Female winner: Ariana Mosley, Tampa Prep
During her first three years on Tampa Prep’s varsity volleyball team, Ariana Mosley has had her fair share of big nights. The senior outside hitter, thought, had a hard time stringing those performances together.
This season, all of that has changed.
Coach Andrew Wilson said he first witnessed the improvement after Mosley committed to play volleyball at the Air Force Academy. Now that she’s got her future on lock, Mosley has stepped up for the Terrapins (12-2).
“She’s always been an up-and-down, hot-and-cold kind of player,” Wilson said. “Now she’s just playing more consistent. If she makes a mistake, it’s only one and she shakes it off.”
Mosley finished the 2013 season with 152 kills, less than half teammate Corey Perkins’ total. This time around, Mosley challenges Perkins every match for the most kills, and the pair have combined for 245. Perkins still leads the way statistically, but Mosley isn’t too far behind. That’s a fact that lets Wilson rest a little easier.
“Our team, we’re not huge, we’re not really tall. We’re very athletic and we’ve got a lot of weapons,” he said. “Ariana can step, up Alana (Nelson) can step up, and that’s the way I like to play volleyball.”
Why she won: Mosley had 15 kills in a 3-0 rivalry win against Berkeley Prep, including seven in a second set the Terrapins narrowly won 25-23.
Have an athlete who should be considered for our next voting cycle? Email hometeam@tampabay.com.