Seniors Mikayla Butzke and Grace Matthews earned All-Channel League Co-MVP honors the league announced on Wednesday.
Butzke, a setter for Dos Pueblos High, helped lead her team to a share of the Channel League title and was a key cog in the offense. DP was knocked out in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs.
Matthews, a libero for San Marcos, also helped lead her team to a share of the Channel League title and was instrumental in the teams’ offense and defense. The Royals advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 3 bracket before losing in four sets to end their season.
“Grace and Mikayla both deserved the awards. In all the matches we played this year there was no better Libero on the floor (than Grace), and I truly believe she was one of the best Liberos in all of CIF. Lastly, her positive energy and commitment to this team in every game was super special and was the motor that drives this team all season long,” San Marcos co-head coach Dwayne Hauschild said.
Coach of the year honors went to DP’s Megan O’Carroll after she guided her team to a share of the league title and a CIF playoff victory.
Overall, San Marcos had 10 players earning All-Channel League honors with junior outside hitter Taylor Wilson and senior middle blocker Brynn Sofro earning First Team honors.
DP had seven girls earn league honors along with sophomore Portia Sherman and senior Becky McKinney also earning First team honors.
Santa Barbara’s Emma Zuffaleto, Hayden Randolph and Santa Ynez’s Rylynn Ibarra rounded out the All-Channel League First Team selection.
Second-team selections included Lompoc’s Amy Mommersbach, Cabrillo’s Morgan McIntyre and Santa Ynez’s Kylie Clouse. Santa Barbara, San Marcos and Dos Pueblos each had two girls earn All-Second Team nods counting the Dons’ Reese Kelley and Anabel Caesar, the Royals’ Bella Johnson and Madison Oriskovich, and the Chargers’ Chloe Hoffman and Erin Curtis.
Five Royals also earned honorable mention nods including setters Ava Cole and Ashley Day and also saw Riley Green, Brooke Moore, and Fionna Pennington earn honors.
Other honorable mention winners consisted of DP’s Natali Flint and Anouk Priebe-Garcia, Santa Ynez’s Natalie Robles and Michaela Baker, Santa Barbara’s Anne Knecht and Charlotte Caesar, Lompoc’s Mya Mendoza and Cabrillo’s Avenlea McGraw.
Email: Jmercado@newspress.com
