THE SPORTS REPORTS: ELMIRA'S HOOEY HEADLINES ALL-REGION VOLLEYBALL TEAM; CANDOR'S QUINLAN, TIOGA'S FEEKO ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2023-12-23)

The Sports Reports
Volleyball continued its rise in popularity among girls sports this past season and that has not been lost on the teams within The Sports Reports’ coverage area as more and more teams and athletes enjoy success on the court.

North Penn-Liberty cruised through the NTL, winning a seventh consecutive Large School championship, but the Mounties were upended by Northeast Bradford in the District 4, Class AA championship match.

Elmira’s Piper Hooey, a Division I commit to LeMoyne College, is The Sports Reports 2023 All-Region “Volleyball Player of the Year.” The senior outside hitter led the Express to their first Section IV championship.

She had 130 kills, averaging nine kills per match. She had five matches with 10-plus points and two matches with at least six aces. Hooey had 13 kills in the sectional final and 13 points, two aces and seven kills in the regional final. She was selected to the Class AAA fifth-team all-state and STAC West all-division, and was the Southern Tier Sports Report “Player of the Year.”

The All-Region “Offensive Player of the Year” is Abby O’Connor from Northeast Bradford. The junior middle hitter led the Panthers to a 22-2 record and their first-ever District IV Class AA championship.

She recorded 293 kills with a 43.8 attack percentage, and also had 39 aces and 32 blocks. O’Connor was named PIAA Class AA all-state and the Northern Tier Sports Report “Offensive Player of the Year.”

Cowanesque Valley’s Maggie McClaren is the “Defensive Player of the Year.” A senior, she was named the All-Tioga County (Pa.) “Defensive Player of the Year.” She had 88 blocks for the Indians and added 162 kills and 44 aces.

For the second straight year the “Newcomer of the Year” comes from Tioga. This time it’s RaeAnne Feeko.

The sophomore setter dished out 212 assists, served 148 points, and had 163 digs, 29 kills and eight blocks to lead the Tigers to a Section IV, Class C runner-up showing. She was also named the All-Tioga County (N.Y.) and Valley Sports Report Newcomer of the Year, and was an IAC South Large School first-team selection.

The “Coach and Staff of the Year” is head coach Pam Quinlan, and assistants Michael Swartz and Brittney Noble of Candor.

The Coyotes went undefeated in IAC Small School regular season play, then won the Section IV Class D championship and advanced to the NYSPHSAA Class D semifinals, where they fell to eventual champion Chautauqua Lake in a five-set marathon. Quinlan earned this honor in 2021 as well.

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ALL-REGION VOLLEYBALL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Piper Hooey, Elmira
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Abby O’Connor, Northeast Bradford
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maggie McClaren, Cowanesque Valley
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: RaeAnne Feeko, Tioga
COACH OF THE YEAR: Pam Quinlan, Candor

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FIRST TEAM
Piper Hooey, Elmira: See above.

Saige Lehman, North Penn-Liberty, senior, OH: All-Tioga County (Pa.) Player of the Year. She recorded 183 kills (3.2 kills per set), 169 digs, 121 points, 27 aces, four blocks and 10 assists.

Taylor Rae Jones, Williamson, senior, OH: All-Tioga County (Pa.) Offensive Player of the Year.  She recorded 276 kills, 277 digs, 104 points, 46 aces, 19 assists and eight blocks.

Madisen Jones, Elmira, junior, MH: Class AAA third-team all-state, STAC West/Metro all-conference, Southern Tier Sports Report Defensive Player of the Year. She registered 166 kills.

Gracee Work, Corning, junior, OH: Class AAA third-team all-state, STAC West/Metro all-conference, Southern Tier Sports Report Offensive Player of the Year. She had 109 kills and 170 digs, with 40 aces and she is this year’s.

Maggie Hamed, Owego, sophomore, OH: Class A fourth-team all-state STAC Central/East all-star, All-Tioga County (N.Y.) co-Player of the Year. She connected for 169 kills, 120 digs and 33 aces (Owego does not track service points).

Phoebe Swartz, Candor, junior, S: Class D first-team all-state, Class D all-tournament team, IAC Small School co-MVP, All-Tioga County (N.Y.) co-Player of the Year. Had 510 assists, 242 service points, including 94 aces.

Lexi Herceg, Owego, junior, S: Class A third-team all-state, STAC Central all-division, All-Tioga County (N.Y.) first-team. Had 314 assists, 147 digs, 28 aces (Owego does not track service points).

Nicola Soper, Candor, sophomore, OH: Class D first-team all-state, IAC Small School first-team, All-Tioga County (N.Y.) first-team. Had 169 kills, 154 points, including 56 aces, and 70 digs.

Abby O’Connor, Northeast Bradford: See above.

Emma Neuber, Northeast Bradford, senior, OH: Northern Tier Sports Report Player of the Year. She had 179 kills, 52 aces, 203 digs.

SECOND TEAM
Maggie McClaren, Cowanesque Valley, senior, MH: See above.

Raegan VanGorden, Williamson, sophomore: All-Tioga County (Pa.) Newcomer of the Year. She collected 602 assists for the Warriors and added 231 points with 84 aces, 215 digs and 38 kills.

Grace Handy, Candor, senior, MH: Class D third-team all-state, IAC Small School first-team, All-Tioga County (N.Y.) first-team. Had 122 kills, 122 points with 50 aces.

Layni Whitmore, Tioga, senior, OH: Class C fifth-team all-state, IAC Small School first-team, All-Tioga County (N.Y.) first-team, Valley Sports Report Player of the Year. Had 79 kills, and 14 blocks, to go along with 100 service points, 88 digs, and three setter assists.

Megan Spohn, North Penn-Liberty, senior: 460 assists, 194 digs, 173 points, 66 aces and 23 kills.

Hannah Smith, Corning, senior, OH: STAC West/Metro all-conference. After missing part of her junior year in 2022 with an injury, she came back and had 102 kills, 136 digs and 42 aces in 42 sets this season.

Kali Ayres, Troy, OH: NTL Utility Player of the Year. She had 141 kills, 90 aces, 209 digs and 248 assists.

Joelie Stephens, Williamson, junior, L: 343 digs, 201 points with 42 aces, 17 assists and 10 kills.

Gabby Susanj, Northeast Bradford, S: She went over 1,000 assists for her career on the year. She also had team leading 62 aces. She finished with 569 assists on the season.

THIRD TEAM
Adrianna Calbi, Horseheads, junior, MH/RS: STAC West all-division. A key performer for the Blue Raiders, leading the team in kills.

Kiersten McCarthy, Horseheads, senior, S: STAC West all-division. Had over 200 assists in leading the Blue Raiders this season.

Jocilyn Strange, Williamson, senior: 117 kills, 32 blocks and 28 digs.

Aryana Andrus, Troy, MH: She had 172 kills with a 43.8 attack percentage. She also had 43 aces, 63 blocks. NTSR defensive player of the year.

Lexi Urena, Wellsboro, junior, OH: Recorded 148 kills, 131 digs, 139 points and 61 aces.

Addisyn Chorney, Elmira, senior, OH: STAC West/Metro all-division. A key component of Elmira’s success this year who helped lead the Express to a sectional title.

Piper Emmick, Corning, junior, S: STAC West/Metro all-division. She had 265 assists, 22 kills, 92 digs and 19 aces in 40 sets.

Meredith Brownlee, Wellsboro, senior, OH/MH: 136 kills, 176 points with 44 aces and 125 digs.

Ella Swingle, North Penn-Liberty, senior, OH/MH: 151 kills, 130 points with 33 aces and 166 digs.


FOURTH TEAM

Natalie Cleveland, Wellsboro, senior, L: 317 digs, 25 assists, 106 points and 16 aces.

Logan Georgia, Owego, junior, MH: STAC Central/East all-division. 92 kills, 27 blocks.

Mikenna Buchanan, Williamson, senior: 83 kills, 96 points, 44 aces, 16 blocks, 86 digs and 45 assists.

Faith Brenchley, Spencer-Van Etten, junior, S: All-Tioga County first-team, IAC first-team all-star. The junior setter broke two school records for most assists in a season (336) and most assists in a career (364). She had 167 points with 62 aces, 336 assists, 57 kills, 175 digs and six blocks.

Cha Gardner, Newark Valley, senior, MH: All-Tioga County second-team, IAC first-team all-star, 16 aces, 204 kills, 7 assists, 52 blocks and 119 digs.

Kate Stouffer, Candor, junior, OH: IAC South Small School second-team, All-Tioga County second-team. Contributed 107 kills and 47 digs and 76 points (25 aces).
Brooklyn Evans, Towanda, MH: She finished with 109 kills, 59 blocks, 122 digs and 73 points. She was my newcomer of the year.

Kiarra DeLancey, Northeast Bradford, L: She had 305 digs on the season, and went over 500 digs for her career.

Jackie Brown, Spencer-Van Etten, senior, L: All-Tioga County first team and IAC Small School first team. She had 152 service points with 34 aces, and 191 digs (broke school record with 337 career digs.

RaeAnne Feeko, Tioga: See above.

ALL-REGION NEWCOMERS
RaeAnne Feeko, Tioga, sophomore
Raegan VanGorden, Williamson, sophomore
Brooklyn Evans, Towanda
Sam Molingou, Corning
Taylor Main, Wellsboro, sophomore, S
Lauren Gillette, Spencer-Van Etten, sophomore, MH
Blake Eckart, Wellsboro, freshman, OH/MH
Bailey Snyder, Williamson, freshman
Ella Largey, Wellsboro, freshman, S
Kylie Pickett, Wyalusing
Cailyn VanNoy, Canton