THE TIMES 1994 FALL ALL-COUNTY TEAMS : Every Day Was May’s on Court : Athlete of the year: Newport Harbor outside hitter, perhaps the best player in nation, was the Sailors’ heart and soul.

Misty May, The Times player of the year, was easily the finest girls’ volleyball player in Orange County this season.

One publication named May the top high school player in the nation.

May, a 5-foot-9 senior, earned her second consecutive player of the year award from The Times after leading the Sailors to their first State Division I championship this season. Newport Harbor lost in the State Division I final last season.

Newport Harbor, which won the 1992 State Division III championship in May’s sophomore year, finished 33-1 and was ranked No. 1 in the nation by other publications this season.

So was the State title a perfect ending to her high school career?

“Yeah,” May said after the Sailors’ three-game victory over Stockton St. Mary’s in the State Division I final Dec. 3. Then a wide grin flashed across her face.

“Now I’m looking forward to seeing some of my teammates on the other side of the net,” May said.

May, who has orally committed to Long Beach State, could see some of her teammates in college. Middle blocker Melissa Schutz has committed to Colorado and Sara Fairborn, Tina Bowman and Laura Osborne also are being recruited.

May played mostly at outside hitter this season but probably will become a setter in college. Debbie Green, the U.S. Olympic team setter in 1984, is an assistant at Long Beach State and May has similar goals.

This season, May was the biggest cog in a Newport Harbor machine that will be remembered as one of the finest teams in county history.

A quick and powerful outside hitter, May, a four-year starter, also was an outstanding defensive player. Her all-around game is the result of countless hours of practice and play on the beach.

“Her defense and passing are incredible,” Corona del Mar Coach Lance Stewart said. “She covers so much court . . . she scores more points for them with things outside of hitting.”