brdavis@dallasnews.com IRVING - Marcus Spears' biggest off-season acquisition may have been a new iPhone. These are the best high school girls volleyball players in all 50 states from the classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025. The final featured big swings, big blocks and scrappy plays and was even after two sets. High school: Dimond High School (Anchorage, Alaska). Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Marcus Spears now has perspective in his life, and it comes in the form of his wife, former WNBA player Aiysha Smith, their 18-month-old daughter Macaria and. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Thomas averaged 4.7 digs per set and passed a 2.0. The best players rack up state championships and all-state selections before moving on. Roberts-Navarro had 113 kills as a freshman in 2019 and 436 career kills. Im picking A5 over Houston Skyline in three for the title. Dresback is already a two-time all-state selection and, while listed as an outside hitter, can also make plays on the back row for Prout, which finished as state runner-up in 2021. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. After working through a rash of key injuries during the beginning of the qualifying season, CUVC 17 Premier continued to improve throughout the year, and finally gelled in Atlanta, Ferguson said. #16 / Class of 2025 / OH. Sawyer Thomsen showed off her offensive versatility and was a huge weapon in transition. Marcus hails from Baton Rouge, and was an All American defensive end at LSU. Having played for Nick Saban at LSU, Marcus Spears has a unique perspective on Saturday's win over Alabama. Spears amassed 544 kills and 225 digs to go with 50 aces and 65 blocks, posting a .477 hitting percentage and .602 kill percentage on the attack. Marcus Spears is 6-4 (193 cm) tall. 1. Besides that, the former American footballer is not a part of controversy or has gotten into rumors till now. Ellery Rees and Gabby Williams took steps forward in the middle for the team, combining for 47 kills and 18 blocks. This is a team that had yet to qualify despite a resume that included just one loss at Triple Crown and making the Gold Pools at every qualifier previously. We were able to step up in moments, but it seemed difficult to find our rhythm. Our team chose a good weekend to come together and play well, noted Power head coach Mike Dauernheim. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Where was Marcus Spears born? Nissley is a two-time Class A all-state selection and was named North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021. The most impressive piece of this team is the consistent contribution both physically and mentally from each player, noted coach Trish Samolinski. That was on full display in Atlanta. On March 8th, 1983, he was born in the United States of America. The future of volleyball in the United States like any other sport is usually first discovered in the high school ranks. conner01 Well-Known Member Messages 24,820 Reaction score 23,090 Oct 12, 2021 #6 He was so excited about his son on tv Just check out her weighted 4.67 GPA. Metro went 8-1 for the tournament, losing only to runner up 1st Alliance, 15-13 in the third, in its final Gold Pool match. Marcus Rayshon Spears is his given name. The Junior Blues' only two losses came at the state tournament. Finally, back row standouts Katie OSullivan, Nyaah Cacao, Makenzie Mapes and Zoe Allison kept the team alive in the amazing scramble plays the made the referees swallow their whistles. Parker Duncan had 77 kills on the weekend to lead AJV, which qualified Open for the second straight year. In 2021, the Texas commit had 421 kills but missed the state playoffs with a concussion. 468K views 3 years ago #FirstTake #NFL Stephen A. got ROASTED for doubting LSU all season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnbiB. Salonga called the final one of the most exciting matches I have coached., There were highs and lows on both sides of the net, as well as great plays and even better scramble-rallies, he added. Bottom line:Notre Dame Cathedral Latin volleyball star Carolina Jurevicius is one of three daughters of former NFL players to make the list after she led her team to a state runner-up finish in 2021. 2 followers. Spears began appearing on NFL Live in 2019, which led to him assuming a pro football-centric analyst role in June 2020. marcus spears daughter volleyball. High school: St. Mark's High School (Wilmington, Delaware). Sulte racked up 324 kills for the Lynx on the way to their state runner-up finish, along with 20 blocks and 301 digs. Others who distinguished themselves were MB Akila Hardee, who showed off her 10-2 vertical touch; OH Cameron Lloyd, a great passer and crafty attacker; and Jordy Smart, a sophomore setter who ran a 5-1 offense and got her teammates open looks all weekend long. Bottom line: Julia Yurkovich led St. Mark's to back-to-back, undefeated state championships in 2020 and 2021 after finishing as state runner-up as a freshman in 2019. 156493 posts. Bottom line: Shenendehowa High's Kasia Barletta wasn't just the only sophomore to make the NYVCA Class AA all-state team in 2021. Timeline Highlights About. Good luck trying to get balls past Kemavor on the regular. High school: Papillion-La Vista South High School (Papillion, Nebraska). Our top overall performer of the weekend was Kennedy Wagner, who had 97 kills, 13 aces, 72 digs and 15 blocks, noted head coach Danielle Mikos. Note: If you are a coach or director and wanting to contribute, I seek input every Monday for these Dots and tomorrows Dream Team via bulk email. Men's/Boys' Volleyball Forum. We played great competition this weekend, said TAV coach Joe Jablonski. The team qualified despite having only eight players available, only two of whom were taller than 6-0. Phelan racked up 1,123 assists, 274 digs, 88 kills, 31 blocks and an incredible 112 service aces in 2021. Cari Klein said that while Sunshine was so happy to receive its bid, the team did not execute at the level it expected. Cassie Rockers team added a third qualifier title to the Triple Crown NIT championship it captured in February. This allowed setterSydney Marshallto run Top Selects offense a lot more consistently and confidently. 5 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 rankings as Papio South went 39-0 and won the Class A state championship, becoming the first Class A team to go undefeated since 2011. The 6-foot-5 outside hitter had 551 kills, 258 digs and 56 blocks as a junior in 2021 on the way to taking home Florida Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps All-American honors. She also has donated her time to the Special Olympics event at Flint Hill School in Virginia, Spears former school, in addition to packing lunches for needy families over the holidays. OH Avery Delong showed off her terminal attack with huge kills Day 2 versus Excel 17 National Red. Marcus Rayshon Spears (born March 8, 1983), nicknamed Swagu, is an American former college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. A total of 352 teams will compete. Spears has volunteered locally as part of the Service Project Day at Prestonwood Christian, during which students work at food pantries, retirement facilities and mens and womens shelters, among other locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I do not know enough about teams in the other divisions to venture intelligent guesses. It was our first tournament of the season where we had a full capable roster able to play, said coach Phil Jackson. It's the hottest party accessory -- balloon garland. I couldnt be more proud of this squad with how they responded, earningtheir 16 Open bid at the Windy City Qualifier, said coach Dave Bayer. Marcus Spears attended Louisiana State University after making an impression during his high school football matches. He was a team player and switched sides. Oakton, VA. 263 views. Bottom line: Ella Swindle led Rock Bridge High to a 34-6 record and the Class 5 semifinals, racking up 690 assists, 173 digs, 57 blocks and 36 service aces. They went to Six Pack 15 and Houston Juniors 15 Elite. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Graces grit and mental toughness to play, despite how horrible she felt, ignited the rest of team to play hard for her. Nissley is committed to play basketball for Nebraska. Her career numbers would be much higher, but she only was able to play 21 sets during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. And there's plenty of storage for more photos when his second child arrives in April. In Dallas, the best of Texas and those bold enough to challenge the Lone Star Staters on their turf got together for the Lone Star hoedown. Note: All college commitments are through Aug. 18, 2022. Our main focus going into our last qualifier was just trying to keep our players believing in the process, the coach explained. A really good TEAM first weekend.. So we also hope that they live forever together. Two 6-4 pins, Emmi Sellman and Cari Spears, led the attack. While playing for Louisiana State University he was awarded . High school: Dover High School (Dover, New Hampshire). Bottom line:Wayzata High setter Stella Swenson became the second member of her family to be named Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021, following her older sister, Samantha, who won the award in 2014. Bottom line: Samantha Tam helped lead Needham High to a second consecutive Division I state championship with 265 kills and 65 aces on the way to earning Division I all-state and Bay State all-star recognition for her performance. Spears is the first Gatorade Texas Volleyball Player of the Year to be chosen from Prestonwood . Height: 6-foot. SettersIzzy MogridgeandJosie Hensleydid a great job of connecting with all of the teams hitters. High school:Howards Grove High School (Howards Grove, Wisconsin). "First thing I did on camera was a volleyball match." Not only does Taylor thrive on the volleyball court, she excels on the set of SEC Nation along with Marcus Spears, Laura Rutledge, Tim. High school: Williamstown High School (Williamstown, New Jersey). Howard is a dominant player at just 5-foot-7 and already a three-time All-State selection. Houston Skyline 17 Royal finished second to qualify. Ava Testrake was fantastic in serve receive all weekend and efficiently terminated from various spots on the court. ESPN analyst Marcus Spears has a new role within the company. Head coach Tristy Bittikofer said that her philosophy has always been to serve and pass tough and outlast the opponent. Marcus Spears weighed 315 lbs (142 kg) when playing. Rockwood coach Shane Weber said his team won the matches it needed to survive and advance all the way to bid position. On the pins,Maggie Dosticplayed steady all weekend, whileAmiyah LongandBella Pereirabrought the spark with their aggressive attacks. Marcus spears, an NFL analyst for espn, broadcasts live on NFL Network from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Aiysha spears was born on July 18, 1980, in Detroit, Michigan, USA, to her parents. Deleye is committed to play volleyball for Kentucky but could also be a Power Five standout in another sport. It does not store any personal data. 1st Alliance fought off two match points to take the win. Non-Volleyball. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. His name is Marcus Rayshon Spears. In 17 Open, the Pingdom was in full effect as Drive Nation 17 Red, led by coach Ping Cao, went 10-0 to win. After winning a state title. Alex's father, Danny, played basketball for BYU, and her grandfather, Wayne, played football for BYU. The team deserved to be there. in 2021 playing for Flint Hill (Virginia), which includes the best players from the entire D.C. metro area an area with a population of approximately 5.3 million. With three qualified teams among the final six, the other three, TAV 16 Black, Dallas Skyline 16 Royal and Alamo 16 Premier, all qualified on Saturday. It was the second state championship for Walton with Neal on the squad, and she also had a state runner-up finish. The weekly podcast, sans guests, will consist of about an hour conversation between the two, offering a pair of ex-athletes' perspectives on the news of the day and the happenings in their own lives. We really came together as a team and all the hard work these players have put in the gym was put on full display. daughter of Patty Gilliatt Ikerd and Johnny Spears . Macaria Spears. The team overcame a significant injury on Day 2 to reach the Gold Pools, then won two do-or-die tiebreakers sets to make the semifinals, showing great tenacity. Reilly, at 6-foot-1, led O'Gorman to its second consecutive Class AA state championship as a junior in 2021 and was named South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year fo the second consecutive year as well. We would not have made it out of our Gold pool, let alone won the final match, without her ability to overcome this challenge!. She was the only freshman on the prestigious. Coach Ashley Monfort said the team played with guts and fire! High school: Centennial High School (Las Cruces, New Mexico). The team got improved passing from Sydney Black and Sydney McKay and enough offense from its pin attack to find success utilizing its middles in system. Marcus Raishon Spears is a former American college and professional football player who has played as the defensive end in the National Football League for nine seasons. High school: Rampart High School (Colorado Springs, Colorado), Bottom line: Rampart High's Izzy Starck was the only non-senior named Class 5A All-State in 2021, which she did as a sophomore. Connore Siler-NixonandKaylee Peperfound moments of blocking and attacking rhythm that helped close out matches. Reilly, who is committed to play for Nebraska, helped lead Team USA to a bronze medal at the U18 World Championships in 2021. Michigan Elite 15 Mizuno,Top Select 15 EliteandAZ Sky 15 Gold, placed 3-4-5 to earn the three Open bids. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter led McCutcheon High to a 30-6 record and the Class 4A state championship in 2021. Tadros lauded middles Ellen Zapp, Reese Dunkle and Aubrey Runyon (still coming back from injury) for working hard to always be available. It was Scarborough's third state championship since 2015. The eldest daughter Macaria Reagan was born on February 23, 2007; the second child, a son, was born on April 8, 2009. Neal was named the GSHA Class 7A Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-American in 2021 and is committed to play for Mississippi State. She was the only non-senior named to the squad. Sting was playing its third qualifier after not having their best showings at MEQ and Show Me. We had a lot of players missing practices since MEQ due to Spring Break and other conflicts, so we had two full team practices going into the event and it definitely showed by our chemistry on the court. Dior Charles blocking and the serving of Grace Thrower carried Sunshine past AVC in the mist-win match. Allen, who is committed to Howard, is a defensive ace. High school:Reservoir High School (Fulton, Maryland). We faced some tough competition, but we were able to prevail in the end. Bottom line: Lily Dykstra helped lead Urbandale to the state tournament as a junior in 2021 and was named Class 5A All-State. We do have a big break before our next event so we will definitely take this time to continue to grow and improve in many areas. In his professional career, he played for the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. Tam had 20 kills and 11 digs in the state finals against Wellesley. Although he is a very busy man, Marcus always manages to spend some quality time with his family. Further, he has a sister Deidre Spears. Her mother, Caroline, played volleyball for BYU, and all three of her older sisters, Morgan, Whitney and Eden, are all currently playing for BYU. Her ability to terminate out of system was critical to surviving the Day 2 pool. The girls did just that. He was a Saban recruit and probably expected to play right end at LSU.