CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — The Virginia High School League announces its 2023 Class 1 All-State volleyball team. Giles sophomore outside hitter Sophie Taylor is the Class 1 Player of the Year, and Altavista head coach Debra Spencer is the Class 1 Coach of the Year.
The 5’11” Taylor finished the season with 637 kills, 52 aces, 61 blocks, 309 digs, a 297 hit efficiency, and a 90% serve percentage. A first-team all-state selection as a freshman, she earned Mountain Empire District and Region 1C Player of the Year honors in 2023. In just two seasons, Taylor achieved 1,000 career kills, leading the Spartans to back-to-back state semifinals and meeting state champion Auburn each year.
Spencer has guided Altavista to five state finals during her legendary career. She won the state title in 2002 and runner-up finishes in 2005, 2011, and 2013 before this season. Spencer again led her Colonels to the state championship game after defeating Rappahannock in the Class 1 semifinals 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-14, 25-20). She met the defending state champions in the finals, dropping the title match with Auburn 3-1 (16-25, 11-25, 25-23, 12-25). Her Colonels finished the season 17-9 and won the Region 1B championship.
The all-state volleyball team consists of nine position players and one libero. Only those players selected to the all-region first-team are eligible for selection to the all-state team. The all-state selection committee comprises eight coaches, with two from each region.
