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SportsTuesday, November 27, 2007 11:56 PM CST
Pantagraph all-area volleyball team
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List of players named to the 2007 Pantagraph all-area volleyball first team.

First team



Ashley Beyer, 5-11, Sr., OH, Bloomington

Georgia Tech-recruit sparked BHS to 33-5 record with 4.9 kills and 3.0 digs

Kristin Stauter, 5-9, Sr., S, Bloomington

ISU recruit averaged 10.6 assists for Big 12 champs

Catherine Ludwig, 5-11, Sr., S, Tri-Valley

Central Michigan recruit averaged 9.3 assists, 1.2 blocks and 4.7 service points for 22-8 squad

Megan Schmidt, 6-0, Sr., MH, Central Catholic

Bradley recruit led 26-12 Saints with 4.1 kills

Rachel Feldman, 5-4, Sr., Lib, NCHS

Recruited walk-on for Illinois averaged 3.8 digs

Jamie McFadden, 5-10, Sr., OH, Lincoln

Keyed 22-15 squad with 4.4 kills

Taylor Bruns, 5-11, Jr., S, University High

Div. I prospect provided 2.6 kills, 3.6 assists for 29-7 Pioneers

Carly Perschnick, 6-0, Jr., MB, Dwight

Led area with 5.2 kills for 24-7 regional champs

Annie Cave, 6-1, Sr., OH, Illini Central

Bradley recruit averaged 4.1 kills for 20-16 squad

Kasey Heckelman, 6-2, Jr., MB, Bloomington

Div. I prospect averaged 3.3 kills for Intercity champs

Jillyn Cross, 5-8, Sr., S, Hartsburg-Emden

Averaged 8.3 assists in her first ‘non-state’ season

Jenny Menendez, 5-8, Jr., OH, Normal Community

ISU recruit averaged 3.6 kills, 3.2 digs and 2.6 service points

Second team



Laura Wilcox, Normal West, Sr., 6-1, MB; Gardner-Webb recruit averaged 4.0 kills for 23-13 squad

Weslie Gaff, Streator, Sr., 6-2, MH; Missouri-St. Louis recruit averaged 4.3 kills, 1.5 blocks for 16-17 team

Haley Thurmond, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Sr., 5-10, OH; averaged 4.7 kills as 33-6 Chiefs took 4th in 1A

Kate Poorbaugh, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Sr., 5-8, S; averaged 8.9 assists on way to Final Four

Christina Stoll, Mount Pulaski, Sr., 6-0, MB; averaged 2.4 kills, 1.2 blocks for balanced 1A champs

Kelsey Detweiller, Normal West, Sr., 5-6, Lib; led area with 7.7 digs per game

Paige Lay, NCHS, Sr., 5-10, RS; averaged 3.4 kills for 30-8 squad

Lauryn Reiners, Tri-Valley, Jr., 5-10, MB-OH; averaged 4.6 kills, 1.0 blocks

Allison Kirk, Bloomington, Jr., 5-7, Lib; averaged 3.5 digs for 3A Elite Eight squad

Mandy Feit, Lexington, Sr., 5-4, Lib; second in area with 6.3 digs for 29-8 squad

Ashlee Sang, University High, Jr., 5-9, Lib; averaged 5.3 digs for Corn Belt champs

Lindsey Storm, Mahomet-Seymour, Sr., 5-9, OH; averaged 3.1 kills for 20-12 squad

Honorable mention



Bloomington: Lauren Seyller; Blue Ridge: Jamie Hendricks; Deer Creek-Mackinaw: Lauren Schmidt; Dwight: Amie Hogan; El Paso-Gridley: Marqui Fairchild, Mattie Fairchild; Eureka: Chelsea Prosser; Heyworth: Laura Klawitter, Brittany Feger; Lexington: Maggie Johansen; Lincoln: Ashley Bonaparte; Mahomet-Seymour: Daniella Bunch, Greta Goddard; Mount Pulaski: Elizabeth Fanning; Normal Community: Jackie Gerig; PBL: Jenna Seibring; Pontiac: Ashley Timmerman; University High: Carly Schumacher, Tonya Ploense; Woodland: Tori Pflibsen.

Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports.

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Reader comments on this story - 24 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

You know what wrote on Dec 3, 2007 7:48 AM:

" Congrats to everyone who received honors- whether it's Pantagraph, Conference, State... It's great for the athletes to be recognized for their hard work and achievements. Why all the snipping?? "

Enough wrote on Nov 29, 2007 11:51 PM:

" ENOUGH ALREADY! Stop with the bashing and counterbashing of these two girls. We all know that they a BOTH really good players. None of you know how the choices were made, so instead of speculating and assuming one thing or another, why don't you call the Pantagraph Sports editor and find out how and why their choices were made! Maybe that will then put an end to all of this. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!! "

so to listen wrote on Nov 29, 2007 10:01 PM:

" .....then you are justifying West's libero stats at 7.7 ave digs per game since West "really didn't have much in the front row" and their libero had to work hard in the back row. NCHS' front row took care of the blocks so their libero didn't have much to do, therefore not having a higher average #of digs per game.... making her a better player and more deserving of the 1st team selection ?!?! Right. "

To Listen wrote on Nov 29, 2007 5:53 PM:

" Can't fault her for not being top on team last year. The libero West had last year was special. She's excelling in college, too. Both seniors are deserving. "

listen wrote on Nov 29, 2007 2:36 PM:

" the first team selection has played the last two years at libero on a team that is always in the sectional. the second team selection wasnt even the best libero at her school until her senior year and was a second team member of illini elite, a group of people that know more about volleyball then you west fans. I also think that the front row for nchs was a ton better, allowing for more blocks as opposed to west who really didnt have much in the front row. AND the second team selection played middle back, a position where digs are sooo much easier to come by then left back, the position the first team libero played. "

Politics wrote on Nov 29, 2007 1:46 PM:

" Sports are all politics. Actually, virtually everything in life is about politics... jobs, education, religion, etc. That's how life is. Fighting about it through pantagraph comments won't help anything. "

What wrote on Nov 29, 2007 1:42 PM:

" West was 23-12. Bad season. They are a good overachieving team. They play a strong schedule and have for years. "

vb wrote on Nov 29, 2007 7:41 AM:

" The level of competition that these teams play are not the same. NCHS had a 30 win season playing the highest level of competition. BHS and UHS play not as hard a schedule but reasonably competitive. West had a bad season and they don't even play any hard teams. "

To Plus wrote on Nov 28, 2007 8:28 PM:

" How do you play volleyball with your nose stuck so high in the air. Wouldn't it be hard to see the ball? You seem to know it all. "

re: to plus wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:45 PM:

" That's about right. Every mediocre/bad team has a player that is "good" relative to everyone else on their team. But why cover them if their team isn't good? Several wide receivers had better career stats than Lynn Swan, but obviously stats don't always mean anything because Lynn Swan was a great player. I know it's football but the same can be said about players in any sport...including volleyball. AND, as stated earlier (but it can't be stated enough obviously), when you count serve receive as a dig that inflates your stats insanely. I'm sure The Pantagraph realizes that. "

WYC wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:37 PM:

" 7 digs a game insane? You've probably not seen her play. She is the real thing, as is the player from NCHS. Both are high, high quality talents. Both outstanding passers, too. "

To:Plus wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:47 AM:

" Oh - so it's a TEAM honor to be on the Pantagraph all area team - not individual. That is why no NWCHS player was chosen. I believe that the area media types spent all of their time at NCHS and BHS games and the coverage for the past several months supports it. Thats why when a NCWHS player had 19 service pts and 10 aces the same night as a NCHS player had 10 service pts and 6 aces, the NCHS player had pictures and press, the NWCHS player had none!!!!!! "

plus wrote on Nov 28, 2007 10:22 AM:

" The libero on the first team was on a good team who made it to the sectional finals of the highest class and won 30 games. How far did West go? Plus, the stat argument is correct. Stats were taken incorrectly. It is insane for a high school player to have 7 digs per game. "

vball wrote on Nov 28, 2007 9:36 AM:

" If you look at all of these selections, many of the girls on the first team do not have as high of stats as the girls on the second team. There are 3 girls on the second team with more digs than the libero chosen for the first team. Weslie Gaff and Lauryn Reiners also have better stats than two of the middles on the first team. These teams are obviously not chosen just by stats. Kelsey is a great player and the stats show that, along with the other girls with higher stats than the first team. "

Enlightened wrote on Nov 27, 2007 7:26 PM:

" Ah.... "Better overall player"? How is that judged? Beyond stats, how would the writers know that?"Digs vs touches", Are you serious? Nobody, even parent statisticians, can make that mistake! If stats don't count, then what is the criteria for an UNBIASED opinion of who is most deserving? I know this is not so important, but fair is fair, isn't it? I think I know the answer to that. "

intercity constituent and to haha wrote on Nov 27, 2007 7:02 PM:

" I see alot of OLY volleyball girls are playing their game in basketball....just wait until softball. Glad that they came out and competed in volleyball, keeping their girls' athletic programs alive. "

agree with West Sider wrote on Nov 27, 2007 6:54 PM:

" Kelsey earned all of that 7.7 avg to carry the lead in the stat column all season. She also helped carry the team as a Senior and it shows how hard she works just by watching her play. She's awesome !! "

West Sider wrote on Nov 27, 2007 6:29 PM:

" Those 7.7 digs per game are real digs NOT touches. I am completely sure of that. Both are great players. I can't say who is better. Both deserve top honors. "

VolleyballFan wrote on Nov 27, 2007 3:07 PM:

" Plenty could be argued about this one should have been 2nd team, that one should have been 1st team. I'm just glad to see the list is still being done. I didn't get my usual call to input to it this year and was afraid that maybe the project was dropped. Good job! P.S. - Can we (volleyball) get detailed stats in the sports page like the basketball teams do? "

To: Confused wrote on Nov 27, 2007 1:23 PM:

" The difference is Stat keepers knowing the difference between a "Touch" and an "Actual Dig". Anytime a back row player receives the ball on serve or gets a touch on it, it is not a "Dig" That's what you get when you have inexperienced Stat keepers. "

To: Confused wrote on Nov 27, 2007 12:35 PM:

" Perhaps the one with 3.8 digs per game is a better overall player? "

To Confused: wrote on Nov 27, 2007 12:20 PM:

" I agree with you but I guess it is who you are and where you're from... "

Confused wrote on Nov 27, 2007 11:57 AM:

" How is someone who led the area with 7.7 digs per game get beat out of 1st team honors by someone who got only 3.8 digs per game? I'd like to hear that argument. "

Haha wrote on Nov 27, 2007 10:44 AM:

" No one from Olympia? We are continuing our sports dominance out in the corn fields. "

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