‘A coach’s dream,’ Hoopa’s Annie Lanning named Little 5 MVP

By barstoolfanatics on November 6, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

Photo by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Hoopa’s Annie Lanning has been named MVP of the Little 5.

By Ray Hamill — A late-season surge saw the Hoopa Warriors close out the 2024 high school volleyball season strong, and one player in particular played a key role in that big run.

This week, the H-DNL announced that senior Annie Lanning has been named the 2024 Little 5 MVP after a stellar season playing for the Warriors.

Lanning was instrumental in her team’s big conference campaign, which saw the Warriors push eventual Little 5 champs St. Bernard’s all the way to the final day of conference play.

The influential team leader helped the Warriors to a 6-2 record in this year’s L5, including six wins in their final seven games, but that wasn’t all she brought to the table.

“Annie is a coaches’ dream,” Hoopa head coach Brittany Moore said. “She is dedicated to the game, the success of her teammates and herself.”

Lanning, who is one of 10 players to receive all-league first-team honors, also won the respect of her teammates, opponents and opposing coaches for the way she handled herself.

“She is exactly what the H-DNL strives for as a true sportsman on and off the court,” Moore said. “She is polite to others and gives credit where it is due.”

She also is a player who continually looks to improve her game.

“(When) she makes a mistake, she learns and strives to be better,” her head coach added. “She will deeply be missed by me and her teammates next year. She was truly part of the positivity on the court and off.”

Lanning’s Hoopa teammates Millennia McKindley and Harmony Nelson each also received all-league first-team honors, as the Warriors returned to the North Coast Section playoffs this year.

Three other Warriors players also were included in the honorable mentions.

St. Bernard’s Makinsey Lemley (10)

Conference champs St. Bernard’s had four all-league first-team selections, as well as three honorable mentions.

Ella Hart, Sahara Tupua, Makinsey Lemley and Jocelyn Sundberg were all named to the all-league first team after playing key roles on the way to winning the Little 5 pennant.

The Crusaders finished 7-1 in league play, with their only loss coming on the road at Ferndale, and they followed that with a first-round win over Anderson Valley in the North Coast Section playoffs.