Barrington girl named Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year

Maile Somera helped the Eagles win a second straight state title

Posted 1/19/17

For the first time ever, Rhode Island's Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year is from Barrington.

On Tuesday, Gatorade announced that Maile Somera was selected for the honor. The Barrington High …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Barrington girl named Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year

Maile Somera helped the Eagles win a second straight state title

Posted

For the first time ever, Rhode Island's Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year is from Barrington.

On Tuesday, Gatorade announced that Maile Somera was selected for the honor. The Barrington High School sophomore outside hitter was also an All-State and All-Division selection for volleyball.

"The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Somera as Rhode Island’s best high school volleyball player," stated the press release from The Gatorade Company.

Maile is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year honor, which will be announced this month. 

"The 5-foot-9 sophomore outside hitter led the Eagles to a 20-2 record and the Division I state championship this past season," stated the release. "Somera tallied 362 kills, 231 digs and 82 service aces while posting a kill percentage of .536 and a hitting percentage of .402. The 2016 Division I Player of the Year, Somera led Barrington to the Division II state title in 2015 and was named the tournament MVP. She concluded her sophomore year with 512 total kills in her prep volleyball career."

Maile earned praise from the opposition all season.

“Maile is a very unique player,” said Josh Bednarczyk, head coach of Exeter-West Greenwich High. “She has a combination of athleticism and the ability to read the game and anticipate beyond her age. Offensively and defensively she is in complete control.”

In addition to being a standout on the volleyball court, Maile has also earned praise for her academic performance. She is a member of the Barrington High School debate and environmental clubs and has volunteered for a fund-raiser to benefit cancer research. She also works as a math tutor.

According to the press release, Maile has maintained a weighted 4.10 GPA in the classroom. 

Other recent Gatorade Rhode Island Volleyball Players of the Year include Jenna Bridges (2015-16, Exeter-West Greenwich High School), Jen Donnelly (2014-15, Exeter-West Greenwich High School), Samantha Higgins (2013-14, Coventry High School), Taylor Stevens (2012-13, Ponaganset High School), and Kelsey Lace (2011-12, Mount Saint Charles Academy).

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Maile will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. 

"Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support," stated the release.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.