Cassidy Stankowski of Frontier named state Gatorade Volleyball Player of Year
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The text messages started pouring into Frontier Regional junior Cassidy Stankowski's phone soon after 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
They came from family, former teammates and friends all congratulating her for the latest - and biggest - honor she's received in her illustrious volleyball career, being named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Massachusetts.
"It means so much because in the past years I have been beaten out by other girls," said Stankowski, who has been nominated three times and was the runner-up as a sophomore. "This year they chose me. It's a great feeling."
Stankowski actually found out Tuesday night at home, but had to keep it to herself and her family until it was officially released by ESPN and Gatorade the following morning.
"I was at home with my mom and I was going absolutely crazy in my house," said Stankowski, who verbally committed recently to play on scholarship at Division I Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Conn. "I was jumping up and down screaming."
At school the next morning, Stankowski kept her secret from her friends until the time finally came.
"It was really hard, but then I started getting text messages and I knew I could tell people," she said.
It was the perfect cap to a season filled with honors, milestones and championships.
As a junior, Stankowski led the team to its second straight state Division 3 championship. She became the first person in program history to break the 1,000 career kill mark, passed 100 career victories and was named all-state for the third straight season.
"I think it's very deserved. I'm probably biased, but I definitely think she's the best player in the state," Frontier coach Sean MacDonald said. "The versatility, for me, is what makes her the best. She obviously hits well, but for six rotations, front row, back row, passing, digging, serving, when you add up the whole package, that's what makes her the best player in the state."
Stankowski had 24 kills, 16 digs and five aces in an epic 23-25, 25-18, 17-25, 26-24, 15-11 victory in the state title match.
Frontier finished the season 23-1, with the lone loss coming in five sets at eventual state D-1 champion Barnstable.
Stankowski finished with 276 kills, 143 digs, 76 aces and 20 blocks to go with a .547 hitting percentage.
"Cassidy Stankowski is as dominant a player that I have ever seen at this level," Melrose coach Scott Celli said in the release from Gatorade. "She single-handedly beat Case for the state title."
Stankowski started for the powerhouse Frontier program in seventh grade as a libero and the team has gone 114-5 over that time while winning five straight WMass titles - the team has won seven straight overall - and the last two state championships.
Stankowski is currently playing club volleyball for the Pioneer Valley Juniors, lifting and she'll begin her three-times-per-week plyometric program shortly.
She decided on CCSU because "it's small, and it's close to home. The coaches and girls there have a good bond. It was just perfect for me," she said.
The choice came down to Central Connecticut, the University of Connecticut and New Hampshire.
"It's so nice," said Stankowski, who is planning to study athletic training. "All the stress from all the college stuff is gone. It's awesome."
On Wednesday, the text messages, phone calls and Facebook well-wishing continued throughout the day.
"It was so nice to see everyone going on there to support me," Stankowski said. "It really means a lot to me."
She planned to celebrate with her family Wednesday night in fitting style.
"My mom bought some ice cream to celebrate," she said.
The flavor?
Champion Chocolate Chunk.
Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.
