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37 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 28, 2004 Phoenix volleyball receives honors To the victor goes the spoils, as the Phoenix volleyball team came to find out. The Pirates were rewarded for an unbeaten Skyline Conference championship campaign with four first-team all-conference selections. Senior outside hitter Ashley McCarty was named player of the year, while Tom Murphy earned coach-of-the-year honors after leading Phoenix to a 12-0 record in conference play, the school’s first Skyline title since 1987, and a sixth-place trophy at the Class 3A state tournament. McCarty, a unanimous pick, was joined on the first team by fellow senior outside hitter Jessica Howard and senior setters Shonda George and Aurora Fry. North Valley junior outside Randi Reel also made the top squad, while Henley’s Katie Nelson (sophomore libero) rounded out the first team. Advertisement At just 5-foot-3, McCarty, a second teamer last season, played above her head in leading the Pirates. She helped her team in numerous ways, including a 92-percent service efficiency in the regular season. "She didn’t lead the team in any individual stats, except digs," said Murphy of McCarty, "but she was certainly the engine that made the car run. "At only 5-3, she had to learn to be a very smart hitter and read other people’s defenses. She was easily our best defensive player." The 5-9 Howard, who averaged a team-high eight kills per game, added a boost in power to an undersized front line. "We were not a team with a lot of pop along the front line," said Murphy. "But (Howard) was one girl that could really bring it. She has really good vertical leaping ability and generated a lot of power behind her hits." George, a third teamer last season who totaled 16 kills over three matches to lead Phoenix on the final day of the state tournament, and Fry teamed up to run the well-oiled offensive machine for Phoenix. "Between the two of them, they touched about 40 percent of the balls we played," Murphy said. "They’re both very good defensively and very good attacking setters. "It was a very good luxury to have them." Junior Middle hitter Kelsey Nelson made the second team for the Pirates, while senior defensive specialist Nicole Engle earned honorable mention status. Skyline Conference All-Stars FIRST TEAM Player School Pos. Yr. Ashley McCarty Phoenix OH Sr. Jessica Howard Phoenix OH Sr. Randi Reel N. Valley OH Jr. Shonda George Phoenix S Sr. Aurora Fry Phoenix S Sr. Katie Nelson Henley L So. Player of the Year — Ashley McCarty, Phoenix. Coach of the Year — Tom Murphy, Phoenix. SECOND TEAM Jenna Matchett Henley OH Jr. Danae Cornelison H. Valley OH Sr. Jessica Davina Mazama H Jr. Kelsey Nelson Phoenix MH Jr. Jennifer Eiland Henley MH Jr. Adri Inman Mazama S So. THIRD TEAM Brandy Stromme N. Valley OH Sr. Kayla Tocher Rogue River OH Sr. Serena Barry Ill. Valley H Sr. Erika Riley Ill. Valley H Jr. Megan Christensen Henley MH So. Karyn Arnold N. Valley DS Sr. HONORABLE MENTION Hitters: Quenby Cox, Mazama, So.; Kate Whipple, Rogue River, Sr. Middle Hitters: Ricci Coultas, Illinois Valley, Sr.; Megan Swanson, Hidden Valley, Fr. Setters: Sierra Patzke, Henley, Fr.; Ashley Parker, North Valley, Sr.; Shannyn Brown, Hidden Valley, Jr.; Courtney Ritchie, Rogue River, Jr. Libero: Korina Peterson, Mazama, Sr. Defensive specialist: Nicole Engle, Phoenix, Sr. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities