5Star Preps Volleyball 2020
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jayme Smith, Anderson County
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cassie Kuerschen, Catholic
FIRST TEAM
Cassie Kuerschen, senior, Catholic
Position: libero
College: Penn State
Kuerschen led the Lady Irish (22-9) to the Division II-AA East Region championship and a third-place finish in the state tournament. She was MVP of the Division II-AA All-East Region team and is the 5Star Preps Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. She recently was the female recipient of the Wendy’s Heisman High School Scholarship for the state of Tennessee.
Grainne McGrath, junior, Catholic
Position: middle/outside hitter
College: Undecided
McGrath was chosen to the Division II-AA All-East Region team after helping the Lady Irish (22-9) win the region championship and advance to the state tournament and a third-place finish.
Liv Gravatt, sophomore, Maryville
Position: setter
College: Undecided
Gravatt was MVP of District 3-AAA won by Maryville (31-6), which advanced to the Class AAA state tournament for the first time since 1984.
Kylie Hopkins, senior, Maryville
Position: outside hitter
College: undecided
Hopkins was the District 3-AAA Hitter of the Year as Maryville (31-6) won district and region championships before advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 1984.
Ellie Ackermann, junior, Farragut
Position: middle/outside hitter
College: Undecided
Ackermann, the District 3-AAA Blocker of the Year, led the Lady Admirals (15-11) to runner-up finishes in the district and region tournaments to Maryville and into the state sectionals, where they lost in four sets to Science Hill in Johnson City.
Haley Jenkins, senior, Heritage
Position: setter
College: Committed to Campbell University
Jenkins was the District 3-AAA Setter of the Year, leading the Lady Mountaineers (29-10) to a second-place finish in the district’s regular season and a third-place finish in the district tournament.
Morgan McMurray, senior, Anderson County
Position: outside hitter
College: Committed to Trevecca
McMurray was Co-MVP of District 3-AA along with district tournament MVP and a member of the All-Region 2-AA team as the Lady Mavs (35-9) advanced to the Class AA state championship match.
Matti Rowland, senior, Anderson County
Position: middle blocker/hitter
College: undecided
Rowland was Co-MVP of District 3-AA with teammate Morgan McMurray and was chosen to the All-Region 2-AA team as AC (35-9) reached the Class AA state championship match.
Ainsley Patrick, senior, Oak Ridge
Position: outside hitter
College: Tulane, beach volleyball
Patrick was MVP of District 4-AAA as Oak Ridge (19-5) won the district for the fifth consecutive year and advanced to the Region 2-AAA semifinals.
Paige Halcrow, senior, Oak Ridge
Position: setter/outside hitter
College: Undecided
Halcrow was the District 4-AAA Offensive Player of the Year as the Lady Wildcats (19-5) won their fifth straight district championship and advanced to the Region 2-AAA semifinals.
Kolbie Green, senior, TKA
Position: setter
College: Emory & Henry
Green was MVP of the district tournament and earned all-region honors as the Lady Lions (22-9) advanced to the Division II-A state tournament where they finished third.
Nikkayla Stewart, senior, Greeneville
Position: middle/outside hitter
College: undecided
Stewart was MVP of the District 2-AA regular season and was MVP of the Region 1-AA tournament as Greeneville advanced to state for the first time since 1991 and finished fourth.
SECOND TEAM
Briel Norman, senior, Carter
The Montana State commitment led Carter to the Region 2-AA championship match and a berth in the state sectional round, where it lost at Greeneville.
Lauren Patterson, senior, Seymour
Patterson, a Tusculum signee, earned All-District 2-AA honors, leading Seymour (14-7) to the district championship match and a spot in the Region 1-AA semifinals.
Devyn Dunn, sophomore, Catholic
The Lady Irish’s setter was on the Division II-AA All-East Region team, helping the Lady Irish (22-9) win the region title and finish third in the state tournament.
Amanda Mack, freshman, Maryville
Mack was the District 3-AAA Freshman of the Year and was on the all-district first team, helping the Lady Rebels (31-6) win district and region titles and a state tournament berth.
Ira Au, senior, Farragut
Au was selected to the All-District 3-AAA second team as the Lady Admirals (15-11) finished runners-up in the district and region tournaments and advanced to the state sectionals.
Kate Priest, junior, Farragut
Priest earned All-District 3-AAA honorable mention honors, helping Farragut (15-11) reach district and region championship matches and a spot in the state sectionals.
Kami Livingston, junior, Hardin Valley Academy
Livingston was the District 3-AAA Server of the Year and was on the all-district first team, helping the Lady Hawks reach the losers-bracket final of the district tournament.
Melanie Morris, sophomore, Heritage
Morris was on the All-District 3-AAA first team as Heritage (29-10) finished second in the district’s regular season and third in the district tournament.
Lexi Patty, senior, Heritage
The Lady Mountaineers’ libero was on the All-District 3-AAA second team and helped the Lady Mountaineers (29-10) finish second in the district’s regular season and third in the district tournament.
Annabelle Sulish, junior, Concord Christian
Sulish was a force at outside hitter as Concord Christian advanced into the Division II-A East Region tournament before losing to Goodpasture.
Leah Freeman, junior, Anderson County
The Lady Mavs’ libero was chosen to the All-District 3-AA first team and the All-Region 2-AA team as AC (35-9) advanced to the Class AA state championship match.
Abby Cross, senior, William Blount
Cross was selected to the All-District 3-AAA first team, helping the Lady Govs to a fifth-place finish in the district race.
Alexa Austin, senior, TKA
Austin earned all-district honors and was MVP of the region tournament as the Lady Lions (22-9) reached the Division II-A state tournament and finished third.