Former Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year to play beach volleyball at LSU
JACKSON, Miss. (BVM) — Jackson Academy captured its second straight Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) title this season. Leading them all the way was last year’s Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year, Parker Bracken.
“[Parker] is unreal,” Jackson Academy head volleyball coach Melissa Denson said. “Parker can do whatever you want Parker to do. She’s a kid I’ve watched grow up through the club scene before I came to JA. She’s the kid that could literally play outside hitter, she could be a libero, and she can set. She’s just the full package.”
The perennial force on the court capped off her outstanding prep career this season by posting a hitting percentage of .464 and accumulating 473 kills and 107 aces. Bracken also racked up 330 digs and 33 blocks defensively while leading the Raiders to a 29-4 overall record and back-to-back MAIS state championships.
“It was the last game ever,” Bracken said. “It was a monumental moment. [I realized] I’m finished, I’m out, I’m finished with JA volleyball, which is crazy to think about. I still can’t comprehend that.”
It was just another typical season for the Lady Raiders. They have played in every state championship match since 2012 and have won the state title six of the past seven years.
To go along with her success on the volleyball court, Bracken has had success off the court as well. Before the start of her senior year, Bracken maintained a 3.78 GPA. She also has dedicated her time to helping her community. For these last couple of years, she has served as a mentor for elementary students. She has also helped at youth volleyball camps and has volunteered on behalf of Operation Christmas Child.
“She’s really humble, a great teammate, she’s highly academic,” Denson said. “But she also realizes that without the team and her coaches that nothing happens. She just enjoys the ride.”
During her time at Jackson Academy, she dominated the court. Bracken finished with five state titles, 2,494 kills, and 1,620 digs. Many high school players would be satisfied with that career, but Bracken isn’t satisfied and is looking to continue her successful volleyball career at the next level.
Bracken will be heading to Baton Rouge, La. where she is committed to playing beach volleyball for the LSU Tigers. Volleyball has always been a crucial part of her life and she gets to continue to do the thing that she loves the most.
“It’s [volleyball] been my life for about as long as I can remember,” Bracken said. “It’s brought me many friends, and it’s been a great thing for me. It’s a good team sport because you have to work together, and that applies to [a lot] of real-life situations.”
Parker Bracken is officially a Sandy Tig 😎
The reigning Gatorade Mississippi Volleyball Player of the Year is coming to Baton Rouge after one of the most decorated high school volleyball careers in the history of Mississippi pic.twitter.com/IMiU7elrrA
— LSU Beach Volleyball (@LSUBeachVB) November 11, 2020
