There were 147,333 votes cast this week in the race for the Daily Press High School Athlete of the Week poll for Aug. 25-30, 2025.
Hesperia’s Victoria Parra ended with 51.45% of total votes casted by Daily Press readers.
The volleyball star received 75,805 votes, beating out 11 other high school athletes from across the High Desert. Parra is the second consecutive Hesperia volleyball player to win this voting.
To earn a spot on the ballot, Parra led the Scorpions to a pair of victories over Desert Sky League teams last week by totaling 31 total kills. In a 3-0 victory over Silverado on Aug. 26, Parra spiked 14 kills with four aces, two blocks and seven digs. She followed that up with 17 kills, four aces and six digs in a 3-0 victory over Victor Valley on Aug. 28.
In the voting, Parra beat Sultana volleyball player Leila Pele, who received 46.58% at 68,625 total votes.
Nominations are based on information available to the Daily Press. All high school varsity players from the High Desert can be considered for the ballot.
Nominations must be received for consideration by Sunday morning following that week’s games. Anyone can nominate an Athlete of the Week for every varsity sport.
Want to get to know our winner a little better? Check out what Parra had to say.
- How long have you been playing volleyball and how did you get started: “I first played on my middle school eighth grade volleyball team. Then I came back to volleyball for my sophomore year of high school. My family always played for fun since I was little but didn’t know the rules or anything really about the game of volleyball.”
- What do you like most about volleyball: “I really like the growth that volleyball has, including room for improvement is always possible and not only do I get to grow but I love to see the ones around me grow as well.”
- Do you have a pregame ritual: “Before games I listen to music. But right as game time is about to start, I like talking to my teammates to get me in the head space that we are about to play and these are the girls I am going to play with.”
- If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be and why: “If I could be anyone for a day, I would be my sister Yatsive Parra. My sister is a strong and determined woman. No matter what challenges she faces, she always pushes through. Those characteristics I admire and when I feel like giving up my brain is constantly reminded of her, that I can do whatever is ahead of me.”
- Someone hands you $1 million, how would you spend it: “I would travel the world with my family, visiting every Disneyland there is, even Disney World with half of the million. Then with the other half, I would save and put towards college expenses.”
- Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world and why: “I would go to Italy if I could travel anywhere in the world because I would love to experience their beautiful views and clear waters.”
- If you had an extra hour every day, how would you spend it: “I would use that extra hour to do homework or play volleyball outside.”
- Do you have any hobbies: “Other than volleyball of course, I crochet, exercise, paint and play chess.”
- What superpowers do you wish you had: “I wish I had chaos magic, the superpower that WandaVision has.”
- Favorite sports team: University of Nebraska women’s volleyball
- Favorite athlete: Harper Murray
- Favorite superhero: Spider-Man
- Favorite show: “The Rookie”
- Favorite movie: Any Disney movie really
- Favorite song: “Dream Girl” by Kolohe Kai
- Favorite meal: Seafood boil
- Favorite restaurant: Shabang Seafood
- Favorite app: Youtube
Be sure to nominate athletes for next school week’s ballot through email to sports reporter Jose Quintero at JQuintero@VVDailyPress.com. Feel free to also reach out to him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @J0seQuintero, or on Instagram at @VVDailyPress_Sports. Please include a player’s statistics and a photo if possible.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Get to know Daily Press High School Athlete of the Week, Aug. 25-30
