GETTING EVEN BETTER AT THE TOP OF HER GAME
If there’s a way for the best volleyball player in the state to get even better, Las Cruces senior Addison Massey is doing it. “She just gets better every year,” said Las Cruces head coach Keith Leupold. “She’s hitting .500 from the left side, that’s unheard of, at any level.”
“I feel like I’m trying to take on a bigger role and cover more court and do more things, and try to help the team more than I did last year,” said Massey.
That would be hard to do. Last year, Las Cruces won it all. In fact, they’re back-to-back state champions with a win streak of more than 40 games dating back to 2023. Leading the way is their power hitting senior. “I think my responsibility is to keep energy and keep pushing everybody to be better,” said the senior.
Massey’s resume is already stacked. She is the two-time reigning Gatorade New Mexico Volleyball Player of the Year with as much energy as she has accolades. “She’s high energy and she’s a great leader and she’s a great motivator of other kids,” said Leupold.
“I feel like the energy always helps and if you’re in a rut it will get you out of it faster,” said Massey.
“She and Sydney Pipkin our setter come into practice and they come to work,” said Leupold. “It’s very easy as another player to work hard when your best two players are busting it every day.”
Massey is committed to play volleyball at Kansas State and is sharpening her skills before playing in the Big 12. “I’m focusing on making sure my serves are nice and tough because last year they were really easy,” Massey said with a smile. “I’m definitely focusing on my serve receive because if you can serve receive, you’ll definitely get on the court.”
“If I had to use one word to describe her it would be arm-swing,” said Leupold. “She has an elite arm and she can hit the ball in a lot of places with a lot of pace.”
Massey and the unbeaten Las Cruces Bulldawgs will try to win their 8th overall state title next month.
