Walch Named 2009 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball
December 17, 2009 | Volleyball
Dec. 17, 2009
Dec. 17, 2009
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Elise Walch, a 2010 signee for the University of Wisconsin volleyball program, was named the 2009 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of high school volleyball coaches and media representatives. Walch is the 18th winner of the annual award sponsored by Dairy Farmers, Inc. and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, honoring the top high school girls’ volleyball player for the 2009 season.
Walch finished the 2009 season with 547 kills, 58 digs, 151 blocks and 29 aces, helping her team to a 31-1 record on its way to capturing the Class 5A state title. In her career at Martin County High School, Walch finished with a school record 1,244 kills, including the most kills in a match (32). Walch was named an AVCA first-team All-America in 2009 and named second team all-state in 2008.
Walch, who was earlier named the 5A Player-of-the-Year, earned nine first-place votes and a total of 119 points to finish ahead of 6A Player-of-the-Year Maddie Martin of Tampa Plant, who finished with 101 points. Past winners of the award include Foluke Akinradewo, an All-American at Stanford and current member of the U.S. National team; and current Duke setter Kellie Catanach.
The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Dairy Farmers, Inc.'s commitment to the state's youth. While honoring the state’s top athletes and coaches in all 26 FHSSA-sanctioned sports for the 18th consecutive year, the program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
2009 Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition
Walch will also compete in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition on Sunday at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. The match and competition begins at 1 p.m. Walch will compete on Team Red. The match and skills competition will air on ESPNU on Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
The 2009 Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition, now in its second year, is part of the AVCA Annual Convention. The event features 24 Under Armour Girls High School All-Americans as selected by the AVCA, divided into two squads and competing in a three-set match, in addition to a series of individual competitions that will showcase the athletes' superlative skills.
