpatrick and Katelyn Seeton.

Honorable mention: Cleburne’s Haley Price, Adeline Leifeste and Maddie Morrison; Grandview’s Sarah McDaniel and Kenna Collins; Godley’s Peyton Bower and Calleigh Brewer; Joshua’s Ava Abbott, Katherine Colbert, Heidi Walker and Reagan Gage; Rio Vista’s Kyndal Cooley and Tamra Hersom; Burleson’s Vivianne Rose and Angela Ombati; Centennial’s Gracyn McKay and Kamryn Key.

Selections were made by Armando Lutz based on the submissions of coaches, along with stats and accolades.

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