Athlete Lexi Sun, Headed To UT-Austin, Snags Gatorade National Volleyball Player Of The Year Award

AUSTIN, TX — Incoming University of Texas at Austin freshman Lexi Sun was surprised Wednesday morning with the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year award, bestowed to the nation's best high school volleyball player.

The award came as a total surprise for Sun, who will begin her freshman year at UT-Austin this June on a full athletic scholarship. In a telephone interview with Patch, Sun said she was taking in some practice at Moonlight Beach in her native California when pro beach volleyball player April Ross happened by—implausibly pushing an ice cream cart and insisting Sun sample some.

"All of a sudden, April Ross shows up saying 'hey guys, have some ice cream.' It was cold, and 8 o'clock in the morning!"

But who's going to say no to Ross, an Olympian-level player Sun has long admired. So she decided to partake in the ice cream, suddenly becoming aware of camera crews.

"I had no idea what the video was for," Sun said. "But whatever, I decided to just go along with it."

That's when Ross presented her with the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, and that's when family members and her coach emerged from their hiding spots to share in the impromptu celebration.

"I lost it," Sun said. "I'm a very emotional person, and my family and friends starting coming over from the beach."

Ross—who got the same award in 2000—told Patch the award doesn't merely honor athleticism but meant to recognize well-rounded young people who happen to be athletes.

"The Gatorade award takes into account community involvement, and is given to an all-around star," Ross said in a telephone interview. "It's the highest accolade you can possibly win in high school, and one of the longest-running awards. Many of those getting it go on to great pro careers."

High standards of academic achievement and character are among the requisite attributes in securing the award. Sun fits the bill as a devoted member of her church community, a volunteer at her local local homeless shelter, organizer of youth volleyball camps and participant in a service-mission trip to help build a home in Mexico—all while maintaining a 3.83 GPA in the classroom.

The 6' 2" indoor volleyball player is no slouch on the field either, amassing an impressive 630 kills, 288 digs, 60 blocks and 45 service aces this past season, leading the Santa Fe Christian High School (Solana Beach, Calif.) Eagles (32-8) to the Open Division semifinals.

A 2016-17 Under Armour First Team All-American, Sun is a member of the U.S. Women’s Junior National team, was named the ALL-USA Player of the Year by USA TODAY and is ranked as the No. 1 recruit nationally in the Class of 2017 by PrepVolleyball.com.

A national advisory panel comprising sport-specific experts and sports journalists helped select Sun from nearly 430,000 high school volleyball players nationwide, officials said. The high school senior is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.

"it was such a shock and honor," she said of being bestowed with the award. But competing with the level of surprise in securing the award was the fact her family was in on it and never let on. One of three children (she's the youngest of the brood), Sun is hardly the only athlete in the family: Her brother and dad both play basketball, her sister plays soccer and her mom excels at swimming, she said.

Her mom's ability to contain the news before the award also was surprising, Sun acknowledged: "Usually, my mom is not good with secrets," she said.

To watch the surprise award for yourself, click on the video below:

>>> Photo above, Olympian and pro beach volleyball player April Ross (right) surprises senior outside hitter Lexi Sun (Santa Fe Christian High School; Solana Beach, Calif.) with the 2016-17 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year Award at Moonlight Beach. (Photo Credit/Gatorade).