Fred T. Foard High senior Michelle Thao, MVP for the second straight year on a state 2A championship team, has been named the state’s top player in 2A by the North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association (NCVBCA)./NCHSAA PHOTO
LOMBARDI/FRED T. FOARD PHOTO
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
The top two awards in 2A volleyball, as chosen by the North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association (NCVBCA), are headed to Fred T. Foard High.
The coaching association has announced its 2A player of the year in the state is Foard senior Michelle Thao, MVP for the second straight season as the Tigers repeated as state 2A champions.
Foard coach Meredith Lombardi won the organization’s coach of the year honors in 2A after guiding the Tigers (19-0) to a state title, their eighth in school history.
Thao had a team-best 198 kills and 173 digs and added 33 aces as Foard won all but one set it played this season and another Northwestern Foothills 2A championship.
Thao is joined on the all-state 2A team by Foard teammate Megan Dorsey, and East Lincoln’s Jordan Gomlich and Kaylee Spees also earned all-state. The Mustangs won the South Fork 2A title this season.
Hickory had two all-state picks in 3A, Stephanie White and Kellen Morin.
NCVBCA AWARD WINNERS
STATE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
4A: Emily Chrysogelos, Cardinal Gibbons
3A: Emerson Hoyle, Asheville Roberson
2A: Michelle Thao, Fred T. Foard
1A: Rileigh Kiser, Cherryville
STATE COACHES OF THE YEAR
4A: Maggie Malone, Providence
3A: Michelle Wagaman, Asheville Roberson
2A: Meredith Lombardi, Fred T. Foard
1A: Jim Seidel, Mountain Island Charter
ALL-STATE 2A
Anna Dunbar, South Point
Emily Revels, South Point
Mackenzi Searcy, R-S Central
Jordan Gromlich, E. Lincoln
Kaylee Spees, E. Lincoln
Michelle Thao, Fred T. Foard
Megan Dorsey, Fred T. Foard
Hallie Brown, Goldsboro
Haley Phillips, Goldsboro
Merritt Woodson, Currituck County
Carson Overbeck, Carrboro
Evie Newall, Carrboro
ALL-STATE 3A
Oreva Evivie, Charlotte Catholic
Mackenzie DePinto, Chapel Hill
Stephanie White, Hickory
Aaliyah Byers, Kings Mountain
Anna Shohfi, E. Chapel Hill
Emerson Hoyle, Asheville Roberson
Ellen Zwikker, Chapel Hill
Kaylin Dowling, W. Rowan
Kellen Morin, Hickory
Lyvia Trimp, Weddington
Mackenzie Lynch, Asheville Roberson
Melissa Benkowitz, E. Chapel Hill
MORE AWARDS: https://ncvbca.org/Awards
