On Dec. 1, Abby Strait – who led Bridgeport High School’s 2016 state runner-up volleyball team to a 41-7-5 record and was thereafter named first team All-State and Class AA first team captain – signed to continue her athletic career with the defending NCAA DII Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals.

 

The BHS standout, also Big 10 Player of the Year, continues to accumulate accolades. Just this week, Strait was notified that she has been named to the MaxPreps Medium Schools All-American Second Team, placing her in an elite class– the top half of one percent of over 400,000 high school volleyball athletes.

 

A letter signed by Steve Montoya, Executive Director of CBS MaxPreps, stated:

 

“Under the tutelage of Coach Ali Curry and staff, you’ve learned that it takes more than personal dedication and devotion – more than your own God-given physical talents to achieve this level of success. Please share MaxPreps’ gratitude and appreciation for the support that you have received from the administration and entire student body at Bridgeport.”

 

Strait said she considers it a huge honor.

 

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to receive the award,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, coaches and family.”

 

She said it’s an achievement that she will carry with her for the rest of her life; first as she strives to be the best collegiate athlete she can be.

 

“It definitely motivates me to continue to work hard and try to be the best I can be,” she said. “Hopefully, I can help bring another national championship title to Wheeling Jesuit!”

 

Throughout the high school season, Curry said Strait – who contributed 819 kills, 135 blocks, 163 digs, 53 aces and 32 assists – not only had a strong skills set and quick game, but was also a team leader in every sense.

 

“She knows she can get better and by getting into Wheeling Jesuit’s program, she is going to get even better,” said Curry on Dec. 1 when Strait signed with Wheeling Jesuit. “She is a competitor and she’s not going to go up there and be ok sitting on the sidelines; she’s going to want a spot on the court. It’s going to takes some work. They have some very good players, but I think she’s going to do well.”

 

Also an academic standout, Strait plans to study biology at Wheeling Jesuit. She played volleyball  three years at Bridgeport Middle School and BHS varsity for  four years, never missing a single game and starting in each. She will soon finish her high school athletic career with the BHS softball team, for which she serves as pitcher and first baseman.

 

Strait is the daughter of Keli and Rob Strait. Her older sister Madelyn is a member of the Fairmont State University Collegiate Acrobat & Tumbling Team and younger sister Lilly just finished her eighth grade year on the BMS cheer squad.

 

Editor's Note: Picture below was taken at the Dec. 1 signing at the BHS Library. Pictured front are Keli, Abby annd Rob Strait. Back are BHS Volleyball Coach Ali Curry, Madelyn Strait, BHS Assistant Coach Grant Burton and Lily Strait.