North Iredell senior Emma Norris is the Charlotte Observer volleyball player of the year after leading the Raiders to an unbeaten season and a 3A state championship.
North Iredell finished the year 33-0.
Norris, the 3A state championship’s most valuable player, had 24 kills in the state final. She finished the season with 432 kills and 62 blocks. The all-state performer and 3A Western Foothills’ player of the year will continue her academic and athletic careers at East Carolina.
▪ North Iredell’s Dave Markland is the Observer’s coach of the year. His team won 99 of 107 games it played and is 73-3 over the past three seasons.
Charlotte Observer Volleyball Player of the Year: Emma Norris, North Iredell, Sr.
Charlotte Observer Volleyball Coach of the Year: Dave Markland, North Iredell.
FIRST TEAM
Averie Dale, Fred T. Foard: The Lenoir-Rhyne commit and all-state pick had 313 kills, 98 blocks and 41 aces for the 3A state semifinalists.
Caroline Farthing, Watauga: The Appalachian State commit, a two-time, Northwestern 3A/4A conference player of the year, had 559 kills and 342 digs this season.
Ava Leahy, Providence: The Appalachian State commit was an all-state pick and Southwestern 4A conference player of the year. Leahy had 262 kills, 25 blocks for the conference regular season and tournament champions.
Ari Lopez, Cannon School: The Cougars’ all-state setter was CISAA conference player of the year. She had 643 assists, 74 aces and 46 kills for the NCISAA 4A state runner-up.
Olivia McElroy, Hough: The Queen City Athletic conference player of the year was an all-state pick. A University of Arizona beach volleyball commit, she had 216 kills, 62 aces, 64 assists, 32 blocks and 245 digs this season, while playing all six spots in the rotation, rarely coming off the court for the 4A state semifinalists.
Maria Nix, Cannon School: The Cougars’ all-state sophomore outside hitter had 360 kills, 128 digs, 54 aces and 22 blocks this season.
Charlie Meadoweal, Palisades: The Pumas’ junior was SoMeck 4A conference player of the year. She had 251 kills, 241 assists, 195 digs and 72 aces as she led the first-year program to an 18-6 record.
Aaliyah Mitchell, Sun Valley: The Georgia State commit had 483 kills, 260 digs, 116 aces and 24 blocks this season.
Emma Norris, North Iredell: The East Carolina commit and all-state pick was Western Foothills’ Athletic 3A conference player of the year. Norris had 432 kills and 62 blocks this season.
Hailey Pearce, Sun Valley: The Virginia Tech commit, a senior, had 374 kills, 272 digs, 52 aces and 27 blocks for the 4A state runner-up Spartans.
Camryn Shelton, Ardrey Kell: The University of Central Florida commit was an all-state setter who had 670 assists, 261 digs, 34 aces and 29 blocks this season.
Madeline Sigmon, North Iredell: The University of Alabama at Birmingham commit was another all-state pick. She had 292 kills, 235 digs, 34 blocks and 24 aces for the 3A state champions.
Meile Songalia, King Mountain: The Mountaineers’ all-state pick was Big South conference offensive player of the year. Songalia had 476 kills, 308 digs and 43 aces for a 27-3 team.
Maddie Smith, University Christian: The 6-foot-1 all-state senior and Appalachian State commit had 698 kills, 297 digs, 82 aces and 16 blocks for the NCISAA 2A state champions.
Jadyn Webb, Cox Mill: The Chargers’ all-state senior libero was Greater Metro 4A conference player of the year. She had 613 digs, 85 assists and 28 aces this season.
Anna Ungerer, Union Academy: The Cardinals’ all-state senior had 457 kills, 309 digs, 51 aces and 23 blocks while leading Union Academy to a second straight 1A state championship.
Arielle Walker, Davidson Day: The Patriots’ all-state junior had 455 kills, 225 digs, 49 aces and 22 blocks for the NCISAA 2A state runner-up.
SECOND TEAM
Brooke Aeschliman, South Iredell, Jr.
Anne Bradley Bing, Gaston Day, So.
Emma Clarke, West Rowan, Jr.
Laney Craig, Fred T. Foard, Sr.
Sophie Deese, University Christian, Sr.
Jordin Glass, Davidson Day, So.
Izora Gragg, Patton, Sr.
Jordyn Gray, Cox Mill, Fr.
Amaya Hall, Sun Valley, Sr.
Logan Henderson, Hopewell, Sr.
Rileigh Kiser, Cherryville, Sr.
Giselle Little, Mountain Island Charter, Jr.
Ava Lowder, Mount Pleasant, Jr.
Lauren Munday, Union Academy, Sr.
Gio Salinas, Ardrey Kell, Sr.
Brooke Scheffler, Watauga, Sr.
Sydney Tate, Davidson Day, Jr.
Ella Whittington, Hough, Jr.