Dec. 12, 2013
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Deja Harris, a senior at Calvary Chapel Christian School in Las Vegas who has inked a National Letter of Intent with the Aztecs for the 2014 season, has been named the 2013-14 Gatorade Nevada Volleyball Player of the Year. 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 Harris as Nevada's best high school volleyball player.
Harris joins fellow incoming freshman Courtney Eckenrode, who was recently named the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year as the top prep player in her home state.
Harris, a 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker, recorded 395 kills, 64 blocks and 42 service aces this past season, posting a .461 hitting percentage while leading the Lions (28-5) to the Division 3 semifinals. A 2013-14 Under Armour Second Team All-American, she was also her conference MVP and is a three-time First Team All-State selection.
Harris has maintained a 3.67 GPA in the classroom. A mentor to younger students, she has volunteered locally on behalf of homeless shelters, food banks and childcare programs, and has participated in multiple church mission trips.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports.
San Diego State finished the 2013 season with a record of 16-14 overall and 11-9 in the Mountain West Conference, good for fourth place in the 11-team league.