Hunter Coppola, a member of the state champion Verona High School volleyball team, has been named one of the 40 finalists for 2017 PrepVolleyball.com National High School Junior of the Year award.
“With over 100,000 playing high school juniors in the country, this is an amazing honor,” says Jeff Stiefbold, the head coach of VHS volleyball.
To be considered a finalist for the award, a junior player had to have made a “massive” impact on her high school team and the state, PrepVolleyball says. That means statistics that were the best on her team at her position and being one of the top players in her state regardless of class.
Coppola certainly seems to fit the bill. She had 367 kills during the Hillbillies’ 31-1 Group 1 state title season, and also contributed 77 blocks and 128 digs. Coppola has already been named Essex County Player of the Year, First Team All-State Group 1 and was one of only eight players selected as First Team All-New Jersey by NJ.com.
The National Junior of the Year winner will be announced within the next few weeks.
