Standout trio highlights All-Messenger volleyball team

Photos by Chris McCarthy and Becky Staples

By Chris McCarthy/Publisher

“Three’s a crowd” does not apply for the 2024 All-Messenger volleyball team.
Glencoe’s Evelyn Nowak, Westbrook Christian’s Raylee Neal and Ashville’s Lydia Northam all produced impressive numbers worthy of special recognition, which is why the trio was named co-Players of the Year.
A junior outside hitter, Nowak (pictured at left) finished with 491 kills, 130 digs and 11 blocks as Glencoe went 34-17, won the area tournament championship and qualify for the North Regional Tournament for the second year in a row. She was a first team Class 3A AVBCA all-state selection.
“Evelyn brings a lot to the table,” said Glencoe volleyball coach Jamie Barkley. “She is someone who works hard and wants to get better every day. When we need to score, Evelyn is eager to move across the net to find a way. She’s consistent and her strength is top notch. She worked hard this year in her defense and made some key passes in games that kept the ball alive. That’s what a program needs – players willing and eager to keep the ball in a volley so we can have a better opportunity to score. When Evelyn improved this part of her game, we improved as a team.”
A junior setter, Neal (pictured middle left) finished with 948 assists, 312 digs, 66 kills and 50 aces while helping the Lady Warriors post a 39-6 record. Westbrook was ranked in the top five in the state volleyball poll for most of the regular season.
“Raylee is not only one of the most important players on the court because of her position and skill,” said Westbrook volleyball coach Denise Mattison. “She is smart and sees the floor not only for our hitters on our side but she sees where to put the ball so we can kill it on our opponents. Raylee has such great instincts that have developed more and more each season. I trust her completely, because I know she’s going to make the right decisions with the ball. Her dedication and love for the sport of volleyball makes her the player that I just have to have on the floor at all times.”
A junior outside hitter/defensive specialist, Northam (pictured lower left) ended up with 515 kills, 388 digs, 74 aces, and 60 blocks as the Lady Bulldogs won 22 games, captured the area title and made it to the North Regional Tournament.
Northam already has 1,381 kills for her career.
“Lydia brings versatility, adaptability and a team-first mentality to our program,” said Ashville volleyball coach Lindsay Sullivan. “She is fun to coach and brings a positive energy to our team. I’ve not coached many players in 18 seasons that can adjust to different strategies and positions the way Lydia can. She is a great blend of talent and competitiveness that elevates her teammates’ level of play.”

2024 All-Messenger Volleyball Team
Players of the Year
Evelyn Nowak, Glencoe; Raylee Neal, Westbrook Christian; Lydia Northam, Ashville
Coach of the Year
Jamie Barkley, Glencoe
First team
Evelyn Nowak, Glencoe, junior outside hitter: 491 kills, 130 digs, 11 blocks
Raylee Neal, Westbrook Christian, junior setter: 948 assists, 312 digs, 66 kills, 50 aces
Lydia Northam, Ashville, junior outside hitter/defensive specialist: 515 kills, 388 digs, 74 aces, 60 blocks
Rylann Shaw, Southside, junior outside hitter: 209 kills, 175 digs, 28 aces, 26 assists
Vada Wilmore, Sardis, junior middle hitter: 498 kills, 264 digs, 40 aces, 29 blocks
Mary Davenport, Hokes Bluff, freshman setter: 702 assists, 72 aces
Marley Cox, Westbrook Christian, senior outside hitter: 298 kills, 379 digs, 51 aces
Kaelyn Hollis, Glencoe, senior libero: 715 digs, 49 aces, 43 assists
Emma Rogers, Southside, junior setter: 406 assists, 195 digs, 49 aces, 16 kills
Ryleigh Cothran, Ashville, sophomore setter/ defensive specialist: 716 assists, 333 digs, 67 aces
Kinlee Montgomery, Glencoe, sophomore setter: 639 assists, 203 digs, 59 aces, 53 kills
Second team
Addi Mashburn, West En

d, senior setter: 519 assists, 36 aces
Alli Jo Amos, Glencoe, senio

r middle hitter: 241 kills, 184 digs, 96 blocks, 19 aces
Ellison Stewart, Westbrook Christian, junior outside hitter: 251 kills, 310 digs, 48 aces
Hannah Westco

tt, Southside, junior middle hitter: 196 kills, 41 blocks, 41 digs, 14 aces
Emersyn Greer, Sardis, freshman setter: 827 assists, 195 digs, 72 aces, 42 kills
Maddie Sanders, Ashville: freshman middle blocker: 245 kills, 77 blocks
Addison Simmons, Hokes Bluff, freshmanmiddle blocker: 208 kills, 83 digs
Landri Lipscomb, Westbrook Christian, junior middle hitter: 232 kills, 100 digs, 43 blocks, 37 aces
Anna Beth Cashman, Southside, junior libero: 222 digs, 37 kills, 30 assists, 28 aces, 10 blocks
Jordyn Knight, Sardis, senior outsider hitter: 189 kills. 256 digs, 68 aces
Kylee Wyatt, Westbrook Christian, senior libero: 355 digs, 48 assists, 31 aces
Mia Talbot, Glencoe, freshman outside hitter: 352 kills, 29 digs, 18 aces
Third team
Cali Wadley, Etowah, junior setter: 288 assists, 48 kills, 26 aces, 26 digs, 22 blocks
Mazely Ball, Hokes Bluff, eighth grade outside hitter/setter: 403 assists, 199 kills
Alexus Ponce, Gaston, senior setter: 305 assists, 73 kills, 50 aces
Jillian Delp, Coosa Christian, senior setter/defensive specialist: 195 digs, 152 assists, 23 aces
Kate Holland, Sardis, junior serve specialist: 204 digs, 81 aces
Avery Barkley, Glencoe, freshman setter: 576 assists, 183 digs, 59 aces, 25 kills
Addi Hammontree, Westbrook Christian, so-phomore middle hitter: 158 kills, 102 digs, 46 blocks, 27 aces
Elizabeth Moore, Southside, senior outside hitter: 173 kills, 135 digs, 31 aces, 16 blocks
Aubrey Haynes, West End, junior middle hitter: 144 kills, 44 blocks

Honorable Mention
Coley Webb, Gadsden City, sophomore outside hitter: 96 kills, 45 digs, 31 aces, 27 blocks
Bailey Houston, Southside, junior defensive specialist: 138 digs, 20 assists
Ella Jennings, Gadsden City: junior defensive specialist: 72 digs, 13 aces
Aubrey Thompson, Etowah, senior middle hitter: 186 kills, 63 blocks, 25 assists, 24 digs, 12 aces
Bella Holland, Gaston, senior outside hitter: 62 kills, 43 blocks
Natalie Delp, Coosa Christian, sophomore outside hitter: 125 kills
Ansley Wallace, Sardis, freshman middle hitter: 106 kills, 31 blocks, 31 digs
Gracyn Bunt, Glencoe: sophomore defensive specialist: 228 digs, 47 aces, 41 assists
Marlee Ellis, Sardis, sophomore libero: 216 digs, 53 aces
Lexi Reeves, Coosa Christian, sophomore setter: 148 assists, 21 aces
Payton Gray, Glencoe: sophomore defensive specialist: 237 digs, 56 assists, 43 aces
Anderson Holman, Coosa