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Fairfield’s Jones leads All-Union volleyball team
Trojans lead team with four selections, Demons and Panthers each earn two distinctions
The Southeast Conference volleyball season was yet another race to top by all six teams in the league. For the Union area squads there was a lot of success.
With the season now long past, it means it’s now time to recognized players that were integral to the prosperity of their squads throughout the year with the 2023 All-Union big school volleyball list.
On this years’ list, Fairfield leads the way with four total selections, which includes the coaches spot. Washington and Mt. Pleasant both earn two distinctions in 2023.
It was another championship year for the Trojans of Fairfield (8-1) as they took the conference crown, edging Washington (7-3) in the final conference standings.
Mt. Pleasant had a tough go in the 2023 season finishing SEC play at 2-7, which was sixth in the league.
Coach: Vicki Rebling, Fairfield
Fairfield head coach Vicki Rebling helped the Trojans to yet another successful volleyball season this past year.
Fairfield posted an overall record of 20-12, their most wins since the 2018-19 season in which the Trojans won 31 matches.
The Trojans also brought home some Southeast Conference hardware, winning the conference title for the second straight season, ending with just one conference loss at 8-1.
Fairfield won six straight matches at the end of the season before its season came to an end to state qualifier and 2022 state champion Davenport Assumption in the 3A Region 8 semifinal.
Captain: Maddie Jones, senior, Fairfield
Not many setters have been as efficient as Fairfield senior Maddie Jones and that’s why she earns the captain distinction for the second straight season.
Jones posted SEC bests in assists and serve aces, finishing with 633 and 51 respectively through all 32 matches.
Fairfield ended with 759 total kills and Jones assisted on over 83% of them. Jones also finished with 149 digs, which ranked third on the Trojans roster.
Leighton Messinger, sophomore, Washington
Messinger earns her second nod on the All-Union list and rightfully so after being a triple threat for Washington this season.
Messinger not only led the Demons in 2023, but was the most efficient hitter in the SEC. She finished with 343 total kills, a league high, along with her top kill efficiency of .229.
In 92 sets played, Messinger also tallied 250 digs the second most for Washington. She also posted a team high 43 aces, which ranked fifth in the conference.
Lilly Bergren, junior, Fairfield
Lilly Bergren earns a spot on this years’ all-union list after leading the Trojans offensive attack. Bergren like Jones, played in all 32 matches on the year.
A of the most dynamic hitters, she finished with a team-high 219 kills. That mark was the fourth most in the SEC through 88 sets.
On the defensive side of the net, Bergren posted 245 digs, second most for Fairfield and carded 28 aces. Her serve efficiency of 91.5% was the higher than any other Trojan.
Ella Greiner, junior, Washington
Greiner much like Messinger graces the All-Union list for the second straight season. She was integral to the Demons success this season.
Defensively, Greiner was outstanding as she led Washington in total digs with 271.
Greiner followed Messinger in both kills and aces. She tallied 187 total kills and 36 aces through 29 matches played. Her kills number was fifth most in the SEC.
Rowan Terrell, senior, Fairfield
Fairfield senior Rowan Terrell did a little bit of everything for the Trojans, but she really stood out on the defensive end.
Terrell led the Trojans and the SEC in solo blocks and total blocks through the season. She finished with 65 total blocks, 10 more than the next highest athlete. On the solo end, Terrell notched 26 blocks, six more than teammate Claire Thompson.
Offensively, her 144 kills were the second most for Fairfield as well was her kill efficiency of .209. That number was third-best in the league as well.
Alex Scott, sophomore, Mt. Pleasant
Mt. Pleasant sophomore Alex Scott showed a lot of improvement from a year ago.
Scott took strides in 2023, leading the Panthers defensively with 266 digs and in the aces department, carding 36 in all. That was 10 more than the next highest Panther.
She was also pretty dangerous at the net, notching 132 kills through 94 sets.
Abby Carthey, sophomore, Mt. Pleasant
Mt. Pleasant’s Abby Carthey notches her first All-Union selection after putting together a fantastic year as the Panther’s lead setter.
Carthey finished the season with 420 total assists. That not only led the Panthers, but ranked fifth in the SEC.
She also had 190 digs in 36 matches and ended with a team best serve efficiency of 94.1% in 273 attempts.
