They were standouts for their respective teams and were often the last ones to touch the ball before it hit the floor on the opposite side of the net.

File photos (ENLARGE)

Edenton's Gerrisha Moore and Northeastern's Kathryn Ann Berry are The Daily Advance Volleyball co-Players of the Year for 2007. And though both are deserving, they earned the nods in different ways.

If you are looking for the player who is the truest definition of the MVP, it is Moore.

There is little doubt the Lady Aces would have struggled without their junior middle hitter. Moore had 276 kills in 19 matches this year as Edenton finished fourth in the Northeastern Coastal Conference.

"She has a great combination of quickness, jumping ability and arm swing," Edenton coach Rock Hudnall said. "And what is overlooked an awful lot is her vision and awareness of where the block is."

She broke her own school record for kills in a season this year and also set the mark for highest serving percentage for the season (95.8) and most kills in a match (27).

She almost equalled the last mark in the team's final regular season match, a five-set victory over conference champion First Flight. Moore had 26 kills in the match as the Lady Aces rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win.

"She really plays her best against the better teams," Hudnall said. "She really comes to play when we play somebody good."

Hudnall looks forward to the one remaining season Moore has left.

"She is our team, there's no doubt about it," he said. "We'd be in bad shape without her."

Berry was deserving in a different way. She was Northeastern's MVP, as well as the NCC Player of the Year.

"That says a lot," Northeastern coach Tim Brown said. "I can pick you as the MVP for our team, but when all of the other players pick you as the best player in the conference, that's saying something."

While Moore was the dominant force with the Lady Aces, Northeastern had several outstanding players, going 24-5 and making it to the third round of the 2A playoffs.

Still, Berry stood out. A big reason for her success is the effort she puts into the game.

"She's been a starter for three years," Brown said. "She goes to summer camps everywhere, and she helps us with our camp. She plays in the Junior Olympic program in Tidewater. She loves the game and has a real passion for playing it."

The senior, who will play for Meredith College next year, led the NCC runner-up Lady Eagles with nine kills and a pair of blocks per match.

"She's a very smart offensive player," Brown said. "She looks at the other team and sees where the openings are. She's the best downline hitter I've ever had, and when they take that away, she can go cross-court."

But she also had a strong service game and averaged three aces per match in her final season.

"She can play any position on the floor," Brown said. "She can play outside hitter, middle hitter, she's a great server with the jump serve and she's a great passer."

Rachel Bonds

Currituck

Senior was All-NCC pick

Candice Nixon

Perquimans

Senior had 197 points, 35 aces

Blair Meiggs

Camden

Senior had 210 kills, 54 aces

Kristen Whitehurst

Camden

108 blocks, led team w/270 kills

Tiffany Welch

Edenton

Senior led team with 232 assists

Leslie Hassell

Northeastern

Senior averaged 8 kills, 2 blocks

Anna Pierce

Northeastern

Senior was NHS Defensive PoY

Sarah Griggs

Currituck

Junior is 2-time team MVP

Andreka Wrighton

Perquimans

Senior led team with 222 kills

Meghan Graham

Currituck

Junior paced team in assists

Leanne Burton

Camden

Sophomore had 478 assists

Ashtin Truesdale

Albemarle

All-TIC selection, avg. 4 aces, kills

Jennifer Cook

Pasquotank

Solid net play for Lady Panthers