11-26-2009, 06:45 AM
http://www.dailyindependent.com/localspo...05015.html
By ROCKY STANLEY â The Independent
Seniors Rebekah Mayes of Rose Hill Christian and Rachel Ison of Russell share Player of the Year honors on the 2009 All-Area Volleyball Team.
Mayesâ strong hitting and all-around play led Rose Hill to a district championship this season.
Meanwhile, Isonâs excellence as a setter made her a cornerstone in Russellâs success.
Racelandâs Jason Clark, voted All-Area Coach of the Year, enjoyed coaching both players on the 16th Region senior All-Star team that defeated an Ohio squad last Sunday in Coal Grove.
âRebekah has played a lot of volleyball,ââ Clark said. âItâs like having a coach on the floor. She can pound the ball but has many facets to her game. She can go to the back row and make great passes to the setter, or step behind the line and serve a game out.ââ
Clark paid Ison a supreme compliment by saying heâs glad he doesnât have to coach against her anymore.
âIn a team that runs a 5-1 (one setter), Rachel sacrifices her body and gets to more balls than anybody Iâve ever seen,ââ Clark said. âShe does everything you could possibly do on the court and doesnât care who gets the credit. Sheâs a total team player.ââ
Ison was a catalyst as Russell won 26 matches this season and advanced to the regional finals. Getting a piece of the All-Area Player of the Year award caught her off guard.
âIt was a good surprise,ââ she said. âItâs hard to get Player of the Year as a setter. You are usually in the background doing the dirty work.ââ
Rose Hill went 19-9 with Mayes as a mainstay.
âWe had a good season,ââ she said. âThe win over Ashland (district finals) was big because they had beaten us twice.ââ
Mayes is also a member of the River Cities club team and hopes to play college volleyball.
Clark guided Raceland to a 22-5 record and the schoolâs first district championship. It came in his fourth season as the Lady Ramsâ coach.
âThis was a magical season for us,ââ he said. âEvery year weâve gotten a little better. This is a team that worked harder than any team weâve had at Raceland.ââ
Clark, 33, called it a great honor to be selected All-Area Coach of the Year by his peers.
âI feel very fortunate to have the kind of players that we do,ââ he said. âAny time you ask a team in the summer to get up at 7 a.m. and practice till 11, thatâs a difference-maker. They just committed themselves, and wanted to be good.ââ
Raceland, first-time regional champion Ashland, and regional runner-up Russell each had four players voted to the All-Area team.
Racelandâs group included Bree Grubb, Danielle Howell, Shelby Reffett and Katie Massie. Grubb was MVP of the 59th District Tournament.
âThatâs the most weâve ever had on All-Area,ââ Clark said. âWe were pretty deep.ââ
For Russell, Ison was joined by Lindsey Wolfe, Kylie Rice and Jordan Smith.
Ashlandâs Sierra Crum, Alex Carpenter, Jordan Hensley and Katie Castle led their team to the State Tournament and 21 wins overall. Crum was named the 16th Regionâs top senior by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association as well as an honorable mention All-State.
Other All-Area team selections were Fairviewâs Lanae Vanover, Rose Hillâs Maria Friley, East Carterâs Anna Stepp, Greenup Countyâs Ashley Kielmar, West Carterâs Chrissie Cooper and Morgan Countyâs Rickayla Ison.
HONORABLE MENTION
Ashland: Emily Preece. Russell: Michelle Punzall. Raceland: Christina Baldridge. Rose Hill Christian: Katelynn Hardin. Fairview: Hannah Daniel, Amber Chaffin, Sydney Shelton. Morgan County: Chelsea Steele, Emily Nickell. Greenup County: Samantha Furst, Sara Watters. West Carter: Samantha Carey. East Carter: Whitney Gollihue.
By ROCKY STANLEY â The Independent
Seniors Rebekah Mayes of Rose Hill Christian and Rachel Ison of Russell share Player of the Year honors on the 2009 All-Area Volleyball Team.
Mayesâ strong hitting and all-around play led Rose Hill to a district championship this season.
Meanwhile, Isonâs excellence as a setter made her a cornerstone in Russellâs success.
Racelandâs Jason Clark, voted All-Area Coach of the Year, enjoyed coaching both players on the 16th Region senior All-Star team that defeated an Ohio squad last Sunday in Coal Grove.
âRebekah has played a lot of volleyball,ââ Clark said. âItâs like having a coach on the floor. She can pound the ball but has many facets to her game. She can go to the back row and make great passes to the setter, or step behind the line and serve a game out.ââ
Clark paid Ison a supreme compliment by saying heâs glad he doesnât have to coach against her anymore.
âIn a team that runs a 5-1 (one setter), Rachel sacrifices her body and gets to more balls than anybody Iâve ever seen,ââ Clark said. âShe does everything you could possibly do on the court and doesnât care who gets the credit. Sheâs a total team player.ââ
Ison was a catalyst as Russell won 26 matches this season and advanced to the regional finals. Getting a piece of the All-Area Player of the Year award caught her off guard.
âIt was a good surprise,ââ she said. âItâs hard to get Player of the Year as a setter. You are usually in the background doing the dirty work.ââ
Rose Hill went 19-9 with Mayes as a mainstay.
âWe had a good season,ââ she said. âThe win over Ashland (district finals) was big because they had beaten us twice.ââ
Mayes is also a member of the River Cities club team and hopes to play college volleyball.
Clark guided Raceland to a 22-5 record and the schoolâs first district championship. It came in his fourth season as the Lady Ramsâ coach.
âThis was a magical season for us,ââ he said. âEvery year weâve gotten a little better. This is a team that worked harder than any team weâve had at Raceland.ââ
Clark, 33, called it a great honor to be selected All-Area Coach of the Year by his peers.
âI feel very fortunate to have the kind of players that we do,ââ he said. âAny time you ask a team in the summer to get up at 7 a.m. and practice till 11, thatâs a difference-maker. They just committed themselves, and wanted to be good.ââ
Raceland, first-time regional champion Ashland, and regional runner-up Russell each had four players voted to the All-Area team.
Racelandâs group included Bree Grubb, Danielle Howell, Shelby Reffett and Katie Massie. Grubb was MVP of the 59th District Tournament.
âThatâs the most weâve ever had on All-Area,ââ Clark said. âWe were pretty deep.ââ
For Russell, Ison was joined by Lindsey Wolfe, Kylie Rice and Jordan Smith.
Ashlandâs Sierra Crum, Alex Carpenter, Jordan Hensley and Katie Castle led their team to the State Tournament and 21 wins overall. Crum was named the 16th Regionâs top senior by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association as well as an honorable mention All-State.
Other All-Area team selections were Fairviewâs Lanae Vanover, Rose Hillâs Maria Friley, East Carterâs Anna Stepp, Greenup Countyâs Ashley Kielmar, West Carterâs Chrissie Cooper and Morgan Countyâs Rickayla Ison.
HONORABLE MENTION
Ashland: Emily Preece. Russell: Michelle Punzall. Raceland: Christina Baldridge. Rose Hill Christian: Katelynn Hardin. Fairview: Hannah Daniel, Amber Chaffin, Sydney Shelton. Morgan County: Chelsea Steele, Emily Nickell. Greenup County: Samantha Furst, Sara Watters. West Carter: Samantha Carey. East Carter: Whitney Gollihue.