Addison Massey is three-time player of the year

For three years now, Massey has been the dominant force in the state of New Mexico on the volleyball court. Now headed to Manhattan, Kansas to play collegiately for Kansas State, Massey guided the Las Cruces High volleyball team to an unbeaten season and third straight Class 5A title.

Her dominance at the net earned Massey a third consecutive Gatorade New Mexico player of the year award. During her senior campaign, Massey had 571 kills, 290 serve receptions, 221 digs and 51 aces. She was especially amazing when the moment was biggest. She hammered home 67 kills in a two-match barrage in this year’s state semifinal and championship contests.

“I think her most elite aspect of her game is her arm swing,” Bulldawg head coach Keith Leupold said earlier in the season. “She hits the ball with such great pace. When she was a freshman, we were at a scrimmage at Rio Rancho, and she immediately drew the attention of the the University of New Mexico coaches, during her first year at Las Cruces High.”

Once she was on the recruiting radar, others found their way to southern New Mexico. Massey was most impressed with the coaching staff at Kansas State. That’s why she’s headed to Manhattan.

“They believed in me since the first time they saw me,” Massey said during a prior interview. “And they also are just great people, and they made me realize that I'm not just like a tool for them, that they care for me as a person and not just a volleyball player.”

All along, Massey has talked openly about this being a team award. She was especially fortunate to play alongside the same dynamic setter throughout her high school career.

“I have Sydney Pipkin, who gives me perfect sets every single time, doesn't matter where she's on the court, and then I have Caleigh Garcia who's giving us great passes and great defense to make it where I have the opportunity to be set,” she said. “That’s the only reason why I'm able to go out there and be dominant, because of my setter and my libero.”

As the wins kept coming, the challenge increased. The Bulldawgs won their third consecutive state title in dominant fashion during a season and state tournament during which they were the target of every team’s best effort. They all wanted to be the team that ended the winning streak that has now reached 57 in a row.

Now a three-time Gatorade Player of the Year, outside hitter Addison Massey says they managed to always stay focused in the moment and avoid the pressure.

“We just thought that every single game we know they're going to give us their best, so we have to make sure that we go out swinging first, pushing ourselves to do better every single day,” Massey said. “We just thought one game at a time, and we understood that we had a little bit of pressure, but we just focused on getting better. If you don't focus on everybody else and just focus on yourself, it's a lot easier to be prepared.”

Leupold is in awe of Massey as a player. He says she is a must-see talent.

“When you see what Addison Massey does, you just take time to appreciate the skill and the beauty,” Leupold said. “She's the kind of athlete where you want to get to the venue early so you can watch her warm up. She’s worth the price of admission, I'm guessing the same way it might be to watch Ohtani in batting practice.”