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http://www.dailyindependent.com/localspo...05015.html

By ROCKY STANLEY — 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.

Mayes’ strong hitting and all-around play led Rose Hill to a district championship this season.

Meanwhile, Ison’s excellence as a setter made her a cornerstone in Russell’s success.

Raceland’s 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.

“Rebekah has played a lot of volleyball,’’ Clark said. “It’s 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.’’

Clark paid Ison a supreme compliment by saying he’s glad he doesn’t have to coach against her anymore.

“In a team that runs a 5-1 (one setter), Rachel sacrifices her body and gets to more balls than anybody I’ve ever seen,’’ Clark said. “She does everything you could possibly do on the court and doesn’t care who gets the credit. She’s a total team player.’’

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.

“It was a good surprise,’’ she said. “It’s hard to get Player of the Year as a setter. You are usually in the background doing the dirty work.’’

Rose Hill went 19-9 with Mayes as a mainstay.

“We had a good season,’’ she said. “The win over Ashland (district finals) was big because they had beaten us twice.’’

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 school’s first district championship. It came in his fourth season as the Lady Rams’ coach.

“This was a magical season for us,’’ he said. “Every year we’ve gotten a little better. This is a team that worked harder than any team we’ve had at Raceland.’’

Clark, 33, called it a great honor to be selected All-Area Coach of the Year by his peers.

“I feel very fortunate to have the kind of players that we do,’’ he said. “Any time you ask a team in the summer to get up at 7 a.m. and practice till 11, that’s a difference-maker. They just committed themselves, and wanted to be good.’’

Raceland, first-time regional champion Ashland, and regional runner-up Russell each had four players voted to the All-Area team.

Raceland’s group included Bree Grubb, Danielle Howell, Shelby Reffett and Katie Massie. Grubb was MVP of the 59th District Tournament.

“That’s the most we’ve ever had on All-Area,’’ Clark said. “We were pretty deep.’’

For Russell, Ison was joined by Lindsey Wolfe, Kylie Rice and Jordan Smith.

Ashland’s 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 Region’s top senior by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association as well as an honorable mention All-State.

Other All-Area team selections were Fairview’s Lanae Vanover, Rose Hill’s Maria Friley, East Carter’s Anna Stepp, Greenup County’s Ashley Kielmar, West Carter’s Chrissie Cooper and Morgan County’s 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.