FAYETTEVILLE — Aubrey Edie plays volleyball to win. Having fun on the court and dominating opponents who stand in her way just happen to rank a close second in Edie’s order of favorite hobbies in the sport.
For Edie, a 6-foot senior setter at Fayetteville, volleyball always came natural since first taking up the sport at the age of 6. But God-given talent alone wasn’t enough, as a love of the game and a determination to become one of the best players in not just the region, but the nation, helped Edie and her Fayetteville teammates dominate the competition in 2012.
Profile
Aubrey Edie
School: Fayetteville
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot
Notable: All-state selection ... Led team with 1,102 assists and 54 aces and also recorded 176 kills and 90 blocks ... Named Under Armour Second-Team All-American and Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year ... Part of senior class to win 101 games in three years ... Has signed with Ole Miss.
For her efforts this season, Edie has been named the NWA Media All-Big 7 Player of the Year.
“I think it’s a mix for me. I’ve been playing since I was 6 so I’ve been touching the ball for a while and that helps,” Edie said. “All the knowledge and that other stuff just comes after, and I’ve also had great coaches who have taught me to be smart and taught me when to make the right plays.”
Edie — the Gatorade Arkansas Volleyball Player of the Year — helped Fayetteville (35-3) win its first volleyball state championship with a straight sets victory over Fort Smith Southside in the Class 7A finals. Named the tournament Most Valuable Player, the Ole Miss signee finished the season with 1,102 assists, 176 kills, 90 blocks and 54 aces.
Most important to Edie and her senior class teammates, though, was the state crown.
“It was awesome to finally push through and get over that hump and win a state championship,” Edie said. “We all worked really hard for it.”
Working hard has never been a problem for Edie on the volleyball court. But neither has having plenty of fun, as she was rarely seen in a match without a big smile across her face.
“The thing about Aubrey is she loves volleyball and you can see it when she plays the game,” Fayetteville coach Jessica Phelan said. “You can tell by the look on her face, she’s loving being on the court and that rubs off on people around her.
“Volleyball is a sport where you can’t get too bent out of shape about what just happened and you’ve got to be ready for that next point. And she has always done a good job of that.”
Edie receives much of the credit for turning Fayetteville into one of the top volleyball programs in the state during her three years as a Lady’Dog. But she credits the seniors as a whole with making the entire journey possible.
“I’m so close with this group of girls,” Edie said. “In the hallways, they’re my best friends, and I can go to them with anything.
“Just to go out with 100 wins is a great way for us to prove that we are a dominant senior class.”
A dominant class, with a dominant player, who always knew how to make the game fun.
“Aubrey has definitely been a special player in our program,” Phelan said. “She’s so smooth from the setter position and she made the show go.
“And as many honors that trickled down to her, she is always humbled. It’s always been about the team with Aubrey. She would trade any accolade and award for her team to do well, and what she’ll cherish the most about this season is that last win and that state championship.”