Meet the 2024 All-Butler County girls volleyball team: Mars’ Cecilia Christy named POTY
Mars girls volleyball coach Tami Caraway has already gone back and watched the film from several of her team’s matches this season a few times.
One particular Planets player jumps out — and not just because of her athletic talent.
“She is the first person to celebrate when someone does something great and just keeps us going — keeps the team going — on the court when we’re under pressure,” Caraway said of junior middle hitter Cecilia Christy. “I think that had a lot to do with why we were successful.”
Thanks in large part to her performance — and leadership — Christy was voted as the Butler Eagle’s 2024 Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
“They have a lot of respect for her,” Caraway said of her team’s admiration of Christy. “She makes each player feel like she really cares about them as a person. ... She’s a great teammate.”
Christy was also the PIAA Class 3A runner-up Planets’ biggest offensive threat this season. The first-team All-WPIAL honoree registered a program-record 288 kills to go with 88 blocks as Mars finished undefeated in Section 2 play and won its second district crown.
“I think CeCe’s role in this is many times she stepped up when we needed it,” Caraway said. “I remember in the Hampton (state quarterfinal) match feeling like she maybe wasn’t having her best day. ... Hampton was playing well — they came to play — and just pushing her. The next thing you know, I’m looking at a player that has 22 kills and very few errors.
“She just always rises, and I think in times that things were tough for us, she was able to elevate her game and help us out a little bit more.”
The Planets enjoyed their best season by grabbing a WPIAL title and appearing in the state championship — a path Caraway boldly predicted early on.
Christy headlines an All-Butler County team that features a few teammates. Check out the most outstanding players that took the volleyball court in the Butler County area this season, with first teamers listed alphabetically and honorable mentions after that.
Sienna Cozza, sr., S, North Catholic
In its first season competing in WPIAL Class 4A, North Catholic was a section and district runner-up to North Allegheny, which wound up winning the state title. The Trojanettes’ success started with Cozza, a University of North Carolina commit who totaled 678 assists, 206 digs and 98 kills on the year.
Becca Feczko, sr., L, North Catholic
Feczko’s defensive presence was another reason that the Trojanettes didn’t skip a beat in moving up to the sport’s highest classification. She wound up with 312 digs, the most of anyone in the Butler Eagle’s coverage area. Feczko also had 65 assists.
Ella Koziara, sr., OH, North Catholic
According to statistics submitted to the Butler Eagle, Koziara’s 395 kills were the most in the county this season by a wide margin. A talented four-year starter for the Trojanettes, she finished her prep career with a PIAA title, another state championship match appearance and four state tournament appearances.
Audrey Lehman, sr., OH, Butler
Lehman was the key cog for a Golden Tornado team that held its own in what was regarded as one of the toughest sections in the state. A first-teamer on both the All-WPIAL Section 2-4A and Big 56 squads, Lehman had 280 kills and added 158 digs.
Ella Nicotra, sr., OH, Mars
There’s no quicker way to add a digit to the scoreboard than with a service ace. Nicotra piled up a school-record 68 of those this season, while also adding 222 kills, 147 digs and 33 blocks for the Planets, who reached the state final for the first time in program history.
Gabi Weidemann, fr., S, Mars
Weidemann moved into the Mars Area School District from Minnesota during the summer, which meant she had to settle into her distributing role for the Planets quickly. The young setter posted a school-record 882 assists — the most in Butler County this year — along with 34 aces and 137 digs.
Alaina Whitlinger, sr., OH, Freeport
Whitlinger was voted the Yellowjackets’ MVP this season after averaging 10 kills per match. Her Freeport team finished second in WPIAL Section 3-2A to a Mars team that won the district. Having signed last month, Whitlinger is slated to continue her volleyball career at Clarion University next fall.
Maddy Dehart, jr., MH, A-C Valley; Bella Hernandez, sr., OH, Moniteau; Lily Javor, sr., OH, Mars; Marissa Metzka, sr., OH, Slippery Rock; Adison Novad, jr., OH, Slippery Rock; Channing Popovich, sr., MH, Butler; Sadie Reese sr., S, Seneca Valley; Leah Schreckengost, sr., OH, Freeport; Naomi Venesky, jr., MH/OH, Karns City; Rylee Wooldridge, jr., OH, Mars
