Area high school volleyball players chosen for All-State, All-Star teams

Nov. 21—High school volleyball season officially came to a close earlier in November, with state champions crowned in all five classifications.

Not long after, it was time to honor the state's best players by unveiling the All-State teams and picking the North-South All-Star rosters, with the latter being released this week by the South Carolina Coaches Association of Women's Sports.

Six area players earned All-State honors in their respective classifications, with one also earning a spot in the North-South All-Star games.

South Aiken senior middle blocker Marlena Lee, who recently signed with Campbell University, is a Class AAAA All-State selection after leading the entire classification in kills with 418 while hitting .261. She also had a team-high 294 digs and 41 total blocks and served up 47 aces, picking up Region 4-AAAA Player of the Year honors along the way.

She was also chosen for the 4A/5A South All-Star team, which will face the 4A/5A North All-Stars at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 22 at Brookland-Cayce High School.

Fox Creek senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Abigail Leopard and junior outside hitter Bella Cutright were named to the Class AAA All-State team after leading the Predators to another Region 4-AAA title. Leopard, the Region Player of the Year, had 181 kills on .207 hitting with 53 aces and 126 digs, and Cutright had 120 kills, 153 digs and 38 service aces.

Representing Strom Thurmond on the Class AA All-State team for the second year in a row is senior opposite-side hitter Leigh Anne Strock. Strock, also a multi-time All-State selection in softball, was eighth in the state in Class AA in both kills (235) and digs (326), and she also had 34 assists and 34 total blocks.

Horse Creek Academy senior middle blocker Savannah Savage and freshman libero Lucy Taylor were both picked for the Class A All-State team after leading the Stallions to an undefeated regular season and Region 3-A title. Savage, the Region Player of the Year, is All-State for the second year in a row after hitting a classification-best .462 with 131 kills, 20 total blocks and 57 aces. Taylor, a team captain in her second year playing varsity, was credited with 78 digs and 24 service aces.