Volleyball has been played for years in high school, but in the last decade, the level of play in the Emerald Coast has taken giant steps forward. Each year, the level of play continues to improve, and more young ladies are competing at the collegiate level.
In The Game Magazine is taking a look at some of the leaders of the three premier volleyball schools in the area. Catholic High School, Gulf Breeze High School, and Niceville High School have had storied matches in their rivalries this past decade.
Gulf Breeze High School
Head Coach: Ryan Davenport
Julia Denby
Senior
Middle Blocker
Parents: DJ and Lea Denby
Siblings: Hannah, Luke, and DJ III
Influential People: Nathan Sellars; Wayne Sellars; Coach Davenport; Jaime Crowel; Chrisse Marcillat
Sports Achievements: MVP University of Florida Volleyball Camp; 2014 GBHS Volleyball MVP
Academic Achievements: Honor Roll 2012-2016
Other Honors: First Place, regional HOSA competition (2012-2015); Third Place, State HOSA; Volunteer at Gulf Breeze Hospital
College: Not sure (where I will attend) but want to pursue pre-med and work in the medical field
Team Goal: Win state
Allison Von Brock
Senior
Libero
Parents: David and Stefanie David Von Brock
Sibling: Ryan
Influential People: My parents and past coaches
Academic Achievements: Honor Roll
Goals: (Academic) Get a degree in K-12 education and teach elementary school; (Athletic) Win state and lead region in digs
Sidebar (for Allison Von Brock): Did you ever wonder why one member of a volleyball team wears a different colored jersey and comes on and off the court frequently? Well, that’s a specialized position called the libero – a specialist defensive player (also known as a “back row specialist”). The libero must wear a contrasting jersey color from their teammates and cannot block or attack the ball while it is entirely above the net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back row player, without prior notice to the officials.
Maddie Grace McCurdy
Junior
Outside / Back Row
Parents: Todd and Karen McCurdy
Siblings: Cayson, Ryland
Influential People: Monette Hodges; Jarrod Denmon; Nathan Sellars; Larry Brown
Athletic Achievements: All-Area Athlete; Team Co-Captain; Basketball Team MVP (Plays for GBHS women’s varsity basketball team)
Goals: (Academic) Major in either criminal justice or in the medical field; (Athletic) Play a sport in college, and be the best athlete I can be to help my team succeed
Niceville High School
Head Coach: John Key
Rachel McMenimen
Sophomore
Setter / Outside Hitter
Parents: Greg and Rachel McMenimen
Influential People: My parents; Giulio Simonelli (of the West Florida Waves); Sammy Nimpchaimanatham (US Beach Coach); Manual Hartmann (German indoor Coach); Karl Kaden (German Volleyball Coach)
Academic Achievements: Class of 2018 President; National Junior Honor Society; 4.5 weighted GPA; 2015 NHS Academic Letter of Highest Honors; 2015 Doolittle Institute Young Innovator Award; First Place 2014 & 2015 Engineering Fair Regional and State of Florida Science and Engineering Fair; NaGISA; Selected to represent the state of Florida at the 2016 Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Cambridge, Mass.
Other Achievements: Fluent in German and French, and currently studying Mandarian Chinese
Colleges Interested In: Yale, Cal Poly, William & Mary
Goals: (Academic) To study engineering physics; (Athletic) Play collegiate volleyball and professional volleyball
Catholic High School
Head Coach: Giulio Simonelli
Northwest Florida / December 2015
Emerald Coast Volleyball Leaders
