After 57,000 votes, MS Coast chooses high school volleyball player of the season
Vancleave senior outside hitter Lyndi Bakker was voted best Coast high school volleyball player of the season by Sun Herald readers.
Bakker received 48% of the total votes in the poll that garnered more than 57,000 responses.
The Bulldogs took home their fifth straight state title behind Bakker’s 229 kills and strong 0.229 hit percentage throughout the year.
Vancleave overcame a slow start to the season and entered the 5A playoffs with a losing record. Bakker’s Bulldogs swept through Florence and Long Beach before taking down East Central in five sets to set up the championship match where Vancleave took the winning fifth set against Lafayette.
Bakker was given MHSAA’s 2021 5A volleyball MVP award for her efforts in turning Vancleave’s season around in the playoffs.
Other top volleyball athletes in our poll included:
- Ashley Bulot, Our Lady Academy
- Sydney Mitchell, Gulfport
- Avery Mathison, Our Lady Academy
- Alex Pickich, Vancleave
- Sophia Araujo, Ocean Springs
- Sydney St. Amant, Ocean Springs
- Brooklynn Montana, Gulfport
Honorable mentions
Hancock’s Peyton Russell registered 219 kills and led her team with 50 service aces. The junior middle led the Hawks to a 22-8 record.
Laura Ann Lesley played a key role in Ocean Springs’ 44-win season with 250 kills and 349 assists on the year.
Allie Hamrick of Gulfport had a strong freshman campaign along the net, registering 60 blocks. Hamrick also added 69 kills and 14 digs.