After winning a school-record 42 matches in a row on a team that was crowned the Division II state volleyball champions, being named the 2012 Volleyball Athlete of the Year is just the icing on the cake for Flagstaff junior Hailey Leffel.

Leffel was also named to the Division II All State team along with teammate Bree Davis. But it was Leffel who started everything good for the Eagles in 2012.

According to head coach Beth Haglin, the entire Flagstaff offense starts with the serve receiver and the first pass, which came from Leffel most of the time.

"Hailey is really solid for the team and she starts off the offense," Haglin said. "The first pass on the defense and first pass on serve receive come from Hailey, and she does a phenomenal job running things on the floor."

For Leffel, the job of being the Eagles' libero is one of non-recognition. While Haglin compared Leffel's role on the team to that of an offensive lineman in football -- all work, no glory -- Leffel is just all business and doesn't really crave the spotlight.

"I don't think about much when I'm playing, but I know that everything depends on me," she said. "If my pass is good it gets a good set and a good hit. If I don't get a good pass the team struggles. It's a lot of pressure and I'm just good at relaxing and nothing anyone says gets in the way."

Leffel was also one of the team's leader, both in her actions on the court and in anything she had to say to her teammates.

"I played a positive role on the team," she said. "Whether someone was struggling or doing well I helped them or let them be in a positive way."

Leffel was one of the players on the team who Haglin would expect to make sure that her team kept an even keel no matter the circumstances. She added that it was important that her team didn't get too high or two low throughout the season.

"She's consistent with her teammates and she doesn't get over emotional either way, up or down," Haglin said. "Her teammates depend on that and they know they can depend on her for that."

While by definition Leffel is the team's defensive leader, she also had a huge hand in jump-starting the Eagles on offense.

"She's one of our most consistent servers and she usually picks her spot," Haglin said. "She's done a phenomenal job serving, and I was so happy it was Hailey serving at the end of the (championship match against Arcadia) and come heck or high water she was going to get that ball over.

"She served darts and served some of Arcadia's players right off the court," Haglin added. "The ball looks like it has eyes when she's serving and just knows where to find the open floor."

Leffel will be back for the Eagles in her senior year, and said there will be some big shoes to fill, but added she's confident in her current teammates and in the younger group coming up.

Haglin said she's excited to have Leffel back, and hopes to use her as a tool to teach a few of the younger players.

"We have some good passers and hopefully they can learn from her," Haglin said. "By putting a younger player next to her, hopefully she can pass on some of that knowledge."

Bill Harris can be reached at bharris@azdailysun.com or 556-2251.