Nansemond-Suffolk junior volleyball player Kaylor Nash was named the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II Player of the Year, and senior Quinby Hines was named to the first team all-state.

After Nash won Player of the Year for the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools, she pondered what her next goal would be.

“And I was like, ‘Well, I guess it’s state Player of the Year,’” she said. “‘I guess that’s the next goal to aim for.’ And it was awesome when I got it.”

The honor caught her somewhat off guard.

“I always hoped that I would get it, but it’s just like this year has been so great for me, I just never imagined that all this could happen,” she said.

According to MaxPreps.com, Nash finished first among VISAA Division II players in kills with 437 and in aces with 109. She also had 409 digs which was first among non-libero and defensive specialists.

“She’s worked really, really hard for this, and I’m just glad that the other coaches recognized her efforts on the court and gave her the award,” NSA volleyball coach Robyn Ross said.

A special committee formed by the VISAA and composed of coaches and athletic directors made the all-state selections.

Nash gave Ross all the credit.

“She made me who I am today,” Nash said. “Without her, I would be nowhere near as good. She’s just always there. She’s made me a better player on the court and a better person in the world. She’s just more than I could ever ask for.”

In terms of what makes Nash so good, Ross noted that besides having athletic genes, Nash is a hard worker who has immense dedication and hates to make mistakes.

“If she has a practice where she doesn’t feel like she passed very well, then she asks if I’ll stay after and serve to her or hit at her,” Ross said. “If she feels like she hit too many in the net, she’ll ask if Quinby will stay and set her.”

Hines was pleased with the recognition Nash has received this year.

“She works really hard, and she definitely helped carry our team, so I was really happy she got Player of the Year for both conference and state.”

Quinby Hines came in first in the state of Virginia for both public and private schools in the categories of total assists and assists per game, as listed on MaxPreps.com. In total, she accumulated 1,058 assists, averaging 10.7 per game.

“I was hoping I would make first team, so when I did, I was just really happy,” Hines said.

Like Nash, Hines deflected any praise to Coach Ross.

“I think that Robyn definitely helped motivate me and reach my goals, so I would definitely give her all the credit for everything that I got recognition for,” she said.

Ross highlighted what Hines brought to the 2012 Lady Saints.

“This year, it was not only her intensity on the court and how bad she wanted to win, but also leadership,” Ross said. “She just really blossomed into a great leader on and off the court this year.”

Sophomore middle blocker Caylin Harris was named to the all-state second team, leading NSA in blocks with 62 and totaling the second-highest number of kills on the team behind Nash, with 240.