Not many athletes go through their high school careers as a varsity starter all four years.
Even fewer can say they did so while dominating at two positions.
Bishop Gorman senior Liz Manthei accomplished the feat as a prolific outside hitter and setter in the Gaels’ girls volleyball program. For her efforts, Manthei was named the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Class 4A Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
“She was very multifaceted,” Gorman coach Ed Van Meetren said. “As a freshman and sophomore she set, as a junior she hit outside, and as a senior she did both. It was nice options for us.”
Manthei totaled 219 kills, 299 assists, 60 blocks and 53 aces to lead the Gaels (31-9) to the Class 4A state semifinals. Gorman went 16-0 in the Southwest League before winning its second straight Sunset Region title.
As a senior, Manthei shared setter duties with junior Kylee Chun. Van Meetren said that enabled Manthei to emerge as “the most dominant right-side blocker in town.”
“You’re usually going against the best players. Blocking is about desire as much as anything else,” Van Meetren said. “She wanted to block every ball.”
As one of only four seniors for the Gaels, Manthei became a vocal leader in 2010. She also led by example, coming through with 23 kills and 15 assists in a 3-1 win over Centennial in the Sunset Region final.
“My senior year, I definitely stepped up being a leader,” said Manthei, who was voted Southwest Most Valuable Player by coaches. “I became more vocal on the court. It comes with knowing your team.”
Manthei is continuing to play during the offseason with locally based Edge Volleyball Club to stay sharp for college. She’s set to join Arizona in the fall as a recruited walk-on.
Manthei is excited not only for the chance to play for one of the nation’s top programs, but to reunite with her brother, Stephen Manthei, a sophomore pitcher for the Arizona baseball team.
“Most people don’t get to continue playing,” she said. “To get to go to a school where my brother is, it’s the best opportunity I could have.”
Following is a list of the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s other fall Athletes of the Year:
FOOTBALL
4A: Dasean Martin, Bonanza. A senior running back, Martin rushed for 1,148 yards and 14 touchdowns, and caught 47 passes for 1,055 yards and 15 TDs.
3A/2A/1A: Cody Hosier, Pahranagat Valley. A senior quarterback and cornerback, Hosier threw 36 touchdown passes and only one interception to lead the Panthers to their third straight 1A state title. Voted 1A Southern League Most Valuable Player by coaches.
BOYS SOCCER
4A: Saul Aguirre, Legacy. A sophomore forward, Aguirre had 22 goals and 12 assists to lead the Longhorns to their first state championship. Voted Northwest League Player of the Year by coaches.
3A: Trevor Montgomery, Boulder City. A senior midfielder, Montgomery set a single-season school record with 19 assists to lead the Eagles to the state semifinals. Voted first-team all-state by coaches.
GIRLS SOCCER
3A: Miriam Hardy, Boulder City. A senior defender, Hardy led the Eagles to the state semifinals. Voted 3A Southern League MVP and first-team all-state by coaches.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
3A/2A/1A: Vanessa Hall, The Meadows. A senior setter, Hall led the Mustangs to the 2A state semifinals. Voted first-team all-state and co-MVP in the 2A Southern League by coaches.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
4A: Nick Hartle, Centennial. A junior, Hartle won the state title in 16 minutes, 28 seconds on a 3.1-mile course. Led the Bulldogs to the team championship.
3A/2A: Josh Thompson, Moapa Valley. A senior, Thompson won the 3A state title in 17 minutes on a 3.1-mile course.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
4A: Katie Gorczyca, Palo Verde. A freshman, Gorczyca won the state title in 19:49 on a 3.1-mile course. Became the first freshman to win state since 1996. Led the Panthers to their first team championship.
3A/2A: Stephanie Adams, Boulder City. A senior, Adams won the 3A Southern League title in 20:47 on a 3.1-mile course to lead the Eagles to the team championship.
GIRLS GOLF
4A: Alex Kaui, Green Valley. A sophomore, Kaui won the state title with an 8-under 136 total, including a tournament-record round of 64, at Hidden Valley Country Club in Reno. Led the Gators to the team championship. Named Las Vegas Player of the Year by the Southern Nevada Golf Coaches Association.
3A/2A: Randi Lewis, Boulder City. A sophomore, Lewis won the 3A state title by carding an 11-over-155 total at Ruby View Golf Course in Elko, leading the Eagles to the team championship.
BOYS TENNIS
Kris Yee, Clark. A junior, Yee won the state singles title to become the Chargers’ first singles champion since 1986.
GIRLS TENNIS
Gabby Smith, Coronado. A freshman, Smith won the state singles title.
