Nicki Emmert was named the most valuable player on the Huskies volleyball team at Nov. 17’s annual awards dessert.
Chelsea Gagner and Michelle Cliver shared honors for the Most Inspirational. Cait Thireault was Most Improved. Alisha Basham won the Defense and Hustle awards. Elissa McCartin won the Offense Award with the most kills.
Capital Conference honors went to Basham, second-team defensive specialist; Emmert, second-team setter; and McCartin, second-team outside hitter.
The team finished 5-5 in league play.
“We improved our record from last year, which considering Lisa (Brocard) went on to play at a four-year college, these guys put it together as a team,” Coach Heide Nichol said. The team really came together in the last couple of weeks, winning three of four games. Even its loss to Cascade went into a fourth game.
“We didn’t show, really, the capability of competing against the highest level teams, like Sisters,” Coach Nichol said. “I think we just got kind of intimidated by that kind of team.”
Still, the girls competed with their league well, defeating Stayton in the second half the season at homecoming. It had been at least six years since the Huskies were able to win one against Stayton. Stayton returned in conference playoffs to stop the Huskies.
“I’m happy with the last couple of weeks because I feel we started to play as a team and show what we could do,” Coach Nichol said. “But I always want just a little bit more.”
The team loses seniors Basham, Kari McGuyre, McCartin and Emmert.
“We have some good players (next year),” Coach Nichol said. “The key is going to be that we play well as a team.”
No superstars are showing themselves yet, Coach Nichol said, “but I have high hopes for a few of them. That’s for sure.?
“I really enjoyed the girls. They really worked hard for me and made some great strides toward improvement. They really took the bull by the horns and tried to overcome the adversity they came into contact with. We had a great group of girls.”
Earning third-year letters were Kari McGuyre, Nicki Emmert and Elissa McCartin. Earning second-year letters were Alisha Basham, Chelsea Gagner, Hannah Swanson and Ashlee Flanagan. First-year letters went to Julie Burcham, Jamie Burcham, Michelle Cliver, Sara Brocard and Cait Thireault.