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Stone player of year By DON HUNT,Mail Tribune Dec 07, 2005 12:00 AM A A Rohlfing top coach, Walters first team as Grizz cleans up in all-state voting Lindsey Stone expressed utter shock when she was named the Class 4A state volleyball player of the year Monday. But in reality, she was an obvious choice for the award in voting by the state's coaches. The senior setter was the glue that held together an Ashland High team that stormed to a 34-1 record and won the 4A state title for the first time in school history. Stone wasn't the only Grizzly honored. Senior outside hitter Jessica Walters was also selected to the seven-member first team, and Josh Rohlfing was named 4A coach of the year. Other Ashland honorees were junior middle Maddison Thivierge and junior defensive specialist Natalie Lefler, who were named to the third team, and junior Sarah Holgren, who received honorable mention. — In my opinion Lindsey (Stone) was the best pure technical setter in the state, and that's the product of hard work on her part, said Rohlfing of Stone. She's very skilled and very knowledgeable about the game, but beyond that, she did a fantastic job of keeping our girls emotionally ready to play. She could be dynamic and flamboyant but also as poised and calm as anyone in the gym when the situation called for it. Stone, who is headed to the University of Oregon on a volleyball scholarship, said that playing for the Grizzlies this season was the greatest experience of her life. There was complete camaraderie all the way around, she said. It was a spectacular group of individuals. I don't think we had one argument all season, and when you're talking about 13 teenage girls, that's pretty amazing. Stone has a lot on her plate besides volleyball. She sings in the school choir, plays the saxophone and flute and speaks fluent French. She's also interested in medicine. I come from a musical family, she said. I'm better on the sax, but the flute is lighter and so that's what I take on road trips. Despite all her activities, Stone nearly always has a volleyball by her side. It's not uncommon to see her hit one against a wall in her home several hundred times a week. Lindsey is like a shooter in basketball who spends hours and hours in the gym, Rohlfing said. She's put in the time and it's paid off ten-fold. Walters, meanwhile, was a human hammer for the Grizzlies around the net. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter led the team in kills. She could completely dominate a game, Rohlfing said. She hit the ball as hard as any kid I've seen in recent years. At the same time, she became a better finesse player. She really improved this year with her ball control and passing. Walters, who earned a scholarship to the University of Nevada, credits Rohlfing for getting her involved in off-season workouts that refined her skills. We did a lot of speed, strength and jump training, and he organized the routines, Walters said. Plus, he designed weight-lifting programs. I think those workouts really helped the quickness and power of my swing. For Rohling, the coach-of-the-year award was the second of his career. He also won it in 1999 when he led the Grizzlies to a sixth-place showing at the state tournament. This season, Ashland was the first team outside the Portland metro area to win the volleyball title since Corvallis in 1983. It's definitely a great honor, Rohlfing said. Everything fell into place this year. Other SOC players honored were Roseburg outside hitter Emily Waldron, who was named to the second team, and North Medford middle Lauren Berger, who received honorable mention. At the Class 3A level, North Bend's Kelcy McKenna and Burns' Jessica Clemens were named co-players of the year, and Estacada's Melanie Hambelton was tabbed coach of the year. Skyline Conference players feted were Henley's Ashley Blanchfill (second team) and Katie Nelson (third team), Mazama's Adri Inman (honorable mention) and Phoenix's Kelsey Nelson (honorable mention). All-State Volleyball CLASS 4A FIRST TEAM Lindsey Stone, AshlandSr.5-9S Jessica Walters, AshlandSr.5-10OH Katie Cochran,McNarySr.6-3RS Kallie Corbin,WestviewSr.5-9AA Ali Walker, ReynoldsSr.5-7H Neticia Enesi,The DallesSr.6-1M Sarah Kelleher, C. CatholicJr.5-10H SECOND TEAM Megan McAfee, West LinnSr.5-7OH Emily Waldron, RoseburgSr.5-11OH Jordan Burrows, LebanonJr.6-0S/OH Kelly Lovett, LincolnJr.5-11MB Carla Crowder, CanbySr.5-6Sr Arielle Bettendorf, C. Catholic Jr.5-10S Grace DeBoodt, Crk. CountyJr.5-10S THIRD TEAM Kaylyn Jones, GreshamSr.5-10S Kyley Sexton, West SalemSo.5-10OH Maddison Thivierge, AshlandJr.5-11M Kelly Feest, JesuitSr.5-6S Kimber Duncan, Crk. CountyJr.5-8S Natalie Lefler, AshlandJr.5-4DS Heather Price, MarshfieldJr.6-3M HONORABLE MENTION — Jenna Meligan, Sr., Lakeridge; Jessie Bell, Sr., Canby; Alicia Milo, Jr., Jesuit; Kayla Hughes, Jr., Jesuit; Austun Castro, Jr., Gresham; Mariana Toscano, Sr., Parkrose; Carly Corrado, Jr., Central Catholic; Caitlin Suttich, Sr., Lakeridge; Jeanene Rose, Sr., Sheldon; Kelsey Rogers, Jr., Thurston; Lauren Berger, Jr., North Medford; Sarah Holgen, Jr., Ashland; Stacie Drumm, Sr., South Salem; Elyse Stoller, Sr., West Salem; Augusta Jennings, Sr., Silvelrton. PLAYER OF THE YEAR ' Lindsey Stone, Ashland. COACH OF THE YEAR ' Josh Rohlfing, Ashland. CLASS 3A FIRST TEAM Jessica Clemens, BurnsJr.6-0OH Kelcy McKenna, North BendJr.5-8OH Emily Vuylsteke, Va. CatholicSr.5-11MB Lauren Randall, EstacadaSr.5-7OH Maria Clemens, BurnsSr.5-10S/H Katherine Gram, Va. Catholic Sr.5-5S Katie Torland, BurnsSr.5-10S/H SECOND TEAM Ashley Blanchfill, MaristSr.5-8OH Sierra Patzke, HenleySo.5-4S Melissa King, SeasideSr.5-4S Kellie Holmstedt, North BendJr.5-7S Vanessa Gomez, OntarioSr.5-9OH Jessica Watson, CentralSr.5-10MB Emily Mallorie, StaytonSr.6-1MB THIRD TEAM Melita Elliott, EstacadaJr.5-6S Morgan Bonney, La GrandeSr.6-0MB Bethany Vodrup, Junc. CitySr.6-0MB Kristie VanDomelen, V. Cath.Sr.5-9MB Stephanie Beeler, TillamookJr.5-10MB Katie Nelson, HenleyJr.5-5L Kara McGinty, Junction CitySr.5-4S HONORABLE MENTION Lucy Valenzuela, Sr., Douglas; Erin Labasan, Jr., Taft; Adri Inman, Jr., Mazama; Kate Vaughn, Jr., Baker; Ashlee Stewart, Sr., Tillamook; Jordan Giboney, Sr., Wilsonville; Ashley Canup, Sr., North Bend; Shana Freed, Sr., Taft; Kelsey Nelson, Sr., Phoenix; Elizabeth Payton, Sr., Baker; Kayla Krumvieda, Sr., Sisters; Kacy Choate, Sr., Stayton; Hannah Swanson, Sr., Sweet Home; Dana Northrup, Sr., Cascade. PLAYERS OF THE YEAR ' Kelcy McKenna, North Bend and Jessica Clemens, Burns. COACH OF THE YEAR ' Melanie Hambelton, Estacada. Stone player of year"[email protected]. Lindsey Stone (4) is chosen the state?s player of the year, and Maddison Thivierge (7) makes the all-state third team.