Albrecht, Swanson earn 1st-team D3 all-state

After leading the Sonoma Valley High School varsity volleyball girls to both a fourth straight Sonoma County League title and first North Coast Section Division-3 championship in more than a decade, seniors Mackenzie Albrecht and Delaney Swanson recently received more major honors for their stellar season.

Albrecht and Swanson, who were the SCL co-most valuable players and led the Lady Dragons to the state quarterfinals and a 29-4 record, were named to the MaxPreps all-state Division-3 first-team as a setter and outside hitter, respectively.

The athletic 6-foot Albrecht – also an honorable mention selection on the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s 2014 Under Armour Girls’ High School All-America Team – put up eye-opening season statistics, including 1,097 assists, 300 digs, 81 kills, 65 service aces and 29 blocks. She will next play volleyball for the University of California, Berkeley, on a full-ride athletic scholarship.

At 5-foot, 11-inches, Swanson demonstrated her strength and athleticism by also putting up big statistical numbers that averaged out to an impressive five kills and 4.5 digs a set for the 33-match season.

Joining Albrecht and Swanson on the Division-3 all-state first team were three of Sonoma’s postseason opponents’ top spikers, including Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland outside hitter Brianna Karsseboom; Valley Christian of San Jose’s middle blocker Ronika Stone; and Campolindo of Moraga’s outside hitter Kelley Wirth.