Davis Named National Player of Year
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Azoria Davis never had suspicions she would be in the spotlight the way she is now.
Dallas College Eastfield volleyball's 5-foot-9 freshman outside hitter from League City, Texas, Davis was selected as the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Player of the Year.
It came as a shock, but an honor well-deserved for a centerpiece in Eastfield's offense and defense that catapulted the Harvester Bees to a perfect season and national championship.
"No, I never thought in a million years," Davis said moments after learning she was named the NJCAA Division III's top player. "I had coaches and people in the past telling me that I wasn't going to make it or I wasn't going to be successful. That took a big toll on me, and I kind of never had belief in myself."
Believe it now girl, you're the National Player of the Year.
Davis banged down 336 balls, hit .260, had 375 digs, 39 blocks and 18 aces, and was a First Team All-American. She blasted a season-high 19 kills, and hit .400, while adding 14 digs in a four-set win over NJCAA Division II Northwest Mississippi Community College to wrap up a perfect weekend at the Blinn College Invitational. Davis finished the season with 11 double-doubles, and had 10 or more kills in 14 matches.
"Azoria was a key piece to our success this year as a team," Eastfield head coach Phil Nickel said. "She is such a good player in all facets of the game. She was one of our best passers all season, as well as a strong defender. She is so dynamic as a hitter, but very consistent as well. And just as importantly, she is a great teammate. Her teammates love playing with her. She is sweet and humble off the court, and tough and competitive on the court. She is a joy to coach, and this award couldn't go to a better person."
A product of Clear Springs High School, Davis had four blocks in four matches, including the NJCAA Division III South District Championship 3-1 win over Dallas College North Lake. She hit .300 or better in 16 matches – nearly half of the Bees' total this season as they buzzed their way to perfection. It was a season that she, and her freshmen class contingent, felt something special was in the works early on, but one they still had to put on their hard hats, and go to work each day to accomplish the task at hand.
"When we first practiced, I knew that we were going to be great. I knew we had a lot of potential," Davis said. "I felt like a lot of the players believed that we could do well this season. Coming in, I felt like all of us had the same mindset. I felt like everyone was on the same page, and everyone was just very hard working and very open. Of course, we had bad practices, and we had rough times, but as a team, we stick together, and we believed in each other. I think that's how we got here, and we became so successful this year. I'm just so grateful for this team and my coaches that believed in me and believed in us."
Davis opted on Eastfield after starting the recruiting process late, knowing that if she found the right fit, she could hopefully set herself up for the future. When she received a warm welcoming from the Harvester Bees, she tucked that decision away quickly, knowing she had family in the area as a comfort blanket. Coupled with the fact she could pursue her fashion marketing educational endeavors, Eastfield was the easy choice.
"I just got a really good vibe, and the second I left Eastfield, I left Dallas, I knew I was going to commit there," Davis said.
Eastfield is glad she did. Now she's a part of history.
"I came into an area where people did believe in me, and I think I worked very hard to get to where I am here, and I'm very proud of myself," Davis said. "I'm glad that I stuck through, and I'm just glad that I got my confidence back. I have no words. I think all the hard times, it means that it was worth it. All the pain was worth it."