Area netters set, dig and spike success

CK leads way for ‘07 AKC honors.

By KITSAP NEWS GROUP

It was an interesting year on the volleyball courts in the Silverdale area, with all three schools finding themselves in various levels of transition.

For Central Kitsap, coming off the school’s top finish with a state trophy, that meant finding a new offensive nucleus to replace key cogs. Defensively stellar, CK was able to advance deep into districts.

For Olympic, which saw nearly all of its state team of a year ago graduate, it meant finding a new identity all together. Not given much credit after the departures, Olympic was able to advance to districts as well with a team that had zero seniors.

And while Klahowya had a tough year on the court once again, the team made consistent improvements throughout the year and should have some youth to build on next year.

The All-Kitsap County teams are compiled by the sports writers for the Bainbridge Island Review, the Bremerton Patriot, the Central Kitsap Reporter, the North Kitsap Herald and the Port Orchard Independent. Candidates for the team are nominated by the writers for their respective areas. The nominees are then voted on by the writers, with the top vote-getters making the teams. Two honorable mentions are selected from each school for each sport. The teams include the best players from area schools that not only performed well individually, but played a role in the success of their team as well.

Below is the All-Kitsap County Volleyball Team. The AKC Football Team will appear in the Saturday, Nov. 24, edition of the Central Kitsap Reporter.

2007 All-Kitsap County Volleyball Team

• OH — Jessica Ouellet, North Kitsap, senior — Ouellet finished her senior year with a team-high 138 kills, 151 digs and 45 aces from her outside hitter position for the Vikings. Ouellet’s ability was evident in nearly every contest this season. Whenever North needed a point, they put the ball in Ouellet’s hands. Ouellet was a major reason the Vikings won nine regular season games this year.

“Jessica is powerful and hits the ball hard,” Vikings coach Tim French said in an early season match. “Her game is well-rounded and she’s a leader.”

• OH — Megan Morris, King’s West, senior — Morris led the Warriors in attack kills this season with 203, remaining steady during a season where injuries hurt the team. Morris was one of the many King’s West players to hit a staggeringly high serve percentage, adding 57 blocks and 66 digs.

• OH/MB — Kelcey Dunaway, Bainbridge, senior — The senior co-captain continued with the tradition of talented players at Bainbridge as she posted a stellar stat line of 328 kills, 261 digs, 84 blocks and 48 aces this season. Ranked as one of the top seniors in the nation, she was consistent in her efforts no matter where she played as she led the Spartans back to the district tournament. Dunaway will continue her volleyball career at the University of Washington next fall. 

• MB — Tara Patton, Central Kitsap, junior — Patton was the best of CK’s attackers, pounding out 233 kills with 62 blocks. But Patton, who should continue to grow as a weapon next season, also could serve it up, netting 75 aces this season.

• L — Reese Dever, Central Kitsap, senior — Rarely do liberos get the recognition Theresia “Reese” Dever has received. An extremely agile and athletic player, Dever posed a big threat to opposing teams, serving up 86 aces with 65 kills. But her true skill was getting to anything and everything playable on the court, as Dever kept CK alive with her stellar defense, recording 762 digs.

• L — Irene Moore, King’s West, junior — Moore threw big numbers across the stat line with 358 assists, 186 digs and a stinging 81 aces. Moore was a big reason King’s West was able to advance to the state tournament for the first time in school history.

• S — Amy Spieker, Central Kitsap, senior — The impact Spieker had on CK’s volleyball team can be said plainly enough: Spieker will go down among the top setters in CK history. Spieker set the new school single-season assist record, dishing out 806 this year. She also fired 56 aces while recording 240 digs.

• S — Chelsea Bell, Bainbridge, senior — The senior filled the shoes of former setter Ally Post admirably, as she registered 559 assists for the Spartans this season. She also had 147 digs and 24 aces. 

• Coach of the year — Gordy Bushaw, Central Kitsap — While Bushaw’s Cougars (11-3) would have liked to advance back to state a year after claiming a trophy, the team’s accomplishments in the face of losing key seniors, especially on the offensive side of the ball, was yet another testament to Bushaw’s tutelage. CK was able to overcome inconsistencies during the season to advance within a game of a state return. Now, CK will again lose key seniors, but undoubtedly, with Bushaw at the helm, the Cougars will be able to fill those spots just fine.

Honorable Mention

L — Hillary Grant, Bainbridge — The senior co-captain always put her best out on the court for the Spartans as their starting libero for the past three years, posting a stat line of 353 digs and 32 aces. She also provided an emotional spark when it was needed.

S — Amy Cox, North Kitsap, senior — Every team needs a player who doesn’t worry about the stats and just does their job. Vikings 5’2” setter Amy Cox filled that role for the Vikings in 2007. Cox was responsible for setting up spikers Jessica Ouellet, Sara Jo Barrett, Cristina Rose and Taylor Ottomano for spikes high above the net. Cox finished with a team-high 309 assists for the Vikings.

OH — Stephanie Eadie, Kingston, senior — The Buccaneers may only have won one contest this season, but Bucs vocal leader Stephanie Eadie did her best to make sure her team competed night in and night out. Eadie, who finished with the third most kills on the team (37 kills), led her squad on and off the court.

The leadership payed off in the final regular-season game when Kingston defeated Klahowya 3-1.

MB — Lauren Forney, Central Kitsap, senior — Forney was one player CK needed to step up this season. More often than not, she was able to answer that call. The CK senior recorded 186 kills and 53 blocks.

S — Jessica Wilson, Klahowya, senior — Wilson was a leader for a young Eagles team that continued to make strides throughout the season. While the senior dished out 88 assists, Wilson kept Klahowya close with 107 digs and 35 aces.

OH — Megan Rainey, Olympic, junior — Rainey was one of the most experienced players on a young Trojan team that advanced to districts and will lose no one to graduation. The team leader in kills, the Trojans’ top outside hitter should continue to grow as Oly’s top offensive threat.

MB — Megan Spence, King’s West, senior — Despite missing weeks with injured landing gear, Spence still topped the 100-kill mark (101), adding 41 blocks, 63 digs and 28 aces.

OH — Nica Ogazi, Bremerton, senior — Ogazi is a surprisingly nimble player. Tall and angular, Ogazi is just as often diving for a dig as she is lining up a cross-court slam. Ogazi’s net play is strong too, as she posted more blocks for kills than many outside hitters record in attacks.

MH — Stephanie Osterdahl, South Kitsap, junior — Coach Jessica Anderson called her the best player on the team in an otherwise forgettable season for the Wolves, who finished with a 4-12 record. She had 14 kills in a five-game loss Oct. 11 against North Kitsap.

OH — Emily Donohue, Bainbridge — The junior did her part to fill the holes of some talented seniors lost to graduation, putting up a stat line of 127 kills, 139 digs, 19 blocks and 30 aces. She’ll be one of the main returners for the Spartans next season. 

MB — Sara Jo Barrett, North Kitsap, senior — Barret + was one of the Vikings’ go-to players throughout her senior year. Barrett was a brick wall at the net, coming up with timely blocks. This was especially the case in a hard- fought 3-2 victory against Stadium in October. She had the game winning block, skying high above the net, preserving the victory.

MB — Joi Niemeyer, Kingston, senior — The tallest player for the Buccaneers at 5’10”, Joi Niemeyer had an incredible 37 blocks at the net for the first year of the school. Her height and springy jumping ability resulted in Niemeyer compiling 43 kills in 2007.

OH — Katrina Hill, Central Kitsap, senior — After a junior season severely sidetracked by injuries, Hill was able to return to the court full-time for the Cougars in her senior campaign. Hill made the most of her final year, recording 128 kills and 33 aces while helping CK deep into districts.

OH — Rachael Beierle, Klahowya, senior — Another senior on a young squad, Beierle led the Eagles with 39 kills, adding 62 digs defensively for Klahowya.

S — Amy Stone, Olympic, sophomore — Stone helped lead a young Olympic team from the setter spot, leading Oly in assists but proving versatile by finishing third on the team in kills and second in digs. Coach Keith Peden called her the team’s most well-rounded player, as she also fulfilled the role of captain while on the court all season.

OH — Hannah Fontenot, King’s West, junior —The kid has a canon of a serve, frustrating opponents with 107 aces. Fontenot also fired 86 kills this year while adding 54 digs.

S — Cortney Echternach, South Kitsap, junior — The Wolves’ primary setter had perhaps her best performance come in a five-game loss Sept. 26 against Gig Harbor, when she had 20 assists and five digs.