For The Tribune
Medora volleyball coach Sara Todd said she feels that if she would have had her full team throughout the season, the Hornets could have had a winning record instead of the 7-17 mark they posted.
“The first game we had everybody on the floor was the sectional,” she said during the volleyball and cross-country awards program at the school Monday night.
“We never gave up. I feel the season would have been a lot different if we had everybody all year,” Todd said.
Todd said she had up to three starters out some matches.
“The girls had to play different positions than they were used to,” she said. “The girls are very talented, and overall we had a good season. If the girls learned volleyball skills, I have done a good job.”
Senior Avery Carney was named the best statistical player as she served 90 percent, set 99.8 percent (1350 of 1353), was 80 percent in blocks (33 of 41 with 5 block kills), and had 325 attack kills.
“She was everywhere,” Todd said. “One time she came from nowhere and hit the ball backwards over the net for a kill. She did a great job.
“She’s like Megan (Weddell), she’s going to leave a glaring hole in the program.”
Weddell received the serving award for serving 89 percent.
Alli Carney and Kailen Flynn received offensive consistency awards.
Carney, who missed a month of the season with an injury, was 78 percent on her passes and 83 percent on her attacks, while Flynn was 73 percent on passing and 77 percent on attacks.
“It seemed like (Flynn) was serving when we had 24 points, and I would tell her to serve it down the line and she did every time.”
Destiny Barr received the coaches’ award, and Lillie Hatfield was named most improved player.
Todd said Barr received the coaches’ award for her patience and attitude, and Hatfield did a good job when she was called up to the varsity to fill in for injured players.
Junior varsity coach Missy Stewart said her team finished with a record of 8-9.
Stewart presented the passing award to Hatfield, the serving plaque to Marsadeez Phillips, the hitting award to Barr, the blocking honor to Emily Newby and the setting award to Kaitlyn Wilson.
Elementary coach Maddie Plummer introduced members of the elementary volleyball team and presented special awards, and junior high coach Nikki Shields introduced members of her team and presented special awards.
Coach Brad McCammon said it was a long road for his cross-country runners this fall.
“They did what we asked them to do,” he said. “The race at Bedford at the beginning of the season, they delayed it because of the heat, and they ran one race in heavy rain.
The girls’ squad consisted of Jadelyn Dean, and the only boys that ran were Matt Jones and Zac Thompson.
Dean was named the most valuable female runner, while Jones received MVP honors for the boys and also received the mental attitude award.
Thompson was named the most improved male runner.
“Jadelyn was the only girl I had for four years,” McCammon said. “Sara and I had to fight over her.”
Dean was only able to run in five races because of injuries and had her best time of 25:24 in the sectional.
Jones’ name will go up on the Teen Club at school, as he ran a 19:50 at the Hauser Invitational for his best time of the year.
McCammon said Thompson battled a mental barrier earlier in his career, but he broke through that wall this fall and had his best time of 21:11 at Columbus.
The 13 scholar athletes for the fall season were introduced.
McCammon said that is the largest number he can recall in recent seasons, and they had to carry a grade point average of 3.5 or higher to make the list.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”More awards” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Scholar athletes: Matt Jones, Avery Carney, Katie Stewart, Kailen Flynn, Marsadeez Phillips, Emily Newby, Kailyn Wilson, Jadelyn Dean, Megan Weddell, Alli Carney, Morgan Dunn, Lillie Hatfield, Destiny Barr.
Junior high volleyball
Serving Tiara Edwards, passing Kelsey Turner, setting Keyla Newby, hitting Kenley King, most improved Charley Pumphrey, mental attitude Taylor Baughman
Elementary volleyball
Mental attitude Jarey Babcock, serving Emily Owens, passing Brooklyn Baughman, setting Babcock.
[sc:pullout-text-end]