2018 ALL-5STAR PREPS VOLLEYBALL TEAMS
—
FIRST TEAM
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Webb School of Knoxville’s Kayleigh Hames (5) celebrates a point against Concord Christian in the TSSAA Division II Class A state volleyball championship on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Kayleigh Hames, 6-2 senior, Webb School of Knoxville
Position: outside hitter.
Team finish: Lady Spartans went 35-7 and won their sixth consecutive Division II-A state championship.
College: Signed with Pepperdine.
Noteworthy: MVP of 2018 Division II-A state tournament; four-year nominee for Under Armour Phenom list by American Volleyball Coaches Association; four-time all-state player.
Haley Jenkins (Webb)
Haley Jenkins, 5-8 sophomore, Webb School of Knoxville
Position: setter.
Team finish: Lady Spartans finished 35-7 and won their sixth consecutive Division II-A state championship.
College: Committed to Campbell University.
Noteworthy: Took over as starting setter in 2018 for Nicklin Hames, a freshman starting setter this fall for NCAA runner-up Nebraska; Jenkins took seven visits before committing to Campbell.
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Kailey Keeble (middle) of Heritage is first team All-5Star Preps. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Kailey Keeble, 5-8 senior, Heritage
Position: setter, outside hitter.
Team finish: Lady Mountaineers were 30-8 and advanced to the Class AAA state tournament, the program’s first-ever state appearance.
College: Signed with Tennessee (setter).
Noteworthy: MVP of District 3-AAA, district tournament, and Region 2-AAA tournament; Under Armour All-American honorable mention; AAU 18-Open All-American.
Olivia Cunningham of Catholic
Olivia Cunningham, 6-0 senior, Catholic
Position: outside hitter
Team finish: Lady Irish finished 26-10 and finished runner-up in the Class AA state tournament for the second consecutive year.
College: signed with East Tennessee State University.
Noteworthy: Helped the Lady Irish to four consecutive appearances in the state tournament, including the 2016 state championship; MVP of District 3-AA tournament; all-district and all-state selection.
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Caroline Bower of Farragut. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Caroline Bower, 6-0 senior, Farragut
Position: outside hitter.
Team finish: Lady Admirals went 31-15, finished runner-up in the Region 2-AAA, and lost in a state sectional match at Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett.
College: Signed with College of Charleston.
Noteworthy: Two-time District 3-AAA Hitter of the Year; 2018 team captain, member of all-district and all-region tournament teams; AVAC Phenom in 2017 and AVAC 2018 All-American nominee; four-time TSSAA All-Academic Award winner.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Sidney Sherrill of Concord Christian. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Sidney Sherrill, 6-2 senior, Concord Christian School
Position: outside hitter.
Team finish: Lady Lions finished 36-12 after a Division II-A state runner-up finish to Webb School of Knoxville.
College: Signed with East Tennessee State University.
Noteworthy: Division II-A all-district and all-region player; four-year starter for state Final Four team; AAU Academic All-American.
SECOND TEAM
Cassie Kuerschen, 5-8 sophomore, Catholic
Position: libero
Team finish: Lady Irish went 26-10 after runner-up finish in the Class AA state tournament.
College: Committed to Tennessee.
Noteworthy: District 3-AA Defensive Player/Libero of the year; took over as Lady Irish’s starting libero midway through 2017 season on their way to state runner-up finish; chose UT over Maryland.
Sydney Cherney, senior, Farragut
Position: libero, outside hitter
Team finish: Lady Admirals went 31-15 with a runner-up finish in the Region 2-AAA tournament and a state sectional loss at Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett.
College: Committed to East Tennessee State University (libero)
Noteworthy: Four-time All-District selection and three-time All-Region selection; District 3-AAA Server and Defensive Specialist/Libero of year in 2017 and 2018; AVAC All-American nominee in 2018; Team-high GPA in 2017 and 2018.
Meg Mersman, junior, Maryville
Position: middle blocker
Team finish: Lady Rebels finished 21-14 after a loss in the District 3-AAA tournament.
College: Committed to Lipscomb.
Noteworthy: District 3-AAA Blocker of the Year; All-District selection; overcame early-season injury and averaged 14 kills in district matches; previously committed to Tennessee.
Sophie Cain, junior, West
Position: setter
Team finish: Lady Rebels advanced to the District 4-AAA championship match before losing to Oak Ridge.
College: Committed to Appalachian State.
Noteworthy: All-District 4-AAA offensive selection; helped West advance to the Region 2-AAA tournament before losing to state-bound Heritage.
Jenna Forster, 6-1 junior, William Blount
Position: outside/right-side hitter
Team finish: Lady Governors lost to Maryville in the District 3-AAA tournament.
College: Committed to East Tennessee State University.
Noteworthy: All-District 3-AAA first-team selection; Blount County Tournament all-tournament selection.
Leoni Kunz, 6-0 junior, Webb
Position: right-side hitter
Team finish: Lady Spartans went 35-7 and won their sixth consecutive Division II-A state championship.
College: Undecided.
Noteworthy: Starter since her freshman year; posted eight kills and seven digs in 2018 state championship match.