By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
No matter how they did it, from the high-flying Whitney Lewis to the powerful-hitting Erin Bowen to the always-hustling Kristen Ayers, players certainly made their mark on the 2009 volleyball season.
Those players who made big impacts were named to this year’s WDN All-Area Volleyball team. Williamston’s Herbie Rogers was tabbed the Coach of the Year, while Tiger teammates Heather Jackson and Katie Paschal were voted as Co-Players of the Year (see related stories).
Northside and Jamesville each had two players make the WDN All-Area First Team, while Southside, Williamston and Terra Ceia were also represented.
Accounting for one player being a libero, seven players were named to the first and second teams.
FIRST TEAM
Making up this year’s First Team are Northside’s Whitney Lewis and Rachel Hollowell, Jamesville’s Corey Ange and Paige Lilley, Southside’s Kristen Ayers, Williamston’s Erin Bowen and Terra Ceia’s Kelsey Van Staalduinen.
Lewis is one of the better athletes in the area, and she certainly demonstrated that on the court this year. The Northside senior finished with 84 kills, 140 service points and 11 blocks. The dynamic Lewis even played setter a few times for the Panthers during the season.
Hollowell proved to come up big in clutch situations. When Hollowell was on, she could rip the ball with the best of them. Hollowell tallied 96 kills and 95 service points for the Panthers.
Ange and Lilley, a pair of seniors, helped guide the Jamesville Bullets to an undefeated Tideland Conference championship. Ange, an outside hitter, finished with 233 service points while averaging 2.2 kills per match. Lilley was about as consistent as they come, finishing with 227 service points and over 450 sets.
Ayers seemed to be all over the court for the Southside Seahawks. A Four Rivers Conference selection, Ayers put up some impressive stats. Ayers collected 229 points, 123 assists, 48 kills, 35 digs, 30 aces and 19 solo blocks.
Bowen was a force at the net for the Tigers. After starting off as a libero, Bowen moved to the net and dominated at times. The senior finished with 56 kills and 100 service points.
Van Staalduinen was solid for the Terra Ceia Knights, earning Tarheel Independent Conference honors along the way. She finished with 60 kills, 47 aces, 146 hits and 192 good serves.
SECOND TEAM
Those earning Second Team honors were Pungo’s Allison Armstrong, Southside’s Danyelle Jedlicka, Washington’s Sarah Nicholls, Jesse Anne Rogers and Harris Shepherd of Williamston and Bear Grass teammates Olivia Peaks and Kaitlyn Sitterson.
Armstrong is a terrific all-around athlete for the Pungo Raiders. Her athleticism and solid play helped land Armstrong on the Tarheel Independent Conference team.
Jedlicka proved to be a force, especially in the back row, for the Seahawks. Earning Four Rivers Conference honors, Jedlicka finished with 207 serve receptions and 53 digs.
Nicholls was a consistent bright spot on a rather dark season for the Pam Pack. Though the team didn’t win a match, Nicholls was consistently good, playing anywhere and everywhere. She really showed her grit while playing with an injured thumb, which helped Nicholls earn MVP honors for Washington.
Rogers and Shepherd were just two more solid pieces to the puzzle for the Tigers. Rogers, just a freshman, played much bigger than her age. She finished with 124 service points and 25 kills. Shepherd was nearly dead-solid perfect in serving, coming up with 120 points and 28 kills.
Peaks and Sitterson helped lead the Bears to a 10-win season. Both players proved to be versatile throughout the season.
WDN ALL-AREA VOLLEYBALL
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Katie Paschal, Williamston
Heather Jackson, Williamston
COACH OF THE YEAR
Herbie Rogers, Williamston
FIRST TEAM
Whitney Lewis, Northside
Rachel Hollowell, Northside
Corey Ange, Jamesville
Paige Lilley, Jamesville
Kristen Ayers, Southside
Erin Bowen, Williamston
Kelsey Van Staalduinen, Terra Ceia
SECOND TEAM
Allison Armstrong, Pungo
Danyelle Jedlicka, Southside
Sarah Nicholls, Washington
Jesse Anne Rogers, Williamston
Harris Shepherd, Williamston
Olivia Peaks, Bear Grass
Kaitlyn Sitterson, Bear Grass
HONORABLE MENTION
SOUTHSIDE
Atyana Starkie
Nikki Hodges
Caitlin Bogart
Jessica Taylor
Becky Poole
Valerie Ruffin
NORTHSIDE
Jordan Woolard
Savanna Boyd
Jordan Cooke
Sarah Credle
Shannon Cuthrell
WASHINGTON
Blaklee Wolfe
Haley Hiatt
Erika Sullivan
Racheal Toler
Jazzmin Gibbs
Lacie Anglim
Robin Lilley
WILLIAMSTON
Rachel Baker
Meredith Robertson
JAMESVILLE
Haley Bowen
Holly Knott
Peri Ange
BEAR GRASS
Casey Peaden
Elizabeth Taylor
TERRA CEIA
Lindsey Smith
PUNGO
Tess Smithwick
PLYMOUTH
Brooke Gurganus
Rachel Ruffin
ROANOKE
Emoni Jones
Jaquandra Council
CRESWELL
Tekeyah Jones
Patricka Holley
Yasmeen Owens