Halfway through the high school volleyball season, some of the usual suspects continued to dominate their respective teams.
In addition, numerous newcomers have made a breakthrough and made a name for themselves.
Others still have enough time to make their breakthrough before the end of the season or in the postseason.
Here are a dozen players who impacted the first half of the season.
Volleyball Player of the Year at Mid-Season
Amari Clark
School: St. Stephen’s Episcopal
Year: senior
Analysis: The 5’5″ Clark is the Falcons’ best player with 42 kills and a .231 hitting percentage. The outside hitter/defensive specialist is second with 38 digs and third with 10 aces.
Ava Collins
School: Lakewood Ranch High
Year: Junior
Analysis: The 5-foot-8 Collins is second on the Mustangs with 26 aces and third with 192 digs and 121 caught serves. The outside hitter also has 142 kills, second on the team.
Brighton-Ferguson
School: Venice High
Year: senior
Analysis: Ferguson, the reigning Herald-Tribune volleyball player of the year, is Venice’s all-time player with 149 saves and 195 caught serves. The 5-foot-5 Ferguson is also second with 23 assists and third with 17 aces.
Riley Greene
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Year: senior
Analysis: The 6’1″ Greene is the Cougars’ best player with 19 blocks. The middle blocker is the team’s third-best player with 73 kills and 14 aces.
Charlee Hermann
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Year: Second semester
Analysis: The 6’2″ Hermann is the best freshman on the Cougars’ beach volleyball team and has made his breakthrough indoors. With 76 kills, he is the Cougars’ second-best player. The right-wing attacker is also the second-best blocker with 12 and aces with 18.
Summer Kohler
School: Venice High
Year: senior
Analysis: The 6’1″ Kohler is Venice’s best player with 118 kills and 27 aces. The outside hitter is also third in serve receptions with 88 and digs with 79.
Gabrielle Meese
School: Riverview College
Year: senior
Analysis: Meese, a middle blocker, leads the Rams with 108 kills, a .293 hit percentage and 27 blocks.
Tien Murray
School: Venice High
Year: Junior
Analysis: The 6’1″ Murray is Venice’s best player with a .322 hit percentage and a 26 percent block percentage. The middle blocker is the second-best player on his team with 67 kills.
Katie Powers
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Year: senior
Analysis: Powers is the best player on the Cougars with 156 defensive actions and 196 service receptions. The libero is also in third place with 26 assists.
Carley Ramsden
School: Sarasota High
Year: senior
Analysis: The 5’5″ Ramsden is the Sailors’ best player with 114 digs. The defensive specialist/libero is second on the team in caught serves with 84 and third on the team in aces and assists.
Izzy Russell
School: Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Year: senior
Analysis: The 5’10” Russell leads the Cougars with 105 kills and 20 aces. The outside hitter is also the team’s second-best player with 112 digs.
Addelyn VanDuinen
School: Bradenton Christian School
Year: First semester
Analysis: The 5’5″ VanDuinen has dished out 195 assists. The setter/outside hitter also has 70 kills, 67 digs and 20 aces.
