Marriah Buss Gatorade Player of the Year

The Gatorade Company, today announced Marriah Buss of Lincoln Lutheran High School as its 2018-19 Gatorade Nebraska Volleyball Player of the Year. Buss is the first Gatorade Nebraska Volleyball Player of the Year to be chosen from Lincoln Lutheran High School. 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 Buss as Nebraska’s best high school volleyball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year award to be announced in January, Buss joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including USA Volleyball players Kayla Banwarth (2006-07, Wahlert High School, Iowa), Alisha Glass (2005-06, Leland Public High School, Mich.), Jordan Larson (2004-05, Logan View High School, Neb.) and Foluke Akinradewo (2004-05, St. Thomas High School, Fla.). The 6-foot junior outside hitter recorded 637 kills, 306 digs, 60 blocks and 51 service aces this past season, leading the Warriors (34-4) to the Class C1 state final. Captain of the Lincoln Journal Star Super-State Team, she was selected to the Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska First Team and was named a PrepVolleyball.com All-American. A devoted member of her church community, Buss has served as a peer tutor in her school and has volunteered locally on behalf of youth volleyball programs. “Marriah Buss is the real deal,” said Jody Pelan, head coach at Aquinas High. “She’s highly skilled in all facets of the game and has the ability to simply take over a match. She’s a tremendous hitter with lots of power and the ability to place her shots, but she also plays great defense in the back row and passes very well.” Buss has maintained a 3.70 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school this fall.