West Valley Preps

The All West Valley Preps volleyball team includes the top players in the Northwest Valley for the 2017 season.

Please note these positions may not be the exact role each player was in all season but it is a position they are listed for. And we cheated a bit, with seven players on the second team because both Kyla Chavez and Somner Kasney functioned as a defensive specialist as well as an outside hitter.

The All West Valley Preps volleyball team is:

First team

OH — Bre Allen, senior, Valley Vista

OH — Annie Harte, senior, Deer Valley

OH — Ashley Lifgren, sophomore, Centennial

MB — Kelsie Schiefelbein, senior, Liberty

S — Soleil Gandara, senior, Cactus

L — Valentina Trovato, senior, Shadow Ridge

Valley Vista's Kyla Chavez (#2) digs a ball against Millennium on Oct. 24 at Valley Vista High School in Surprise. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]

Second team

OH — McKenzie Wise, freshman, Sunrise Mountain

OH — Reagan Hope, freshman, Northwest Christian

RS — Becca Belles, senior, Cactus

MB — Madison Harris, junior, Sunrise Mountain

S — Bailey Fuches, freshman, Deer Valley

OH/L - Kyla Chavez, senior, Valley Vista

OH/L — Somner Kasney, junior, Centennial

Mountain Ridge's Jordan Kress (#15) hits the ball over the net against Sandra Day O'Connor on Sept. 26 at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]

Underclassmen to watch:

Cactus: Maddie Diveley, Soph., OH; Centennial: Nyjah Marcelin, Soph., MB; Kacey Stewart, Soph., S; Deer Valley: Savannah Davis, Soph., MB; Carsyn Schuh, Fr., L; Glendale Prep: Caitlin Kao. Soph., S; Nerin Valasakos, Fr., OH; Ironwood: Abby Anaya, Soph., MB; Kellis: Kylie Jeffries, Fr., OH. Liberty: Haeleigh Paulino, Soph., S; Mountain Ridge: Jordan Kress, Soph., OH; Alissa Uhlenhop, Fr., MB; Northwest Christian: Emma Harmeyer, Fr., S; Peoria: Kara Miller, Soph. L; Shadow Ridge: Charlize Ziehmer, Soph., OH; Sunrise Mountain: Adna Mehmedovic, Fr., MB; Shauna Rath, Soph., S; Valley Vista: Aliyah Moore, Fr., OH.

Player of the Year

Ashley Lifgren, Centennial: This year, it was almost a flip of a coin — or more like the roll of a die. The three first team attackers, Lifgren, Allen And Harte, received serious consideration, as did Gandara and Wise, who narrowly missed a first-team attack spot. In the end Lifgren won out for the things she does beyond the kill. The sophomore was third on the 5A semifinalist in blocks, averaged nine digs a match and received the second most serves on the Coyotes despite missing a part of the season.

Runner-up: Bre Allen, Valley Vista — If player of the year goes to the most versatile attacker, it’s only fair that the runner up goes to the most ruthlessly efficient offensive player around these parts. Harte had more variety to her game and showed some exquisite placement skills with her attacks. But she can’t match Allen’s numbers — few Arizona players can. The powerhouse finished the year with 408 kills (3.9 per set), a kill percentage of 54.7, and when errors are factored in, an eye-popping hit percentage of .418 — third in the state and tops in 6A.

Sunrise Mountain head coach Bob Levardo speaks with his players after the 4A title game against Salpointe Catholic on Nov. 9 at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]

Coach of the Year

Bob Levardo, Sunrise Mountain: With only one senior on the roster and none in the rotation, the fourth-year Mustangs coach did an excellent job with his young squad in the regular season. But it was shocking to see how ready Sunrise Mountain was in the spotlight of the playoffs, sweeping aside the top seed and coming inches from knocking off the defending champ in the finals. Despite a young lineup, the Mustangs were unflappable under pressure and took on their coach’s signature calm demeanor.

Runner-up: Anthony Puglisi, Cactus — Centennial’s Cari Bauer, Deer Valley’s Jackie Wallace, Glendale Prep’s Jen Roberge, Northwest Christian’s Jenna Hope and Valley Vista’s David Chavez were strong candidates in this bumper year for local volleyball. But Puglisi is the pick after reversing the course of his program and returning it to prominence in the state’s third-largest division. He managed a top-heavy roster well, finding a couple players to spot in the rotation along the Cobras clear top five.