Seniors Amanda Hubbard and Emily Marchbanks were named Most Outstanding Players at the volleyball team’s awards dessert Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Coach Alicia Meier said Hubbard was known around the league as the “knee brace girl” and was one of the consistent leaders for the Huskies, who finished fourth in league with a 4-6 record and 5-15 overall.
She said Hubbard was a force in the back row, “flinging herself on the floor to try to get to the ball,” and was one of the most consistent servers for Sweet Home, which relied heavily on quality serving and receiving this year in the absence of height up front.
Marchbanks did provide some power at the net, blasting the ball into opponents’ midst, she said.
“I think a lot of girls got out of the way because they didn’t want to get hit,” Meier said.
Most Inspirational players were junior Hannah Mather and senior Megan Thompson. Meier said Mather “did everything she could have to make herself a better player, including off-season club volleyball. Thompson, she said, served largely as a practice player for much of the season, demonstrating “a very positive attitude” in doing so, and did “a fantastic job” when she was inserted into games for specific purposes.
Thompson was also named Most Improved player.
The Hustle Award went to Marchbanks.
Meier noted that all the award winners were chosen by team members.
Hubbard was the sole third-year letter winner, while second-year letters went to Harlee Brendle, Jordan Miller, McKenzie Cochran, Sierra Thayer, Alena Davis and Marchbanks.
Miller, a junior who played every front-row position at some point in the season, Meier said, led the team with 58 kills. Cochran, also a junior, moved from backup center to lobero, where she was able to make use of her passing abilities, and led the team from the service line at 94 percent.
First-year letters went to Molly Fisher, Mather, Thompson, Carlie Somatis, freshman Madisen Barringer and Josie Knight.
Junior varsity 1 certificate recipients were Lola Wingo, Jessica Stockman, Karly Newport, Katelyn Glover, Vanessa Wodtli, Rebecca Wooley and Shae Bruner. Junior Varsity 2 certificates went to Natasha Rasmussen, Shania Baxter, Mikkala Weld, Kaitlyn Autry, Sarita Zanona, Janel Aiello, Moriah Gingerich, Melaney Wilson, Gracie Olson, Alana VanEck and Eleanor Hewitt.