All-Area volleyball: Jessica Kemp dominated

Jessica Kemp had a pretty great junior season, producing 305 kills en route to The Herald’s All-Area volleyball player of the year award.

The 6-foot-4 N.C. State signee blew away those numbers this fall, and again is the All-Area player of the year. Kemp produced 480 kills and 140 blocks while helping Nation Ford to the third round of the 4A state playoffs and earning All-State honors.

Nation Ford’s Carrie Christian is the local coach of the year. Christian – who led Nation Ford to the 2010 3A state title – guided the Falcons to their best season in 4A volleyball, winning 37 matches before falling in the third round of the 4A postseason.

2015 All-Area volleyball

Player of the year: Jessica Kemp, Nation Ford

Coach of the year: Carrie Christian, Nation Ford

First team

Jessica Kemp, Nation Ford: Senior headed to N.C. State on scholarship recorded 480 kills, 140 blocks, 40 serving aces and a .244 hitting percentage. Kemp was named third team Under Armour All-American, the Region 3-4A player of the year, an All-State selection and a Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee, and also played in the North-South all-star game.

Clarrissa Bates, Nation Ford: All-Region senior setter served up a big chunk of Kemp’s kills. Bates finished the season with 1,173 assists, 69 service aces and 248 defensive digs.

Quinn Sutphin, Nation Ford: Nation Ford will lament the loss of a talented senior class, but Sutphin’s return next season will lessen the blow. The 6-foot-2 junior was named All-State and All-Region after a season with 287 kills, 96 blocks and 73 aces.

Tessa Grubbs, Fort Mill: Grubbs – headed to Tennessee to play volleyball – had a great senior season with 476 kills and a .458 attack percentage. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter was named an honorable mention Under Armour All-American, an All-State selection and a North-South all-star, as well as an all Region 3-4A pick.

Payton Carter, Fort Mill: The other half of Fort Mill’s talented outside hitting duo, Carter smashed 367 kills, while producing 168 digs. She also had 52 aces and was the highest rated passer on Fort Mill’s team. Carter, headed to Liberty on a volleyball scholarship, was an honorable mention Under Armour All-American and an All-Region player.

Nadia White, Northwestern: Athletic senior played in the North-South all-star game and was named All-Region after a season with 214 kills, 61 blocks, 36 digs and a 91.4 serving percentage.

Second team

Brooke Farley, Fort Mill: Sophomore setter enjoyed passing to Grubbs and Carter en route to an All-Region selection. Farley was named the Yellow Jackets’ offensive player of the year and led the state in assists per set, according to MaxPreps. She finished the year with 968 assists, 146 digs and a 94 serving percentage.

Madison Garner, Nation Ford: All-Region senior libero did the dirty work for the Falcons, producing 550 digs, 76 service aces and 76 kills.

Chanel Turner, Nation Ford: Junior outside hitter produced 267 kills, 390 digs and 63 assists.

Kaitlyn Lollis, Northwestern: All-Region senior finished the season with a 99.6 serving percentage, 707 assists and 176 digs for the Trojans.

Kelly Cabaniss, Northwestern: Another All-Region senior for the Trojans, Cabaniss had 417 digs and a 93.3 serving percentage as the team’s libero.

Hayden Thorne, Lancaster: Senior 3A All-State selection and North-South all-star had 267 kills and 97 digs for the Bruins.

Honorable mention

Sara Beth Jordan, Westminster Catawba Christian; Maddy Paladino, South Pointe; Savannah Garrigan, Clover; Madison Waldrop, Rock Hill; Emily Morton, Lewisville; Ana Trabold, Northwestern; Keyotta Garris, Lancaster; Ashley Abbott, Lancaster; Madison Kuczler, York.

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 11:53 AM with the headline "All-Area volleyball: Jessica Kemp dominated."