Gillespie Named Region Player of the Year

Jackson County senior Paisley Gillespie was named the Region 8-AAAAA Volleyball Player of the Year Thursday, prior to the Panthers' 3-1 region championship win over Loganville.

Gillespie, the school's all-time leader in kills, finished the season with 469 kills to add to her impressive resume, while connecting on 91.9 percent of her serves this season, which included 42 aces. Gillespie also totaled 229 digs and 29 assists to lead the Panthers to a 38-6 record heading into the state playoffs. 

Siena Berthold and Ally Page were named to the First Team All-Region, while Ava Lesniak, Chloe Wright and Hannah Stovall were honored with Second Team recognition. 

Berthold finished with 261 kills, 170 digs and 24 assists, while connecting on 91.7 percent of her serves, while Page finished with a team-best 8-7 assists, 132 sigs, 86 aces and 79 kills. Lesniak finished with 306 digs, 78 assista, 47 aces and a serve percentage of 86.6. percent. Wright totaled 163 sigs, 53 aces and a serve percentage of 91.9 percent, while Stovall finished with 106 kills. 

As region champions, Jackson County will host the No. 4 seed from Region 2-AAAAA in the first round of the State Playoffs.