Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week, Vancleave’s Mahea Hawthorne!

As volleyball season continues across South Mississippi, Vancleave senior Mahea Hawthorne is making an impact both on the court and in the classroom. Hawthorne boasts a 4.0 GPA and a 31 on her ACT, but her success in the classroom is just one part of what makes her stand out. On the court, she has emerged as a key player for the Lady Bulldogs, leading the team in both kills and blocks.Hawthorne’s volleyball journey began in seventh grade, when she admits she knew very little about the sport. A friend encouraged her to try out, while her athletic family — particularly her father — helped push her to embrace athletics.

“One of my friends was like, ‘You could probably try out for volleyball. You’re tall enough to make it,’ so I didn’t really know anything, but I still tried out and it was really fun,” Hawthorne said.

“My dad played college football in Hawaii, which is why my name is Maheahalani. We have an athletic household, and he’s always ingrained in me to be an athlete. My dad has always pushed me, and it’s been really helpful and has helped me grow along with my teammates and coaches. I played club this year, which was really exciting, so that helped me grow a lot as a player too.”

Now in her senior season, Hawthorne is continuing to add new elements to her game. For the first time, she is playing all six rotations, allowing her to contribute both offensively and defensively. In Tuesday’s match, the outside hitter posted a .526 hitting percentage with 10 kills. That performance brought her season total to 245 kills. Hawthorne has also recorded 123 digs while playing all the way around the court. Her versatility and leadership have played a major role in Vancleave’s success. The Lady Bulldogs enter the final stretch of the regular season with a 27-6 overall record and a perfect 7-0 district mark. Despite her individual numbers and leadership role, Hawthorne is quick to credit her teammates for the team’s success.

“I think our back row is really solid. You need a pass to get the set and the hit, and I think our back row is really where it starts,” Hawthorne said. “We have really good passers and a really good libero. Hadleigh is an amazing setter and has really stepped into her role well, and just everybody else supporting, whether it’s a block, which is a part of defense too, and everybody just plays their role really good and accepts it, which makes it successful.”

The Lady Bulldogs have also been working to speed up their offense, creating an exciting style of play for Hawthorne and her teammates.

“We’ve been trying to run a quicker offense too, so those balls especially are really exciting,” Hawthorne said. “We always make it a competition, saying, ‘The next one is going to hit the floor,’ and we’ll call the spot and everything. It’s really fun.”

With plenty of volleyball still ahead, Hawthorne is focused on making the most of the final stretch of her high school career. Once her senior season comes to an end, she plans to trade in her volleyball shoes for the next chapter, pursuing a degree in accounting. Before she leaves the court, however, Hawthorne hopes to leave behind a legacy that extends beyond statistics and wins.

“I feel like I have a good relationship with the girls on the team now, but I hope they remember me as a good teammate, fun and uplifting,” Hawthorne said. “Someone they can look up to and look back saying it was fun to play with her.”

Hawthorne’s future is bright no matter he next steps, and we wish her and the rest of the Lady Bulldogs the best of luck in the rest of their volleyball season!