Sage’s Smith is awarded his share of MVP honor

Sage Hill School junior outside hitter Bayle Smith has been named Academy League Co-MVP in boys’ volleyball after leading the Lightning to their first 10-0 undefeated league championship season.

Smith shares the honor with Brethren Christian senior Ben Hammond. Smith, a repeat first-team member, led Sage Hill with 192 kills, 41 service aces and 27 blocks.

Sage Hill Coach Dan Thomassen earned the league’s Coach of the Year award after leading the Lightning (20-10) to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs. The Lightning lost a five-game thriller to Chadwick.

In league play, Sage Hill only dropped one game.

Joining Smith on the first team are three teammates, sophomore outside hitter Joey Booth, junior setter Michael Bear and sophomore libero Mattias Russo-Larsson.

Booth, a repeat first-team pick, finished with 156 kills, 92 digs, 31 blocks and 17 aces. Bear led the team with 446 assists and Russo-Larsson with 141 digs.

Senior opposite Carl Hillgren made the second team after recording 92 kills and 44 stuffed blocks.

Junior middle blocker Harlan Webster (46 stuffed blocks, 72 kills), junior middle blocker Alex Lowe (48 kills, 22 stuffed blocks) and senior middle blocker Austin Apramian were honorable mentions.

— From staff reports