While the girls volleyball season has been over for a couple of months, accolades are still being served up.
Bishop’s School senior Laurel Casey was recently named by Prepvolleyball.com to its First-Team of 2007 All Academic All-Americans.
Coaches from high schools and clubs, plus club directors, nominated players who were then named to five teams and an honorable mention list. They are seniors who are strong students and volleyball players. Forty-six All Academic All-Americans were culled from more than 100 nominees.
Casey, who was a First-Team All-League, First-Team Division IV and Second-Team All-CIF San Diego Section, is one of six Californians honored and the only one from San Diego.
“I feel like all my hard work, late practices and sleepless nights paid off,” Casey said. “It was such a surprise, too. I have no idea who nominated me, but thanks to whoever did. They must have written some good things because the other girls on that list were impressive. I am really just in disbelief that out of the whole country, someone singled me out and said that I deserved this. That is pretty cool.”
Casey, who will head to Yale in the fall, said her experience with the Bishop’s girls volleyball team has been an extremely positive one.
“I really love the whole team, especially my fellow seniors, because we are so close,” Casey continued. “My favorite person on the team, however, is my freshman sister. The only freshman on the team, she became a starter after the second match, playing a completely new position from what she had ever done before. My sister was my biggest inspiration on the team this year and she made my senior year infinitely better.”
Casey, who said her volleyball highlight at Bishop’s was beating Francis Parker in this year’s CIF semifinals, also noted the efforts of head coach Tod Mattox for her success.
“I had never really played volleyball before,” Casey said. “Tod picked me up and taught me literally everything I know. He opened every door to me.”
Mattox said Casey has left quite a legacy in the volleyball program.
“Because she did begin playing relatively late (as a high school freshman), her development into a college athlete is even more remarkable,” Mattox commented. “Her dedication and drive to excel are unmatched. In addition, she did this while taking the most challenging academic schedule, earning a 4.59 GPA and playing two other high school sports, plus playing two club sports. Lastly, she was our most dedicated athlete in the weight room.”
Mattox went on to say that Casey played a critical role on the team, manning the Libero spot for the past three seasons.
“Laurel is one of the best in the county receiving serve, and one of the best we’ve ever had at
The Bishop’s School,” Mattox said. “She also played in the middle back position in our defensive scheme and was responsible for defending the biggest area.”
Against Francis Parker in the CIF semis, she had 31 digs.
Mattox said that he uses Casey as an example for others.
“When one of our current players tells me she doesn’t have time to do what it takes to be great, I tell her, ‘Let me tell you about Laurel Casey,'” Mattox added.