Call it a Manhattan girls volleyball renaissance.
There were a bunch of successful programs in the borough this year. Brearley advanced to the NYSAISAA final, Stuyvesant earned the No. 1 seed in the PSAL Class A playoffs and made the semifinals and Hunter College HS earned a PSAL Class A quarterfinals berth for the first time since 2008.
Plus, the emergence of programs like Environmental Studies and Bard cannot be overstated. The future is bright in the borough.
All-Manhattan girls volleyball Player of the Year: Melissa Chin, Stuyvesant
Chin meant the world to Stuyvesant. The 5-foot-3 senior was the team’s best hitter, its top passer and was like a coach on the court for a team that advanced all the way to the PSAL Class A semifinals – the furthest it has gone in her career.
The Vixens earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs after knocking off Cardozo in tournament play and looked poised to win coach Phil Fisher’s first-ever girls volleyball title until Francis Lewis upset them in the semis. The season was still a rousing success and Chin will go on to play volleyball, at either the Division I or II level.
“As a coach you get very few opportunities to coach a dedicated, gifted athlete like Melissa,” Fisher said. “She’s a step above everyone else and you get to reap the benefits as a coach. She made me a lot better coach.”
All-Manhattan girls volleyball Coach of the Year: Norman Gutierrez, Environmental Studies
When Gutierrez took over the program in 2007, Environmental Studies was 0-8. Four short years later, the Eagles went 10-2 and earned a playoff berth. A recent immigrant to the United States from the Philippines, Gutierrez coached only middle school volleyball in his home country. But he’s learned the game here and encouraged his players to compete in club ball – a major step to PSAL success.
FIRST TEAM
S Funmi Adejobi, Brearley
Smooth and athletic with great hands, Adejobi was one of the very best setters in New York City. The Queens native helped lead Brearley to the NYSAISAA final yet again – and the junior will be back for more next year.
OH Mary Claire Bartlett, Brearley
Physically, there might not be a more talented player in the city. Bartlett, a fantastic athlete with pinpoint passing to go along with a powerful swing, broke out this year in helping Brearley to the NYSAISAA final.
MH Catherine Egan, Brearley
The senior blocked like a wall and put balls down with relative ease. But perhaps her greatest contribution to Brearley, en route to a NYSAISAA final berth, was her leadership as the team’s star senior.
S Gaby Frid, Hunter College HS
Frid was the key to Hunter’s fast-paced offense and the leader of a team that reached its first PSAL Class A quarterfinals since 2008. She had 19 assists and seven digs in a three-set loss to eventual city champion Cardozo.
MH Natalie Kozlova, Stuyvesant
The 5-foot-11 junior emerged this season as one of the top hitters in the PSAL. A natural outside, her presence in the middle was indispensable for Stuyvesant en route to the Class A semifinals.
L Belinda Zhou, Hunter College HS
Athletic and mobile, Zhou picked everything up and started Hunter’s versatile offense from the back row. The junior will be called upon to lead next year with the graduation of five key seniors.
SECOND TEAM
OH Alessandra Arguelles, Bard
Just a sophomore, Arguelles led PSAL Manhattan A4 in kills (66). There’s no doubting she has a very bright future for the up-and-coming program.
OH Marija Jevtic, Environmental Studies
Jevtic returned this fall improved after playing club with Starlings in the offseason. She ended up leading PSAL Manhattan A5 in kills (71) for upstart Environmental.
S Lisa Qiu, Stuyvesant
She made the transition from outside hitter to setter look extremely easy. Without her, Stuyvesant would not have reached the PSAL Class A semis.
OH Tiffany Ramos, Hunter College HS
One of a number of strong hitters for Hunter, Ramos separated herself with her power and serving. She was fifth in PSAL Manhattan A5 in aces (30).
MH Ana Slade, Stuyvesant
Slade, a 5-foot-11 senior, showed tremendous improvement in the middle. She was the biggest key to a tournament victory over Cardozo.
OH Kayla Williams, Seward Park
The super-athletic freshman’s best days are ahead of her. Williams was third in PSAL Manhattan A4 in kills (61) and is a future star.
HONORABLE MENTION
OH Emma Almon, Hunter College HS
OH Cassey Carrey, Brearley
S/OH Lisbeth Cruz, Seward Park
S Kinga Kadziolka, Bard
OH Amy Lau, Martin Luther King
OH Allison Li, Martin Luther King
MH Courtney Ligh, Hunter College HS
S Sabrina Lukolic, Environmental Studies
MH Victoria Marrazzo, LaGuardia
OH Liane Xie, Lab Museum United