Ellie Bichelmeyer of St. Teresa’s wins Evelyn Gates Award as top KC volleyball player

Ellie Bichelmeyer of St. Teresa’s Academy on Tuesday won the 14th annual Evelyn Gates Award, presented to the top high school volleyball player in the Kansas City area.

Bichelmeyer, who will attend Rice, was presented with a traveling trophy and a $500 stipend during a ceremony at St. Teresa’s gymnasium. The senior outside hitter helped the Stars to a third-place finish in Missouri Class 4 this season. She was a Missouri Gatorade player of the year nominee and received honorable mention on the Under Armour All-America team.

The other finalists were Liberty’s Caroline Crawford, Lee’s Summit’s Claire Wagner and Blue Valley North’s Kayley Cassaday.

The award is named for Gates, a longtime high school and college volleyball, softball and basketball official in the Kansas City area who supported girls’ high school sports.