St. James’ Forst is All-Metro volleyball player of the year

There are also the numerous personal accomplishments — a new school record for kills, Kansas 4A player of the year, the Evelyn Gates Award and her selection as one of 24 players nationwide for the America Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Game.

“For myself, I considered it the perfect year,” Forst said.

A three-time all-state outside hitter, Forst, who signed with the University of South Carolina, led the Thunder with 475 kills, a .446 hitting percentage and also added 255 digs.

And now, she is selected as The Star’s All-Metro volleyball player of the year.

“Hanna is one of those people, when she comes to play she is unstoppable,” St. James Academy coach Nancy Dorsey said. “She is always in such control out on the floor, offensively especially. She wows her own teammates sometimes and they have complete faith in her.”

The Thunder’s history is short but already rich in tradition. Statistically, nobody has been better than Forst, who broke Kelly Kolich’s career record for kills this season as well.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Dorsey said. “When she came in as a freshman, she was so physical. She never really looked like a freshman and she certainly never played like a freshman. If it was a tough match and I needed my best lineup in there, she played from the time she got to St. James.”

The Thunder went 174-7 during Forst’s four seasons and reached the 4A title game each of those seasons.

She’s been surrounded by plenty of talent, but a strong case also can be made that she elevated the level of play at St. James.

“The drive to be her very best is I think what makes her tick,” Dorsey said. “She takes the game very personally. Every play, she wants to do well for her teammates and be the best Hanna she can be. That’s something you can’t teach.”

Neither is consistency, especially consistent excellence.

“Very rarely does she have a bad play or a bad game, and when she does it seems so odd,” Dorsey said.

Fortunately for Forst and the Thunder, there were few moments like that in 2010.

“Winning the national title just puts the cherry on top,” Forst said. “I could not be more lucky. It really was the perfect year for me.”

First team Lauren Ford, St. Thomas Aquinas, senior

An outside hitter who helped the Saints to a 31-10 record and a second-place finish in the Kansas 5A state tournament. Finished with 386 kills, a .333 hitting efficiency, 349 digs, 56 blocks and 43 aces.

Hanna Forst, St. James Academy, senior

A left-side hitter who led a team that went 44-1, won its third consecutive Kansas 4A state title and was selected No. 1 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com. Forst, who won the Evelyn Gates Award as the best player in Kansas City, had 475 kills with a .446 hitting efficiency and 255 digs.

Tori Hurtt, O’Hara, senior

Hurtt and the Celtics won four straight Missouri Class 3 state titles. A middle hitter, Hurtt anchored the Celtics’ attack with 488 kills with a .455 efficiency and 129 blocks. She earned first team all-state, all-district and all-conference honors four consecutive years. She has signed with Iowa State.

Megan McGehee, Lee’s Summit West, junior

McGehee played on the Missouri Class 4 state runner-up team that finished 32-5-2, helping the Titans beat top teams like St. Teresa’s Academy and Blue Springs. McGehee led the team in kills (286) and blocks (74.5) and made first-team all-state.

Sara Slater, Lansing, senior

Slater led the Lions to a 35-10 record and a fourth-place finish in Kansas 5A as a libero. A first-team all-state selection, Slater finished the season with 509 digs and a 2.48 passing efficiency.

Shelby Workman, Bishop Miege, junior

She was selected the Kansas 5A player of the year and led Miege to a 38-4 record and its third consecutive state title. A right-side hitter who finished the season with 337 kills, 269 digs and a .334 hitting efficiency. Also played in all 100 games.

Second team Shelby Corkill, Winnetonka, senior; Kieley Culbertson, Blue Springs, senior; Haylee Gregory, Lee’s Summit West, senior; Haley Pfau, Oskaloosa, junior; Kathleen Vogel, St. Teresa’s, junior; Morgan Voorhes, St. James Academy, senior

Honorable mention Michala Boehm, O’Hara, senior; Paige Brown, St. James Academy, junior; Karisa Cowell, Blue Valley North, junior; Lindsey Hanaway, O’Hara, senior; Jessica Hendin, Blue Valley West, junior; Taylor Johnson, Platte County, senior; Bobbi Jones, Kearney, senior; Taylor Migliazzo, St. Teresa’s Academy, junior; Liz Powell, Bishop Miege, senior; Kylie Rice, Lee’s Summit West, junior; Preecy Seever, Olathe Northwest, senior; Grace Whitley, Bishop Miege, senior

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