Nevada volleyball made progress in 2011

Herald-Tribune

NEVADA, Mo. -- The 2011 volleyball season came to an end for the Nevada Tigers last Wednesday night with a loss to Pleasant Hill in the District 12 title match. Nevada defeated Holden in the semifinals to advance to the championship match. The Chicks defeated the Tigers 25-20, 25-17 in the title match.

The Tigers went 21-10-2 this season for first-year coach Ashley Thoreson.

"It was a great night and we played some of the best volleyball we have all year," Thoreson said. "Both Holden and Pleasant Hill were very aggressive, disciplined teams and I couldn't be more proud of this group of girls for showing up and playing with their hearts. We kept fighting against Pleasant Hill and even when we were down late in the second game, we kept finding a way to score points, hoping that it would be enough. We would have loved to continue our season, but we ended with a great record of 21-10-2 and after starting the season 1-5. We couldn't have asked for a better outcome. The girls really improved throughout the season, many stepping outside of their comfort zones, playing new roles and working together as a team. The group of seniors we had were very determined to win and did a great job of being leaders and expecting nothing less than winning. We will miss them and will definitely have some big shoes to fill."

This year's seniors were Bailey Harbit, Hali Durnell, Marisa Hughes, Cassidy Lowery and Taylor Norcross.

Against Holden, juniors Regan Kannady and Sharla Quick had eight kills apiece and Harbit added seven. Harbit had five blocks at the net, while Lowery had 17 assists. Hughes had 22 digs. Against Pleasant Hill, Kannady had six kills and freshman Morgan McNeley had five kills. Lowery had 12 assists and McNeley had 16 digs. Quick and Hughes added nine digs apiece. Lowery and Kannady had five-assist blocks apiece and two solo blocks apiece.

Hughes and Lowery were selected first team all-district. Harbit was a second team all-district selection. Kannady and Quick also received votes for the all-district team.

All-District 12 team

First Team

Anna Prewitt - Pleasant Hill, 55 votes

Marisa Hughes - Nevada, 45

Kindred Wesemann - Pleasant Hill, 42

Codi Winslow - Pleasant Hill, 39

Cassidy Lowery - Nevada, 38

Kelsey Davidson - Holden, 37

2nd Team

Shelby Lavery - Harrisonville, 36

Bailey Harbit - Nevada, 34

Shannon Haws - Pleasant Hill, 30

Taylor Anderson - Holden, 27

Livia Dunham - Harrisonville, 21

Erin Brockhaus - Warrensburg, 19

Others receiving votes

Brooke Crotty - Pleasant Hill, 10

Mallory Miller - Pleasant Hill, 8

Regan Kannady - Nevada, 8

Meghan Barr - Clinton, 7

Laurel Dehn - Clinton, 7

Sharla Quick - Nevada, 6

Haleigh Wood - Harrisonville, 5

Kai Wesemann - Pleasant Hill, 2

Katie Elder - Holden, 1