Lorelei VanDerhoef, a senior at Cassville High School, was awarded “Female Athlete of the Year” and a $1,000 scholarship from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of South Central Missouri in a special ceremony at Big Cedar Lodge in Branson on April 1.

Vanderhoef is an active leader of the FCA Club at Cassville, where she participates in weekly devotionals and attends a student-led prayer movement each year. Vanderhoef spent two summers on mission trips administering the gospel and love of Christ to the homeless as part of a church youth group.

She played volleyball for Cassville schools for 6 years, in addition to three different volleyball travel teams. She was a rare utility player for the Lady Wildcats, with her main position being Setter, but also being trusted to play three other positions.

She played for all high school teams – freshmen, junior varsity and varsity —  and was a team captain for all teams. She earned Freshman Player of the Year, Academic All-State and Cassville Rotary Club’s MVP Service Above Self Award.

“Vanderhoef is known not just for academic and athletic abilities, but also for her leadership among her peers and mental strength and resilience on the court,” a Cassville schools press release said.

CHS Head Volleyball Coach Paige Huddleston said the following about Vanderhoef in her letter of recommendation for the award.

“Lorelei exemplifies the core values of the FCA: integrity, teamwork, and a commitment to serving others,” Huddleson said. “As a student-athlete, she works hard to be her best for the team, but it is her leadership on and off the court that stand out among others. Whether she is guiding her teammates, volunteering for school events and activities, or serving as a role model for young ladies, Lorelei embodies the spirit of FCA by living out her faith in every piece of her life.”

Vanderhoef graduated Summa Cum Laude in the Top 10 ranked students in the CHS Class of 2025 and will attend the University of Arkansas studying communication sciences and disorders, with the goal to become a licensed speech language pathologist.