Congratulations to Kristen Batt for being named Cardinal Mooney's new volleyball coach. Kristen is one of the most decorated athletes to ever attend Venice HS. In my opinion, she changed the way the sport of volleyball was played in this area and is the best volleyball player to ever come out of this area. She revolutionized how the back row attack was implemented and teams around the state had no answer for her dominance. She was the MVP of the 1998 State volleyball tournament where she led Venice to the schools 1st ever Team State Championship. For her efforts, she was also not only the class 5A state player of the year but won the Florida HS Dairy Farmer award for the being the best volleyball player in the State of Florida in all classes in 1998. She was also named to the U.S. HS All American list which boasts the top 75 players in America. Kristen had 587 kills during her senior year which is a record that will never be broken at VHS. After high school, she went on to play at the University of Kentucky where she started all four years and still holds University records. There is no doubt that Kristen will be a future member of the Venice Sports Hall of Fame.
She currently is on the AVP tour where she travels the country and earns money playing teams like Kerri Walsh and Misty May who won the gold medal in the last two Olympics. She will be an asset to the Cardinal Mooney program and her Venice family will be cheering her on every time she coaches except when she plays the Mean Green Machine which happens to be her 1st varsity match next season.
Also, on the Venice volleyball coaching tree, it is rumored that former VHS standout and future Venice Sports Hall of Famer as well as College National Champion and All American, Margeaux Sinibaldi is looking at taking an assistant coaching position at Boston College. More to come..
