Female Hot Shot winner: Aisling Sheehan, Carrollwood Day
As the only senior on Carrollwood Day’s volleyball team, outside hitter Sheehan has been relied on a lot so far this season.
After a big offseason, coach Eric Praetorius said his star player is more than capable of fulfilling that responsibility.
Along with Carrollwood Day teammates Chrissy and Casey Brynjolfsson, Sheehan was a member of the Tampa Elite 17 club volleyball team that won a national championship. And though that feat had nothing to do with her high school play, Praetorius has already seen the effects of it.
“That was a huge deal for her confidence,” he said. “She was a major part of that championship.”
The newest Carrollwood Day team might be young, but since the Patriots lost only one starter from last season — during which CDS finished 20-3 — Praetorius is hoping they’ll pick up where they left off.
With Sheehan leading the way, he doesn’t expect his Patriots to have any trouble doing just that.
“She’s the leader of all our hitters. When she does well, the young hitters do well,” Praetorius said. “When she’s on point, they’re on point.”
Why she won: Sheehan, who leads the Patriots with 44 kills and six blocks, totaled 29 kills in a pair of 3-0 wins against Shorecrest Prep and Brooks DeBartolo last week, helping the Patriots start the season 3-0.
Have an athlete who should be considered for our next voting cycle? Email hometeam@tampabay.com.