VOLLEYBALL: Rock-A-Noos’ Gil earns another district MVP honor
Published 3:49 pm Monday, December 10, 2018
- The All-District 21-5A volleyball award winners and first-team members include: kneeling, offensive player of the year Shalyn Bobbitt of Vidor, MVP Kaitlyn Gil of PNG and defensive player of the year Belinda Torres of Dayton; standing, first-teamers Brooklyn Healy of Vidor, Hannah Waller of Dayton, Korie Dominick of Memorial, Meg Sheppard of Nederland and Mallory Chilton of Vidor. Not pictured: Macy Sumroll and Kylee Kejonen of Barbers Hill and Halley Smith of PNG. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Port Neches-Groves senior Kaitlyn Gil has now been named most valuable player in two districts.
Last year’s District 22-5A MVP won the same title in 21-5A this year, as the 21-5A honors were announced Monday. Gil, an outside hitter, was a key cog in the Rock-A-Noos’ 33-7 season that saw them reach the area round for the fourth year in a row.
With 570 kills, 32 blocks, 330 digs and 46 service aces, Gil’s play helped PNG win 22 straight district matches between Oct. 12, 2016, and Sept. 25 of this year, when Barbers Hill handed PNG the first of two district losses. The Indians came in second to the Eagles in 21-5A.
Vidor senior middle blocker Shalyn Bobbitt was named offensive player of the year, while Dayton junior defensive specialist Belinda Torres took defensive player of the year. Barbers Hill earned two superlative honors with junior Trinity Hennigan earning setter of the year and senior offensive specialist Jessica Hardin winning newcomer of the year.
Three Jefferson County players made the eight-girl All-District 21-5A first team: Junior Halley Smith of PNG, senior Meg Sheppard of Nederland and senior Korie Dominick of Memorial. Barbers Hill placed two with senior Macy Sumrall and junior Kylee Kejonen, Vidor also had two with senior Mallory Chilton and sophomore Brooklyn Healy and Dayton senior Hannah Waller made the list as well.
Second-team members include: from PNG, senior Bayja Newby and junior Liz Bolyard; from Nederland, juniors Karley McGill and Hannah Hickey; Dayton junior Skyler Wagner; Memorial senior Janiya Graham; from Barbers Hill, seniors Becca Downs and Madison Mercer and junior Sarah Lankford; and Vidor senior Reagan Castilaw.
Honorable-mention players include: from Memorial, seniors Diamond Newsome and Niya Conley; Nederland senior Destyn Miguez; Dayton junior Skylar Craus; and from Cleveland, junior Alyssa McManus and senior Kayla Fletcher.
Seven Nederland players earned 21-5A all-academic accolades: Katie Perez, Hannah Torres, Skylar Thomassie, Haley Plumley, Brianna Olsen, Sheppard and Miguez.
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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