High school volleyball: Alayna Tessena breathing rare air with all-state selection

WOOSTER — Kacie Evans, Marah Farage, Ally Badowski and Kirsten Badowski had been the only Medina County volleyball players named to the All-Ohio first, second or third team on multiple occasions. Highland senior Alayna Tessena joined their exclusive club late Monday night. Tessena, who ranks second in county history in career kills, was announced as a member of the All-Ohio third team in Division I by the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association. A statewide panel cast ballots for the honor on Halloween weekend. "For me, it's never been about individual stats or awards. It's always been about our team," said Tessena, who was a second-team honoree in 2021. "I am so proud of us for making it to the Elite Eight together. This has been an extremely memorable year." The Northern Colorado-bound outside hitter fired 393 kills — tops in the county — and ranked among state leaders with 65 aces for the Norwalk Regional finalist Hornets, who finished with a 23-4 record and matched the area's deepest postseason push in the rally-scoring era. Tessena surpassed 1,400 career kills in Highland's victory over Amherst Steele in the regional semifinals and completed the tournament with 93 kills, the second-highest total in county history behind Ally Badowski's 115 in 2015 for Brunswick. Evans had 91 for Wadsworth in 2017. "Obviously, she was our go-to hitter whenever we needed a big point," Hornets coach Laura Merk said. "She also served extremely well and was one of our best defensive players in the back row all season. Layne had an incredible career at Highland." Current University of Georgia standout Evans was a three-time All-Ohio team member between 2015-18, including two first-team selections, and is the only county player with more kills than Tessena with 1,569. She is one of the elite talents in NCAA D-I volleyball as a senior. Ohio University and Duquesne middle blocker Farage (2008-09), whose 1,263 kills rank third all time, was a second- and third-team selection for Buckeye. She still owns the local match, season and career records for blocks. Indiana outside hitter Ally Badowski (2014-15) was a first- and second-team honoree, while current North Carolina-Wilmington outside hitter Kirsten Badowski (2017-18) was a second- and third-team choice while following her sister at Brunswick. Evans was recognized as honorable mention All-Ohio as a freshman, giving her four total OHSVCA awards. Including honorable mention choices, current Purdue Fort Wayne libero Rachael Crucis (2017-18) of Brunswick, Ashland University basketball great Jodi Johnson (2014-15) of Wadsworth, and Highland outside hitter Lynn Wolcott (1989-90) also have been feted by the coaches' association more than once. Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on Twitter. D-I All-Ohio teams First team — Brooke Bultema (Cincinnati Ursuline), Ella Durham (Dublin Coffman), Luca Fickell (Cincinnati St. Ursula), Lindsey Green (Cincinnati Ursuline), Nia Hall (Amherst Steele), Gabi Moulton (Delaware Olentangy Liberty), Kylee Urban (Olmsted Falls), Lauren Yacobucci (Magnificat). Second team — Sophia Anghilante (Magnificat), Sydney Barrett (Kings Mills Kings), Ava Hoying (Columbus Bishop Watterson), Kamryn Hunt (Sylvania Northview), Alli Kirch (Cincinnati Seton), Alec Rothe (Dublin Scioto), Shaye Wolf (Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame), Reese Wuebker (Centerville). Third team — Jocelyn Jourdan (Austintown Fitch), Elise Marchal (Kings), Kaleigh Palmer (Wapakoneta), Gretchen Sigman (Dayton Springfeld), Sara Snowbarger (Wooster), Jonna Spohn (Lewis Center Olentangy), Alayna Tessena (Highland), Sydney Wake (Massillon Jackson).