The FCN's Volleyball Player of the Year award hasn't left
South Forsyth for the last five years between Taylor Svehla (2012-14) and
Amanda Nugent (2015-16).
That could change.
Nugent graduated as part of a loaded senior class at South. Several other county
teams graduated some of their most accomplished and talented players in recent
memory.
So while the depth of talent in the county figures to be down a bit this
season, it's not depleted - not by a long shot.
Here four returning players who I think could contend for County Player of the
Year:
Maddie Bryant, North Forsyth
The rising senior was arguably the team's top talent last season - she verbally
committed to Georgia Southern this summer - but she didn't lead the team in
kills. That was Bri Gilbert (392). But Bryant wasn't far behind with 389 to go
along with 198 digs and 88 blocks, and she did it while nursing a wrist injury
for part of the season. Fully healthy now and the clear go-to hitter for the
Raiders, Bryant could have a monster season.
McGlockton was perhaps the War Eagles' most versatile player last season. She
started out on South's deep arsenal of hitters. By the end, McGlockton was a
stabilizing force as a setter to help South reach the state semifinals again.
In all, she had 304 assists, 191 kills, 109 digs, 33 aces and 30 blocks. She'll
lead a new-look team after South graduated a heavy dose of seniors.
Madeleine Bertz, Lambert
Bertz and Bryant are best friends, and they're almost equal talents. Like
Bryant, Bertz is committed to a Division I school (William & Mary) and is a
presence at the net, on both offense and defense. The rising senior middle
block had 194 kills and 74 blocks. Lambert will lean on Bertz even more this
season after a few key losses to graduation.
