KARL PEARSON
With three teams with 16 or more victories and three more in double digits, it was a strong year for volleyball in Ashtabula County in 2009.
That was a huge factor in spreading the wealth in determining the members of the Star Beacon Ashtabula County team. Seven schools had at least one player chosen to the first team and all eight county teams had at least two players chosen somewhere on the first two squads.
The top two awards went to Geneva, which went the farthest of any team in tournament play by reaching the Division II district championship match against eventual state runner-up Lake Catholic. It marked the first time in her head coaching career that Annah Haeseler’s team had reached that level. The Eagles were also third in their first season in the Premier Athletic Conference behind Division I regional finalist Riverside. It has earned Haeseler her first selection as Coach of Year.
The Eagles’ senior outside-middle hitter Taylor Webb has been chosen Player of the Year. It is the third straight year she has been a first-team all-county selection. She was the key component of Geneva’s drive to the district finals.
Webb is joined on the first team by senior teammate Kristyn Pristov and is one of only two other players besides Webb to repeat on the first unit, functioning as the Eagles’ libero. Also chosen to the first team from Geneva were senior outside hitter Hillary Hambleton. Joining them are sophomore middle hitter Veronica Clutter, Webb’s cousin, and sophomore setter Audra Puckrin.
Conneaut senior middle hitter Nichele Johnson is the other repeat member of the first team. She was part of a group that won 29 matches over the past two seasons and set a new standard for wins in a season during her junior year.
She is joined on the first team by three of her senior teammates. Outside hitter Sarah Campbell and setter Kelsey Prevot moved up from last year’s second team, while outside hitter Justine VanCise joins them on the first team.
Edgewood returned to its past standards as coach Dave Fowler came back to the bench and led it to the Division II district semifinals. The resurgence of the Warriors is a product of the play of senior middle hitter Laura Coxe, a second-team member last year, junior setter Brittany Wentworth and sophomore middle hitter Ashley Thomas.
SS. John and Paul didn’t miss a beat under the leadership of first-year coach Brandy Orlando, returning to the Division IV district semifinals. Senior outside hitter Carly Penna played the key role in that resurgence.
Pymatuning Valley had another solid season for coach Rob Wludyga despite a massive insertion of new personnel. Senior defensive specialist Brittany Jock is the Lakers’ representative on the first team.
Lakeside suffered a major blow when first-team all-county player Christiana Blakeslee was lost very early in the season with a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament. But senior libero Angela DeGeorge is a first-team libero for keeping the Dragons playing at a competitive level.
Completing the first team is Jefferson middle hitter Lizzy Ziemski. She moves up from the second team.
Heading up the second team are three players from SJP. Junior Ashley Fedler is a repeat member of the second team, while junior setter Sara Blank and junior middle hitter Jennifer Kapalan.
Geneva also has three girls on the second team. They are senior setter Stephanie Booth, senior libero Aimee Jones and senior outside hitter Rachel Murray.
Two players from Grand Valley are on the second team. Junior middle hitter Allison Unger and junior libero Randi Woodworth helped the Mustangs reach double digits in victories this year.
Lakeside also has two players on the second team. They are junior setter Jenna Applebee and junior middle hitter Tyra Miller.
Senior outside hitter Courtney Wentworth represents Edgewood on the second team.
Jefferson’s second-team member is senior outside hitter Hailey Burns.
Completing the second team is Pymatuning Valley middle hitter Erin Smolinski, a junior.
