Addison Massey claims MaxPreps New Mexico Player-of-the-Year Honors

Cover Story
December 10, 2024

“I just want to be somebody [my team] can look to that always has their back and support.”–Addison Massey, 2024 MaxPreps New Mexico Volleyball Player of the Year

A Las Cruces Digest Report
Includes Article By JP Murrieta, NMAA Staff Writer: “LAS CRUCES VOLLEYBALL HAS HOPES OF LIFTING THE BLUE AGAIN“

Aside from being a member of the undefeated 2024 State Champion Bulldawgs, Addison Massey has now earned an individual accolade this season. She was recently named the 2024 MaxPreps Volleyball Player of the Year for New Mexico. The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) has contracted with MaxPreps to manage and publish statistics and schedules for our state’s high school athletics programs, and is division of CBS Sports.

Las Cruces Digest noticed how the announcement of Addison’s award was not accompanied with a graphical representation. For this reason, we have taken the liberty of creating the “Air Addie” badge for Miss Massey. She is welcome to use it with the other badges she has earned–most notable of which is the 2023 Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year for New Mexico (which she earned as a sophomore).

^{“Air Addie” badge created by Las Cruces Digest (Las Cruces Digest is not affiliated with MaxPreps or CBS Sports, and the MaxPreps logo is used here without permission and presumed out of courtesy.)}

*^{Gatorade Player of the Year badge: courtesy Gatorade}*

MaxPreps Announcement

By Aaron Williams for MaxPreps
Dec 2, 2024, 11:30am

Each year since 2008, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school volleyball. America’s source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2024 season by naming the top player in each state.

Selections are based on team success and individual excellence, in addition to local and state accolades.

Representing the best from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, MaxPreps Player of the Year honorees include state champions, All-Americans, those who stuffed the stat sheet and others who excelled within the team concept.

New Mexico

Addison Massey, Las Cruces

Junior led the Bulldawgs to a 27-0 season capped with a second straight Class 5A title. She finished the season with 516 kills along with 267 serve receptions and 236 digs.

Some Background

[From the NMAA article…] The Bulldawgs have Addison Massey, arguably the top volleyball player in the state. Massey was named the Gatorade New Mexico Player of the Year last season as a sophomore. “I think she’s playing with even more confidence than she was last year,” said [LCHS Coach Keith] Leupold. “She’s attacking the ball very well, but she’s a goof,” he joked.

^{Addison Massey racks up another kill around two Los Lunas Tiger defenders. [Las Cruces Digest Photo]}

“She’s always fired up,” said teammate Sydney Pipkin. “Even in practices, she sometimes says, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to jump on each other.’ She’s just so funny.”

“I just love to have energy, I feel like it helps keep everybody going,” said Massey. “I just want to be somebody they can look to that always has their back and support.”

^{Addison Massey performs a jump serve with the poise of a ballet dancer. [Las Cruces Digest Photo]}

“Addie is such a spark plug and I love her so much,” Pipkin added. “She gets everyone so excited and helps us get out of the lulls, if we ever get into one, and it helps to have her being able to depend on.”

Addie has been playing volleyball since she was nine. She committed to play volleyball at Kansas State. “She has an elite arm” said Leupold. “Her arm strength is probably her best asset, and she has a great work ethic.”

^{Comfortable among her teammates when accepting one of the many trophies earned this year. [Las Cruces Digest Photo]}

“I think I’m more mature as a player and I make smarter decisions,” said Massey. “Last year I would get excited and go early or hit into a block, but this year I see everything better and I’m being more mature and waiting longer.”

“I’ve probably had 12-to-15 kids who have played Division One, but I think she is probably the most accomplished,” said Leupold.

“She’s so dynamic, it’s crazy, she can do anything,” said Willis.

^{Addison Massey exhibiting a very characteristic smile during warm-ups. [Photo Courtesy NMAA via YouTube screen capture]}

“For me, I want to grow as a player and try to be a better leader and as a team I think we all want to win state again and show everyone that we can,” said Massey.

It Takes a Team

The undefeated team on which Addison Massey played the 2024 season was far from shallow. It can be overlooked how great individual performances are made possible by extraordinary team efforts. This year’s Las Cruces High School Bulldawgs provided an exemplary opportunity to demonstrate this fact. Massey was part of an incredible team, allowing her to shine. Among the many great players were senior hitters Hailey Rautenstrauch and Mercedes Willis, both of whom were selected as All-Stars by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

Photos Courtesy LCHS Bulldawg Volleyball via Facebook. Post Text: Senior Bulldawg hitters Hailey Rautenstrauch, on the green team, and Mercedes Willis, on the red team were opponents today in the senior Red-Green volleyball All-Star game at Saint Pius high school in Albuquerque. The green team won set one, but the red took the next three to win the annual game. Congratulations to both Hailey and Mercedes for their selection to the All-Star team!

Congratulations, Addie!

And Congratulations Bulldawgs on a Fantastic Championship Season!

Article posted by:

Levi Gwaltney

Levi Gwaltney is the Editor In Chief of Las Cruces Digest. The Editor makes editorial and posting decisions regarding content published on this site. In most cases, the Editor makes little if any contribution to content published, and takes no credit for the content of republished posts. If available, the source or author of posts is provided at the top of the article.