We conclude our countdown of the 2015 Preseason Top 25 Volleyball Rankings, presented by Asics, with No. 1, St. James Academy.
Be sure to
check out the previous teams, and come back this fall as we continue to have rankings, photos and video for high school girls volleyball.
St. James Academy head coach Nancy Dorsey (back row left) possess a roster loaded with talent including players (front row left to right) Taylor Nill and Kathleen Reilly; (back row) Jenna Gray, Audriana Fitzmorris, McKenna Coatney and Kenzie Kraft.
Photos by Sam Soliday
School Division: 5A (state's second largest)
2014 finish: 40-7 (state runner-up)
Head coach: Nancy Dorsey
Dorsey was a four-year varsity performer at the University of Kansas, and was the American Family Insurance All-USA Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2013. Six times in the seven years Dorsey has coached, the Thunder have won 40 or more matches. She has a career record 291-18.
Key Returnees: Audriana Fitzmorris (uncommitted): The 6-foot-5 three-time MaxPreps All-American is a front row menace (6.3 kills per set) and was the 2014 MaxPreps Junior of the Year. She has experience with Team USA youth teams, including this year's Women's Junior National Team.
Jenna Gray averaged 7.3 assists per set last season.
(Stanford commit): The 6-0 setter is an all-around standout who averaged 7.3 assists and 3.4 kills in 2014. Gray was the 2012 MaxPreps Freshman of the Year and, like Fitzmorris, is a three-time MaxPreps All-American.
Other Returnees: Seniors
Kathleen Reilly (honorable mention all-state), 6-3
McKenna Coatney,
Taylor Nill and
Kenzie Kraft, along with sophomore
Allison Coens, all played more than 100 sets a year ago.
Key Losses: Abby Brown (now at Benedictine).
2015 Outlook: With Gray and Fitzmorris leading the way with five other highly experienced players, St. James could be headed toward a magical season and its sixth state title in seven years.
2015 Toughest Opponent: Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) beat the Thunder three times last season, including in the state title game. Aquinas was hit hard by graduation, but returns 6-4 power hitting senior Regan Pittman (Minnesota) and setter Bridget Doherty (11.4 per set avg.).
Notable: St. James has five state titles in last six seasons. The Thunder opened the 2014 season ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps.
View entire St. James Academy preseason photo shoot galleryCoach's quote: "First and foremost, I'm a teacher," said Dorsey. "Part of my job is to teach my players that there is nothing they can't do. When our girls leave this program, I want them to be strong, confident young women. If they believe that anything is possible for them, then we are successful."
Audriana Fitzmorris is a three-time MaxPreps All-American.
