The Kitsap County volleyball court was stacked in 2006. Teams like Olympic and North Kitsap achieved accomplishments which they haven’t attained in years while Bainbridge and Central Kitsap made their way into the top-five at their respective state tournaments.
In the aftermath, the Kitsap News Group sportswriters sat down and sifted through reams of statistics and hours of mental game footage to nominate their respective choices for the all-county team. Dominated by the Olympic League Champion Trojans and the CK Cougars, this year’s squad harnesses the power of a stark kill and the consistency of a solid defender with members from each school in the county — including North’s KC Fossum (first team), Jessica Oullet and Kailey Jakola (honorable mentions).
Hannah Stuart, OH, Bainbridge — The senior turned in her best season on the court yet this year as she led the Spartans in kills with 328, digs with 228 and aces with 87. Stuart was one of the many reasons that Bainbridge made its way to a fifth straight state appearance and a fourth place finish. She will continue her career at George Washington University.
Lindsey Webel, OH, Olympic — Webel led the charge for Oly’s talented rotation of hitters, racking up more than 200 kills. The senior was one of many who helped turn the Trojans’ volleyball program around this year — Oly capped an undefeated season as Olympic League champs with the school’s first-ever state appearance. The squad’s most well-rounded player, Webel could dig (104) or serve (34 aces) just as well as she could slam a kill.
Brianne Gregory, OH/MB, Bremerton — Gregory was dynamite at the net, finishing her senior year with a mind-boggling 270 kills to go along with 105 blocks. Those type of numbers had teams trying to avoid putting the ball anywhere close to her.
Melissa Liechty, OH/MB, Central Kitsap — Liechty had another huge all-around season for the Cougars, slamming 278 kills to go with 32 blocks and 43 aces prior to the postseason. But Liechty’s real accomplishment this season was in helping CK get over the postseason hump, pushing the Cougs past districts all the way to a fifth-place finish at the state tournament. Part of CK’s deadly rotation of outside hitters, Liechty also saved the Cougs’ on many occasions with 264 digs.
KC Fossum, OH/MB, North Kitsap — Game in and game out, the Vikings could rely on the seniors’ hitting ability and leadership. Fossum smashed 174 kills on the year while serving at a 93.6 percentage with 30 aces. On the defensive side, she also added 178 digs and 30 blocks to help land NK in the district tournament for the first time under head coach Tim French.
Angela Spieker, S, Central Kitsap — Having to fill the shoes of one of CK’s top setters — Alli Weisbarth — Spieker came through with shining colors, dishing out 807 assists to top Weisbarth’s previous CK single-season high. Only a junior, Spieker will be back to help the Cougars make another run in 2007 and she’ll be bringing her strong serving (53 aces) and defense (22 blocks, 191 digs) with her.
Katelyn Shaw, S, Olympic — A senior, Shaw was literally at the center of Oly’s turnaround, helping the Trojans’ offense flow throughout the season. Setting a new school-record with 730-plus assists including the postseason, Shaw was an active and vocal presence for the Trojans’ League title team, helping lead Oly to state.
Theresia Dever, L, Central Kitsap — Not afraid to throw her body around for the team, Dever broke her own school record with 644 digs on the year, many by the tip of her outstretched fingers. With a deadly serve to match, Dever set another school record with 81 aces — all before the postseason. Dever saved many points for CK en route to a fifth-place finish at state.
Keith Peden, Coach, Olympic — It was deja vu all over again for Peden, who wrapped up the second season of his second stint at the helm of Olympic’s volleyball program with an undefeated league season and the Olympic League crown.
In his first run with the team in the late 90s, the Trojans also took a league crown. But unlike that team, Peden took the 2006 Trojans to state, where they came within a victory of a trophy in their first-ever appearance on the state court.
Honorable mentions
Kylen Boddie,
South Kitsap
Asia Davis,
Bremerton
Erika Doremus,
South Kitsap
Kelcey Dunaway,
Bainbridge
Brittni Featherstone,
Olympic
Hannah Fontenot,
King’s West
Vienna Gilman,
Central Kitsap
Kailey Jakola, North Kitsap — North’s libero racked up 318 digs on the year and served as the staple of the Viking defense. Her consistency will remain with the Vikings as Jakola enters her senior season next fall.
Jessica Oullet, North Kitsap — Oullet came on strong halfway through the season and ended up with 214 digs on defense, 101 kills on offense and 46 aces from the back line. Just a junior, she’ll carry that momentum into next season.
Nica Ogazi,
Bremerton
Tara Patton,
Klahowya
Lorraine Poe,
King’s West
Ally Post,
Bainbridge
Rachel Stocks,
Klahowya
Katie Wilkinson,
Central Kitsap
Eliana Zalazar,
Olympic
