Nelson, Sparks share Sunset League MVP honors

After their high school girls’ volleyball teams split their Sunset League meetings this fall, Huntington Beach’s Bailey Nelson and Edison’s Lindsey Sparks picked up co-MVP honors in league.

Nelson, a senior outside hitter who committed to play beach volleyball at Jacksonville State, had 256 kills, 218 digs and 27 service aces.

Huntington Beach had four more players added to the first team, including its highly-efficient middle blockers in senior Mahina Williamson and sophomore Xolani Hodel.

Williamson had 174 kills on .592 hitting with 56 blocks, while Hodel had 222 kills on .678 hitting with 79 blocks.

Senior setter Cristina Baily had 1,087 assists, 192 digs and 44 aces.

Senior opposite Jillian Kim produced 297 kills, 39 blocks and 26 aces. Kim has signed with Sacred Heart University.

Huntington Beach went 25-7, winning the Sunset League with a record of 9-1. The Oilers were eliminated in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs by Corona del Mar.

Senior outside hitter Maggie Baker, who has also signed with Jacksonville State, and sophomore libero Mia Christensen were named to the second team for the Oilers.

Sparks, a senior who played both setter and outside hitter, had to do a little bit of everything for the Chargers this year. Edison coach Matt Skolnik referred to Sparks as the team’s best option in a number of areas, including setting and hitting.

Sparks played outside hitter in most matches this season, producing a team-high 198 kills with 242 digs and 25 aces.

Sparks, a repeat first-team selection, will play beach volleyball at UCLA.

Joining Sparks as first-team selections for the Chargers were middle blocker Kristin Austin, libero Kealani Knickerbocker and opposite Taylor Gray. All three were seniors.

Austin had 117 kills, 46 blocks and 22 aces, while Gray produced 147 kills and 36 blocks. Knickerbocker had 286 digs.

Edison went 16-11 overall, dropping its opening match of the Division 1 playoffs to Vista Murrieta in five sets. The Chargers finished second in the league at 8-2.

Junior middle blocker Maggie Gunther and senior setter Lindsey Gass were honored as second-team selections for Edison.

Front row senior Vivian Donovan and senior setter Delaney DeCinces earned first-team honors for Newport Harbor.

Donovan had 527 kills, 68 blocks and 14 aces.

DeCinces, who recently committed to Georgia Southern University, had 825 assists, 95 digs, 15 blocks and five aces.

The Sailors were 8-20 overall, placing fourth in the league with a record of 4-6.

Newport Harbor sophomore libero Jasmine Amirie and junior outside hitter Allison Crandell were named to the second team.

Phoebe Minch, a sophomore outside hitter from Fountain Valley, and Helen McMullin, a sophomore middle blocker from Marina, also earned second-team honors.

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