CHICAGO — Back in November, Audrey Hofer was celebrating a Class AA volleyball state championship with her Helena Capital teammates on the court at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Montana State University’s campus in Bozeman. On Tuesday, the sophomore had more to celebrate.
Hofer was named the 2018-19 Montana Gatorade volleyball player of the year, joining an elite group of former state winners like recent Billings Senior standouts Taylor Mims, the 2014-15 winner, and Raegan Steiner, who won the award last year. Hofer is the first player from Capital to win the award.
A 5-foot-7 sophomore setter, Hofer helped Capital to a 34-2 overall record and the program’s first Class AA state championship since 2002, when high school girls volleyball first moved to the fall.
“I couldn’t be happier for Audrey,” said Helena Capital head coach Rebecca Cleveland. “She is well deserving of this recognition and has been a consistent leader for our team. Her strength in skill and her knowledge of the game, coupled with unwavering enthusiasm and selfless efforts, defines what she brings to Bruin volleyball.”
Hofer tallied 828 assists for the Bruins, while also recording 162 digs, 110 kills, 54 service aces and 42 blocks. She had a kill percentage of .368 on her way to the Western AA conference’s player of the year honor.
The first-team all-state selection has 1,241 assists in her two-year prep volleyball career.
“Audrey runs the entire court and is a fierce competitor. She can initiate the offense, she can be the offense and she can defend the offense coming back,” said Great Falls CMR head coach Patrick Hiller through the Gatorade release.
A 4.0 GPA student, Hofer is active in numerous other activities at Helena Capital. She mentors youth through Capital High’s Bruin Pure Performance Club, advocating for drug- and alcohol-free lifestyles. She has also volunteered her time during Helena Capital volleyball camps, as well as coaching youth basketball.
With the Gatorade honor, Hofer can award a $1,000 grant to the youth sports organization of her choice. She also has the option to submit an essay to the Gatorade “Play It Forward” campaign, which could land her one of 12 $10,000 grants to be given to the organization of her choice.
