Sonora’s Henington named D-IV state volleyball Player of the Year by MaxPreps

Sonora High setter Bailey Henington has been named the Division IV state volleyball Player of the Year by MaxPreps.

Henington, a 5-foot-4 senior libero, helped guide the Wildcats to the CIF state D-IV championship last month with a 25-19, 25-19, 17-25, 22-25, 15-8 victory over Alta Loma at Santiago Canyon College in Orange.

Henington, who was also a MaxPreps All-American, averaged 12.3 digs, 2.3 assists for Sonora, which finished the season 37-5.

Henington wasn’t the only Wildcat honored, as teammate Shannon Friend, a 6-0 senior outside hitter, was named to the first team all-state in Division IV. Also making D-IV all-state team was Hilmar’s Emily Baptista, a 6-2 junior outside hitter. Baptista helped the Yellowjackets reach the Sac-Joaquin Section championship game for a second straight season, where they were defeated again by Sonora.

Modesto Bee Player of the Year Lindsey Vander Weide, a 6-3 senior outside hitter who led Pitman High to the Division I state championship game, where the Pride (44-2) fell to Redondo Union 25-23, 25-18, 25-21, was named to the top division’s all-state team. She was also a MaxPreps All-American.

Six-foot senior outside hitter Alyson Hughes, who helped Big Valley Christian to a seventh consecutive league title, was named to the D-V team.

MaxPreps also has been busy releasing its all-state football teams with nine players from the Stanislaus District and one coach earning recogntion from the high school sports website.

Central Catholic’s Roger Canepa, who led his Raiders to a third straight CIF state Division IV championship, was named California’s D-IV Coach of the Year, as well as the NorCal Coach of the Year for Division IV.

Four of Canepa’s players – senior tight end/safety Jared Rice, junior running back Justin Rice, junior linebacker Kekupa’a Freehauf and senior offensive lineman A.J. Contreras – along with Modesto Christian senior linebacker Conner Dowd and Ripon Christian junior defensive lineman Will Kamps – were named to the D-IV all-state squad.

Sierra junior running back Mark Paule was named to the D-III team and Merced senior defensive back Jabar Byrd was tabbed for the D-I squad. Downey’s senior cornerback Jakob Magaña, who led the state with 14 interceptions, was a second-team selection to the Division I squad.

Jared Rice was also a second-team All-NorCal choice, as was Byrd.

Justin Rice was named The Bee’s Player of the Year for 2014 after rushing for 2,146 yards, with 35 receptions for 599 yards, and 33 total touchdowns.

This story was originally published January 21, 2015 at 10:22 PM with the headline "Sonora’s Henington named D-IV state volleyball Player of the Year by MaxPreps."