The accolades have continued to pour in over the eight weeks since Troy volleyball clinched its third consecutive Idaho Class 1A Division I high school state title.

Most recently, the Trojans’ Deborah Blazzard and Dericka Morgan were named their division’s coach and player of the year, respectively, in the All-State awards released Dec. 14.

Modest Blazzard touts team

Blazzard is no stranger to her current status, having received the same honor after several previous Troy title runs. She moved to Troy around 12 years ago, and has helmed the program for the last eight seasons and six state victories.

“I certainly am just super-gracious, because I feel like the girls are the ones that did the amazing job,” she said. “I just got to be part of the process. Whenever I get coach of the year, I think, ‘Well, it’s actually the girls that did all the work.’ Certainly grateful for the honor, but would direct all the attention to how hard my girls worked during the season — how they had a dream of winning State and how all year and all season long, they just worked to make that come true.”

For Morgan, by contrast, the award represented a new height of success to cap her high school career, and one she had perhaps not dared to envision for herself.

“I just kind of go out there to play my hardest,” she said. “I never really thought that I could get something like that, so it’s pretty cool. ... I feel like I grew definitely throughout the season, and I feel like I reached my full potential.”

Blazzard, whose team has produced player of the year winners on a consistent basis, was unsurprised to see Morgan selected.

“I feel like Dericka just has been getting better and better and better,” Blazzard said. “She’s another one that has just improved her game exponentially — not just during the season, but offseason as well.”

Also receiving first-team All-State recognition from Troy were middle hitter Jolee Ecklund (herself a former player of the year) and setter Olivia Tyler, while sophomore Trojan libero Laura House made the second team.

Morgan’s journey continues

A 5-foot-7 outside hitter, Morgan was an offensive powerhouse for the Trojans, as illustrated by a 23-kill performance in her final high school match to help them clinch the state championship with a 25-18, 18-25, 22-25, 25-13, 15-11 victory over the Grace Grizzlies on Oct. 28.

“I feel like this year, she became a much smarter hitter,” Blazzard said of Morgan. “Instead of just hitting the ball as hard as she can, she was able to see the court a lot better and put the ball away. Whether it be a hit or a tip or a cross-court shot or a light shot, she was able to just know the game a lot better, so that’s always super-exciting.”

Morgan also served as a team captain, and used that role to place emphasis on personal solidarity and making the Troy volleyball tradition a more “fun experience” to complement the serious competitive effort for which it was already well-known.

She has been exploring avenues for potentially continuing to play volleyball at the collegiate level — among other things, recently visiting Spokane Falls Community College and practicing with the team. Her self-described favorite sport, however, is basketball, in which she is also the current leading scorer for the Troy girls and potentially interested in playing at the next level. She plans to major in either kinesiology or sports nutrition in college.