LEXINGTON — She will wear purple and gold for one more season, then Lexington’s Mackenzie Weaver will suit up in orange.
The Richland Source Volleyball Player of the Year, Weaver committed to Syracuse University before the start of her recently-completed junior season.
And what a season it was.
The 6-foot-1 Weaver led Lexington to a district runner-up finish and a 20-6 record. Lady Lex tied Madison for second in the final Ohio Cardinal Conference standings and knocked off the Rams in the district semifinals.
The daughter of Lady Lex coach Bobbi Weaver, Mackenzie was the Ohio Cardinal Conference Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Ohio first team pick. She had 422 kills on the season and already has topped the 1,000-kill plateau with her senior season still in front of her.
Weaver is joined on the All-Richland Source team by Lexington teammate Alannah Lemming, Galion’s Reanne Neal and Madison’s Katie Wagner, Ali Brown and Chase Carper.
Like her younger teammate, Lemming is a Division I recruit. She recently signed to play at Wright State University. Lemming had 190 kills and 124 blocks this season and was an All-Ohio honorable metion selection.
The 6-foot-2 Neal averaged 5.38 kills and was the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Red Division Player of the Year. She led the Tigers (20-5) to a share of the MOAC Red Division title, splitting the championship with Jonathan Alder. Neal, who had 28 kills in a district semifinal loss to state-ranked Norwalk, recently signed with Ashland University.
Wagner was selected to the All-Ohio second team after helping the Rams to a 19-6 record. The senior setter had 756 assists this fall and was an All-OCC first team selection.
The versatile Brown was an All-OCC first team pick and an All-Ohio third-teamer. She was an All-Ohio outside hitter last year, but was forced to move to libero for a portion of her senior season when Carper injured her knee. Brown had 148 kills and 310 digs this fall.
There should be no question about Carper’s toughness.The defensive specialist played the second half of the season with a torn ACL. Madison coach Brian Votaw said she was one of the state’s best at her position before the injury.
