South Carolina Native Thayer Hall Named Gatorade Player of the Year

  0 Wendy Mayer | January 22nd, 2018 | High School, News

Senior outside hitter Thayer Hall of South Carolina’s Dorman High School was named as Gatorade National Player of the Year on Monday, making her the first such selection from the Palmetto state. Hall racked up 638 kills and 361 digs, while hitting at a .401 clip as Dorman went 42-4 in 2017 en route to its third straight state finals appearance and second consecutive title.

Olympian, pro beach star and 2000 Gatorade Player of the Year April Ross surprised Hall with the honor Sunday night.

Hall was tabbed with her fourth straight South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year accolade in 2017 to go with her fourth straight all-state honor, South Carolina North-South All-Star team selection and Dorman team MVP honor. The Roebuck, S.C., native was named as 5A Player of the Year, her third such accolade, and was selected to the Under Armour All-America game in December, where she was named East MVP. In addition, Hall earned All-America honors from MaxPreps and garnered both All-USA Player of the Year and FloVolleyball Player of the Year nods.

All told in her four-year career, Hall downed 2,291 kills, while hitting at a .391 clip and adding 1363 digs, 204 aces and 144 blocks. She averaged 5.4 kills and 3.2 digs per set.

Hall has already begun making a name for herself on the international stage, winning MVP honors at the Women’s U20 Pan American Cup last summer as the youngest player and only high school player on the USA Junior National Team. Next up on her playing resume, however, will be a collegiate career at the University of Florida, where she has already enrolled early, beginning this spring.

On the club circuit, Hall played with the Upward Stars, which competed at AAU nationals in Orlando.

Hall was one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year honor alongside outside hitter Adanna Rollins (Hebron HS; Carrollton, Texas) and setter Gabby Blossom (St. Joseph’s Academy; St. Louis, Missouri).

Year Name Position Home State (School; City) College
2017-18 Thayer Hall OH South Carolina (Dorman HS; Roebuck) Florida
2016-17 Lexi Sun OH California (Sante Fe Christian; Solana Beach) Texas
2015-16 Khalia Lanier OH Arizona (Xavier College Prep; Phoenix) USC
2014-15 Mikaela Foecke MB Iowa (Holy Trinity Catholic; Fort Madison) Nebraska
2013-14 Alexa Filley S Kentucky (Assumption HS; Louisville) Auburn
2012-13 Lauren Carlini S/RS Illinois (West Aurora HS; Aurora) Wisconsin
2011-12 Jordan Burgess OH Florida (Berkeley Prep; Tampa) Stanford
2010-11 Krista Vansant OH California (Redlands East Valley HS; Redlands) Washington
2009-10 Ashley Wittman OH Minnesota (Shakopee HS; Shakopee) Minnesota
2008-09 Gina Mancuso OH Nebraska (Papillion-La Vista HS; Papillion) Nebraska
2007-08 Kelly Murphy S/OH Illinois (Joliet Catholic; Joliet) Florida
2006-07 Alix Klineman OH California (Mira Costa HS; Manhattan Beach) Stanford
2005-06 Megan Hodge OH/MB/S North Carolina (Riverside HS; Durham) Penn State
2004-05 Cynthia Barboza OH/MB California (Wilson Classical; Long Beach) Stanford
2003-04 Cynthia Barboza OH/MB California (Wilson Classical; Long Beach) Stanford
2002-03 Kristin Richards OH Utah (Timpanogos; Orem) Stanford
2001-02 Bre Ladd OH/MH Arizona (Canyon Del Oro; Tucson) Arizona
2000-01 Ogonna Nnamani OH Illinois (University HS; Normal) Stanford
1999-2000 April Ross S/OH California (Newport Harbor HS; Newport Beach) USC
1998-99 Logan Tom OH Utah (Highland HS; Salt Lake City) Stanford
1997-98 Sara Sandrik MH Alabama (Pelham HS; Pelham) Stanford
1996-97 Denise Boylan MH Illinois (Benet Academy; Lisle) Notre Dame
1995-96 Kerri Walsh MB/OH California (Archbishop Mitty; San Jose) Stanford

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About Wendy Mayer

Wendy Mayer

Wendy Mayer has worked in athletics media relations for the last 20 years. The Northwest Missouri State alumna is currently senior writer for Volleymob.com after spending the last 15 years with Purdue athletics.

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