HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Virginia Sports Information Directors have tabbed Cara Baarendse a first team All-State Volleyball team selection while Kathryn Caine and Victoria Hamsher earn second team honors.
This marks Baarendse’s third nod to the All-State team. In addition, Baarendse won her third consecutive All-ACC honors and AVCA All-East region accolades. She finished her career with a hitting percentage of .342 to set the Virginia Tech record while tallying 1,236 kills in her four seasons to finish ninth in the Tech record book. This season, Baarendse had 10 double-digit kill matches and started in all 30 matches, playing all 112 sets.
Caine led the team in hit percentage this season and was ranked fifth in the ACC with .355, the tally ranks her fifth all-time in Tech’s single season records. She posted 232 kills, averaging 2.07 per set. The sophomore posted double-digit kills seven times over the season and set a career-high with 16 against Duke. In addition, Caine tallied 50 blocks on the season.
Hamsher hit for .351 on the season while recording 236 kills. She was second on the team and sixth in the ACC in hitting percentage. The junior tallied six double-digit kill matches and ranked fourth on the team in kills per set at 2.13. Hamsher led the team in blocks with 95 and posted seven blocks against #23 Michigan and #15 Florida State.
Uniting both the Player and Rookie of the Year awards for the first time ever was Liberty redshirt-freshman Caroline Douglas. The six-footer from Greenville, N.C. averaged 3.69 kills and 0.54 blocks per set in leading her team to the Big South crown and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. She was also the Player and Rookie of the Year in the Big South, while also earning a spot on the ECAC All-Star team and honorable-mention AVCA All-Region honors.
Liberty mentor Shane Pinder was named the state's Coach of the Year for the fourth time, after leading his charges to a 25-8 record and the conference championship. The Big South Coach of the Year as well, Pinder was previously VaSID's top coach in 2007, 2008, and 2011.
VaSID Coach of the Year – Shane Pinder, Liberty
VaSID Player of the Year – Caroline Douglas, Fr., Liberty
VaSID Rookie of the Year – Caroline Douglas, Fr., Liberty
First Team
Charlotte Armstead, Sr., Norfolk St.
Cara Baarendse, Sr., Virginia Tech
Jade Craycraft, Jr., Liberty
Danielle Erb, Sr., James Madison
Loren Thomas, Sr., Liberty
Caroline Douglas, Fr., Liberty
Second Team
Natalie Abel, Sr., James Madison
Kathryn Caine, So., Virginia Tech
Victoria Hamsher, Jr., Virginia Tech
Dessi Koleva, Fr., William & Mary
Emily Rottman, Jr., Virginia
Vendula Strakova, So., Hampton
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