GAINESVILLE (Dec. 7) – Senior outside hitter Stephanie Samedy of Clermont’s East Ridge High School has been named the 2016 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of high school volleyball coaches and media representatives.
Samedy, who will participate in the Under Armour All-American game in Columbus, Ohio on Friday and is a member of the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, posted 424 kills, 189 digs, 38 aces and 25 blocks with a .391 hitting percentage this season. She has signed to play college volleyball at the University of Minnesota, which advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2015.
Samedy, who was earlier named Class 8A Player-of-the-Year, garnered nine of the 19 first-place votes to finish with 158 points in claiming this year’s award. Class 9A POY Christine Jarman of state champion Boca Raton, was the runner-up with 136 points, followed in order by Class 4A POY Brynna Deluzio of state champion The First Academy (84), Class 7A POY Amanda Gross of Ida Baker (76) and Class 2A POY Kaylee Thomas of state champion St. John Lutheran (71). Rounding out the voting in order were Class 6A POY Emily Draper of Tampa Robinson (64), Jenna Culhan of Lake Worth Christian (59), Nikki Benitez of Class 5A state champ Westminster Christian (51) and Shelby Glawson of Class 1A state champ Sneads (46).
The Florida Dairy Farmers High School Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to the state’s youth. This marks the 25th year of these unique awards as we honor the state’s top athletes and coaches in all 30 FHSAA sanctioned and recognized sports. The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
2016 FINAL VOTING RESULTS (Area winners in bold)
Player Total Points 1st-Place Votes
Stephanie Samedy, East Ridge (Clermont) 158 9
Christine Jarman, Boca Raton 136 6
Brynna Deluzio, The First Academy (Orlando) 84 1
Amanda Gross, Ida Baker 76 1
Kaylee Thomas, St. John Lutheran (Ocala) 71 1
Emily Draper, Robinson (Tampa) 64 1
Jenna Culhan, Lake Worth Christian 59 ` 0
Nikki Benitez, Westminster Christian 51 0
Shelby Glawson, Sneads 46 0
Past Winners:
2015 – Payton Caffrey, Winter Springs
2014 – Courtney Furlong, Oviedo
2013 – Christina Ambrose, Winter Park
2012 – Lindsey Owens, Bishop Moore Catholic
2011 – Jordan Burgess, Tampa Berkeley Preparatory
2010 – Jordan Burgess, Tampa Berkeley Preparatory
2009 – Elise Walch, Martin County
2008 – Jessica Yingling, Orlando Timber Creek
2007 – Kellie Catanach, Tampa Plant
2006 – Ruthie King, Winter Park Lake Howell
2005 – Janet Okagbaa, Tampa Berkeley Preparatory
2004 – Foluke Akinradewo, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
2003 – Michelle Staulbaum, Gainesville
2002 – Marcie Hampton, Gainesville P.K. Yonge
2001 – Julia Caner, Boca Raton Olympic Heights
2000 – Taylor Williams, Gainesville
1999 – Delavane Diaz, Tampa Berkeley Preparatory
1998 – Kristen Blatt, Venice
1997 – Lauren Westervelt, Boca Raton Olympic Heights
1996 – Jennifer Werrick, Lakeland George Jenkins
1995 – Sandra Reboucas, Orlando Cypress Creek
1994 – Jamie Velentzas, Ft. Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons
1993 – Coleen Crocco, Ft. Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons
1992 – Kelly Flannigan, Tampa Berkeley Preparatory
