Lisa Henning, The Examiner’s 2009 volleyball Player of the Year, is a repeat performer on the PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American team.
The Blue Springs High School senior is the lone area repeat performer on the elite squad. She is joined by Examiner All-Area standout Marianne Beal, who attends Lee’s Summit North High School, and O’Hara’s Tori Hurtt, who is coached by William Chrisman graduate Lori Hanaway.
Missouri had four named to the All-American team, and three were from the area. Ozark junior outside hitter Jade Hayes was the other player from the state honored.
“It’s pretty neat to make the All-American team for the second year in a row,” said Henning, a 6-foot middle hitter who has signed to play volleyball at the University of Missouri. “I’ve won some awards, and it’s nice to get the recognition now that the season is over, but I’d trade all my awards for a state championship.”
The Wildcats reached the state championship match for the first time in school history, but lost to Ozark and Hayes.
“When your best player is your hardest worker, it sends a great message to the other girls on the team,” Blue Springs coach Katie Grusing said when asked about Henning’s senior year. “She did everything she could to make the team the best team possible and we accomplished a lot this past season. I’m very proud of her accomplishments.”
North coach Rhea Moses felt much the same way about Beal, who will attend the University of Kansas after winning the Evelyn Gates Award for the best player in the Kansas City metro area.
“It’s awesome that Marianne would achieve All-American status,” Moses said. “She’s a great kid and a great player. She worked hard for our program and deserves every accolade she receives.”
Beal said she was a bit surprised by the honor.
“Now that the season is over, you don’t really think about things like this,” said Beal, a 5-11 middle blocker. “But it’s a great honor and I’m very excited. I’m also happy for Lisa and Tori. We play on the same league team (KC Extreme) and we’re going to a tournament in Omaha in a couple of weeks, and I’m excited about that, too.”
Hurtt is just a junior and Hanaway said, “Tori is a fabulous player and very deserving of this honor. She’s so powerful, yet she’s so smooth. She’s very, very special.”
