HCI All-Area 2011 Girls Volleyball Team

The 2010 All-Area Holt County Independent Girls Volleyball teams have been chosen.

This year's selection was chosen by nine area coaches and a handful of educators and spectators.

This year's team was chosen from a  wide variety of players.

Named to the first team were Alex Hedlund, O'Neill; Ashli Kunz, Stuart; Brooke Bauer, St. Mary's; Taylor Twibell, Orchard/Clearwater; Riley Funk, Ewing and Natasha Koenig, Ewing. 

Named to the second team this year is Kelsey Appleby, O'Neill; Darcy Hagberg, West Boyd; Molly Shane, O'Neill, Megan Wenner, West Holt; Bailey Schwager, Clearwater/Orchard and Jessi Pongratz, St. Mary's.  Filling in the honorable mention this year  are Rachel Osborne of West Holt and McKenna Rossmeier of Lynch.

Heading the first team  this year  is Alex Hedlund of O'Neill High School. "Alex led the Eagles in kills, blocks and ace serves this season. Alex has a powerful attack and was a big offensive weapon for us when we needed a point. She is second all time with 308 kills in a season for the Eagles. She will hold records in career kills, blocks and service aces. She is a very strong all-around player with great serving and passing skills as well. She was team captain and exhibited great leadership on and off the court," commented coach Kaye Appleby. Alex had 308 kills on the season with 968 for her career, 55 blocks on the season and 115 career, 202 digs with 709 career, 52 ace serves with 150 career and 145 season serve receives and 791 career.

Second on this year's team is  Ashli Kunz, a senior at Stuart. " Ashli has led her squad to the state tourney two years in a row.   Ashli is a very dominate player at the net. She leads the team with 242 kills with a .317 kill efficiency and 62 solo blocks.   She also leads her team with 70 ace serves and a 94% serving average.  Her commitment in the summer, her great attitude and her 100% effort during the season are a coach’s dream," said coach Stacy Dexter. Ashli had 242 kills,62 blocks and 70 ace serves for a serving percentage of 93%.

Brooke Bauer, a sophomore at St. Mary's, took the third spot on this years squad. Brooke had 232 kills, .218 hitting percentage, 33 ace serves for 96.3% at serving, 135 blocks with 40 being solo and 297 digs. "Brooke is a second year starter. She is a hard worker and improved her play significantly this year. Statistically, she led the team in many categories. There were many times she sparked a momentum change for us. She made the season fun for the team," said coach Nicole Renshaw.

Taking fourth on this year's team is Taylor Twibell, a senior at Orchard/Clearwater. "Taylor is a three year starter. She changed positions this year and is a leader on and off the court. Taylor led the team in kills, kill percentage and ace serves. She had 285 kills with .212 hitting percentage and a total of 89 ace serves. She had 35 blocks, keep in mind she is only 5'6" and 222 digs. She is an outstanding player and has a great sense of volleyball," said coach Lindi Meyer.

Fifth place on this year's first squad is Riley Funk, a sophomore at Ewing. " Riley was our number one go to player this season. A primary passer for the Tigers, who also lead the Tigers in all stats with 260 kills on the season, 48 solo blocks, 90.2% serving efficiency. She had a hard jump serve. A 92.6% passer for the Tigers and 83.5 % on defensive digs. Riley was a weapon on the floor if she was front or back row, she could score. Riley was a leader on the floor for the Tigers as well as a solid player for us this season. She had 80 ace serves on the season," said coach Suz Funk.

Filling in the sixth slot on the first team is Natasha Koenig. "Natasha, a senior at Ewing, was also a go to player who really was a leader on the court. She earned her position as team captain. Natasha had 232 kills, with 117 hitting. She had 46 solo blocks was an 85% serving and 81.5% passing and was also a primary passer for the Tigers. She had  a 72.5 % efficiency on defensive digs. Natasha could also score from the front or back row for the Tigers this season. She provided great leadership. Natasha had 68 ace serves on the year.

"Kelsey Appleby, a senior on the O'Neill squad, provided leadership for us on the court this year which is key in the setting role. Kelsey did an excellent job setting with a record high of 719 set assists. She not only gets to just about every ball on the court, she can dig it out of the net, or joust with a blocker at the net. She led the team in serving and scoring with 211 points from 357/376 serve. She is very competitive and found ways to score in the setting position with 60 kills," said coach Kay Appelby. Kelsey had 719 set assists on the season with a career 2,115; 196 season digs, with 753 career; 37 ace serves, 125 career; 60 kills, 142 career and 12 blocks, 28 career.

Darcy Hagberg has this year's second spot on the second team. Darcy, a senior, had 193 kills on the season and 169 digs, She led West Boyd in kills and digs. She had 211 serve receptions for a 93% and 32 ace serves on the year.

Molly Shane, a senior at O'Neill High School, is this year's third spot on the second team. " Molly did an outstanding job both offensively and defensively. Molly led the team in digs with 226. She was also our top outside hitter with 177 kills. Molly was a very strong all around player for the Eagles that we depended on greatly,"said coach Appleby. Molly had 177 kills on the season, 266 digs, 40 ace serves, 18 season blocks and 170 serve receives.

Megan Wenner  of West Holt is fourth this year. Megan was 130 of 165 on serving for a 79% average, and had 41 ace serves. On spikes Megan was 422 of 500 with 258 kills. Megan was 13 of 13 on sets and had 134 digs on the season.

This season's fifth pick was Bailey Schwager of Orchard/Clearwater. " Bailey is my starting setter for two years. This year she had 578 set assists. 271% setting, 57 ace serves and 196 digs. She gets to the ball and puts in into the hand that will get us kills. She is a good leader on and off the floor. She loves the game of volleyball and it shows on the court. She was a very dedicated player," commented coach Lindi Meyer

The final member of the all-area team is Jessi Pongratz, Jessi had 176 kills, with a .144 hitting %, 31 ace serves, 131 blocks (36 solo) and 239 digs. " Jessi is a three year starter and a second year team captain. She plays with so much passion and intensity. She can really get the team fired up. Jessi works hard on her strength and had done a nice job using her physical strength to hit and block," said coach Nicole Renshaw. 

Honorable mentions this season go to Rachel Osborne of West Holt and McKenna Rossmeier of Lynch.