Given an outstanding track record of performance during the last decade, it was probably only a matter of time before Bayfield Volleyball garnered recognition outside of Denver, let alone state borders.
Headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced the Under Armour-sponsored 2014 High School All-America Watch and Phenom lists, and two Wolverines' names were included.
On the Watch list was BHS' Kirstie Hillyer. Hillyer is one of 13 members of the Class of 2015 honored from Colorado, one of 10 already snapped up to play collegiately (she has committed to Colorado State University,) and the only one representing the Class 3A ranks.
According to an accompanying press release, the Watch list includes "elite high school senior volleyball players who possess the potential to be considered for the Under Armour High School All-America Awards Program," and who have "received some type of honor (All-State Team, AVCA/Max Preps Players of the Week, etc.), identifying them as a top player in their region/country."
On the Phenom billing was sophomore Maddi Foutz.
Amongst the Class of '17, the libero was one of three honored from Colorado, along with 5A Highlands Ranch outside hitter Melissa Evans and 5A Arvada Ralston Valley libero Lyric Herbert-Watkins. In all, five from the Centennial State were recognized on the Phenom List, with Foutz also representing the smallest-sized school.
The Phenom List is similar to the Watch, in that Phenoms have also received some honor singling them out as one of the best in their region/country. And while the Watch list is exclusive only to seniors, the Phenom roll is open to freshmen, sophomores and juniors. For both lists' purposes, players' head coaches, club coaches or club directors each must be "an active AVCA member in good standing with the association through October 1, 2014."
Foutz and others included on the Phenom List will receive a formal invitation to participate in the AVCA Phenom College Preparatory Program, which is an invite-only weekend for unsigned student-athletes and their parents to learn, network and socialize.
Congratulations Kirstie and Maddi!
