The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards are coming to Los Angeles.
On May 19, 2020, the top high school athletes from around the Los Angeles area will be honored at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus.
Here are the eight finalists for Los Angeles Girls Volleyball Player of the Year of the Year.
[lawrence-related id=101412331]
Kelly Belardi
School: Marymount
Year: Sophomore
Noteworthy: Belardi is an adept passer who finished the season with 759 assists as she distributed the ball to devastating hitters for the Sailors.
Meg Brown
School: Mater Dei
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: Headed to Pepperdine after originally committing to Alabama, the 6-foot-3 middle blocker provided senior leadership and 88 total blocks and 313 kills.
Mele Corral-Blagojevich
School: Redondo Beach
Year: Freshman
Noteworthy: She has proven a quick study with strong decision-making skills and a taste for the quick kill. Against Mira Costa, she stitched together a stat line of 17 kills, three blocks and two aces.
Nalani Iosia
School: Redondo Beach
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: A four-time captain, the converted libero was named MVP of the Power Classic early in October, and she proved versatile as a setter when necessary to help defeat fellow Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei in an epic. She is committed to the University of Texas.
Allison Jacobs
School: West Ranch
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: At 5-foot-11, the senior outside hitter is headed to UCLA after tallying 939 kills and 515 digs in her high school career.
Kami Miner
School: Redondo Beach
Year: Junior
Noteworthy: She helped the Team USA Girls’ Youth National Team win the gold medal in the FIVB Girls’ U18 World Championship for the first time ever this year in Egypt.
Casi Newman
School: San Juan Hills
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: The setter plans to attend UC Davis after an All-American season with the Stallions. She posted 780 assists this season.
Mia Tuaniga
School: Mater Dei
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: Bound for Long Beach State, the senior setter proved a steady stroke for the Monarchs as a team captain. At 5-foot-11, Tuaniga had 721 assists and 205 kills this season, and her back-to-back blocks in the fourth set against Redondo proved crucial for Mater Dei’s victory.
For more information on the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards event in Los Angeles, visit sportsawardsla.com. Answers to frequently asked questions about the event can be found here.