KING CITY — An outstanding junior season earned King City Lady Mustang volleyball player Grace Shepherd the Co-Most Valuable Player of the Mission Trail Athletic League that she shares with McKinley Fox of Santa Catalina. Shepherd was joined on the MTAL first-team by teammate and setter senior Megan Flores. Zeni Silva was the last Lady Mustang to be a co-MVP in the league.
Joining Fox on the first-team from the champion Cougars team were: Saige Madden, Maria Santos, and Olivia Satow. There rest of the first-team and their schools were: Soana Laulotu and Madi Lombardi of Carmel; Mary Grebing of Pacific Grove; and Isabel Pickering of Stevenson.
Receiving honorable mention for the MTAL were: Nancy Andrade, Delaney Carroll, and Cassidy Flores of King City; Arylene Nunez-Dominguez, Danielle Perez, and Shania Sitko of Soledad; Jessica Clements, Alicia Rector, and Kia Shoemaker of Santa Catalina; Claire Bishop, Kassidy Cosmero, and Emma Crabbe of Carmel; Taylure Craven, Audrey Goldsmith and Katherine Hewitt of Stevenson.”
“This year the girls worked hard and were able to come together and play as a team,” said King City head coach Debbie Hudson. “They accepted their roles. Grace (Shepherd) had to step up as a leader on the court and our go to hitter. Everyone knew the ball was going to her but she was able to put the ball down. She was also valuable defensively and the serving line. A complete player, all the way around.
“Megan (Flores) this year had to set from the back row as well as hit from the front. She stepped up and was a force at the net hitting and blocking. As a setter she ran down balls and still made great sets for our hitters. I’m also proud of her defense. Most teams would hit at her so she couldn’t set. She dug balls allowing Cassidy Flores to set and we still ran our offense. Megan is another player who can play all around the court.”
