by Paul Soriano
USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

Cynthia Barboza is already a household name to citizens of the volleyball world.  On Wednesday she was “introduced” to the rest of the sports world.

Barboza was presented with the Girls Gatorade National High School Player of the Year award for the 2004-05 season at ESPN’s ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.

An alternate on the 2004 USA Women’s Olympic Volleyball Team last summer, Barboza was presented her award by retired soccer star Mia Hamm and WNBA star Lisa Leslie.

Barboza, who will attend Stanford University in the fall, earned the honor over soccer player Amy Rodriguez of Lake Forest, Calif.; basketball player Abby Waner of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; softball player Dani Hofer of Safety Harbor, Fla.; and track and field athlete Brittany Daniels of Tracy, Calif.

Football player Greg Paulus from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y., captured the Boys Gatorade National High School Player of the Year honor.

In January, Barboza was named the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year for a second consecutive season, the first volleyball player to achieve that feat.

In 2004, the 6-foot-1-inch outside hitter/middle blocker averaged 18.3 kills, 1.57 blocks and 2.0 aces per match for the Bruins, who were 25-7 and reached the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA semifinals.  She hit an amazing .537 for the season, compiling 14 matches with an attack efficiency greater than .650 and four matches in which she hit better than .800.  Her best effort of the season (.840) came in a loss against eventual state champion Mira Costa.

Barboza finished her high school career with 2,145 career kills, 349 blocks and 152 aces.  Her lengthy resume includes 2004 High School Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine, All-California Interscholastic Federation (Southern Section) Division I-AA co-MVP, and four-time first-team All-CIF recognition.  In addition, Barboza has already established herself as one of USA Volleyball's youngest stars.  Last summer the senior to-be was selected as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team, and in 2003 was a starter on the USA team that won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games.

Away from the court, Barboza is a straight-A student who is fluent in Spanish, tutors fellow Wilson students in Spanish and math, and coaches a girls' youth club volleyball team.

The awards, now in their third year, are based on athletic performance, impact on team success and accomplishment so far.  A national sports media panel votes on the winners.

Basketball player LeBron James and sprinter Allyson Felix won the inaugural awards in 2003.  Basketball players Dwight Howard and Candace Parker were honored last year.

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball website at www.usavolleyball.org .