2020 Volleyball Freshman Brown Named Iowa Player of the Year
January 13, 2020 | Volleyball
By Austin Coats, Graduate Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE – A week after beginning classes at Mississippi State University, MSU volleyball freshman Akacia Brown was named Gatorade Iowa Volleyball Player of the Year on Monday (Jan. 13) following an outstanding 2019 senior season.
"Akacia is a special player," MSU volleyball head coach Julie Darty said. "I'm so proud of her for this recognition. Iowa is a state that has a ton of volleyball talent, and I can't even begin to express how proud I am for her to be recognized as the top player in the state!
"Akacia has an incredibly bright career in front of her, and we are so excited that she is here early to start the career with us now!"
A MaxPreps first team All-American, Under Armour third team All-American and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Player of the Year, Brown led Cedar Falls High School to a 44-1 record, class 5A state title and a No. 6 national ranking by PrepVolleyball.com. Brown tallied 517 kills, 308 digs, 65 blocks and 50 service aces as a six-rotation outside hitter in the fall.
En route to Cedar Falls' second state title in three seasons, Brown put her hitting prowess on full display, collecting an Iowa 5A Tournament single-match record with 37 kills in the semifinal contest.
Brown highlights a talented seven-player 2020 signing class that features All-Americans, state champions and a pair of transfer student-athletes in Jessica Kemp and Alden Willis.
Brown, Kemp, Willis and freshman Francesca McBride all arrived on campus for the spring semester and will participate during the program's spring schedule.
More information about MSU volleyball's incoming freshman class can be found here.
Mississippi State Volleyball 2020 Signing Class
Akacia Brown - 6-2 - Outside Hitter - Waterloo, Iowa/Cedar Falls HS
Skylar Buckley - 5-9 - Setter - Raleigh, N.C./North Raleigh Christian Academy
Shania Cromartie - 5-9 - Outside Hitter - Tallahassee, Fla./Leon HS
Lilly Gunter - 5-8 - Libero - Oviedo Fla./Oviedo HS
Jessica Kemp - 6-3 - Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter - Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford HS (NC State)
Francesca McBride - 6-3 - Opposite Hitter - Troy, Mich./Troy HS
Alden Willis - 5-4 - Junior - Defensive Specialist - Raleigh, N.C./Broughton HS (ECU)
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching @HailStateVB.
STARKVILLE – A week after beginning classes at Mississippi State University, MSU volleyball freshman Akacia Brown was named Gatorade Iowa Volleyball Player of the Year on Monday (Jan. 13) following an outstanding 2019 senior season.
"Akacia is a special player," MSU volleyball head coach Julie Darty said. "I'm so proud of her for this recognition. Iowa is a state that has a ton of volleyball talent, and I can't even begin to express how proud I am for her to be recognized as the top player in the state!
"Akacia has an incredibly bright career in front of her, and we are so excited that she is here early to start the career with us now!"
A MaxPreps first team All-American, Under Armour third team All-American and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Player of the Year, Brown led Cedar Falls High School to a 44-1 record, class 5A state title and a No. 6 national ranking by PrepVolleyball.com. Brown tallied 517 kills, 308 digs, 65 blocks and 50 service aces as a six-rotation outside hitter in the fall.
En route to Cedar Falls' second state title in three seasons, Brown put her hitting prowess on full display, collecting an Iowa 5A Tournament single-match record with 37 kills in the semifinal contest.
Brown highlights a talented seven-player 2020 signing class that features All-Americans, state champions and a pair of transfer student-athletes in Jessica Kemp and Alden Willis.
Brown, Kemp, Willis and freshman Francesca McBride all arrived on campus for the spring semester and will participate during the program's spring schedule.
More information about MSU volleyball's incoming freshman class can be found here.
Mississippi State Volleyball 2020 Signing Class
Akacia Brown - 6-2 - Outside Hitter - Waterloo, Iowa/Cedar Falls HS
Skylar Buckley - 5-9 - Setter - Raleigh, N.C./North Raleigh Christian Academy
Shania Cromartie - 5-9 - Outside Hitter - Tallahassee, Fla./Leon HS
Lilly Gunter - 5-8 - Libero - Oviedo Fla./Oviedo HS
Jessica Kemp - 6-3 - Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter - Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford HS (NC State)
Francesca McBride - 6-3 - Opposite Hitter - Troy, Mich./Troy HS
Alden Willis - 5-4 - Junior - Defensive Specialist - Raleigh, N.C./Broughton HS (ECU)
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching @HailStateVB.
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