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Grace Christian Academy volleyball player Kate Poitevint was named the GIAA 2A Player of the Year.

The Junior outside hitter led the Lady Cougars in offense and defense with 387 kills and 351 digs. Poitevint said she’s proud to see how far she’s come since the 2022 season, where she only got an All-Region nomination.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Poitevint said. “ Like, ‘Okay, you’re playing a different position now. And you have a different role for your team. And this is how much you have accomplished with that.’”

Poitevint was chosen for the “Player of the Year” award at a coaches’ meeting after the state championship. For a player to win the award, a coach has to nominate them at the meeting, and a different coach has to “second” the nomination to make it final. 

Lady Cougars head coach Kelsey Harrell attended the meeting. She said she was planning on nominating Poitevint but was beaten to it.

“I was sitting by Westminster’s coach,” Harrell said. “I was about to make my move and then, the Westminster coach goes, ‘Kate Poitevint from Grace. Hands down, no question,’”

Jaime Maxey, Westminster Prep’s head coach, had beaten Harrell and Grace Christian Academy in the State Championship days before the meeting. 

“I didn’t know what to say,” Harrell said. “Someone’s got to second that,… I couldn’t second, that’s biased.”

Rich Bland, Augusta Prep’s head coach, seconded the nomination.

“Kate’s a player that you obviously don’t want to see on the front row,” Bland said in the meeting. “But you also hate seeing her on the back row.” 

Harrell said Poitevint was important to the teams’ success this season. She praised Poitevint for her consistent play and confidence on the court.

“She is that player that every coach and every team wants to have when a game gets tight,” Harrell said. “But she was never cocky,… She has that confidence.”