Sports
New Lothrop, Byron athletes receive GAC Blue volleyball awards
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Saturday, November 29, 2008 11:45 PM EST
Three New Lothrop volleyball players - Monica Confer, Rachelle Kviz and Kelsey Gasper - were voted unanimous first-team GAC Blue Division first-team selections, it was recently announced.
Josalyn Skinner of Byron was also named to the GAC Blue first team. Rounding out the first team are Burton Atherton's Devin Johnson and Burton Bendle's Chelsea Hundley.
New Lothrop collected its third consecutive GAC Blue Division championship with a 12-0 record and went on to claim district and regional titles before falling in the state quarterfinals for the second straight season. The Hornets lost to No. 1-ranked Battle Creek St. Philip, the eventual Class D state champ. The Hornets finished 41-14-5.
Confer, a junior middle hitter and the tallest Hornet at 5-foot-8, finished the season with more than 650 kills. She served better than 97 percent with more than 450 digs and more than 40 blocks.
Kviz, another junior middle hitter, had 402 kills on the campaign while leading the Hornets in aces with more than 100. She delivered more than 400 digs.
Gasper, the team leader in digs, passed better than 92 percent and had 500 digs for the season while adding 300 kills. The co-captain served up more than 50 aces.
Byron, 7-5 in league play, went on to win its fifth consecutive district title before being ousted by Unionville-Sebewaing in the first round of the regionals.
Byron finished 23-20-3 under first-year coach Autumn McGuire.
Skinner, a senior middle hitter, finished the year with 316 kills, 77 blocks, 58 aces and a serving percentage of 94 percent. She had a serve receive percentage of 86 percent.
Moriah Thompson and Sam Crist of Byron were selected to the GAC Blue second team along with New Lothrop's Kayla Henige.
Thompson, a junior middle hitter, had 47 aces, 196 kills, 337 digs and 71 blocks. She served 93 percent.
Crist, a setter, delivered 364 assists, 383 digs, 52 aces and 75 kills.
Henige, a junior setter, led the area in assists with over 1,300. She also had more than 70 aces and more than 300 digs.
Capturing GAC honorable mention honors were New Lothrop's Hannah Wenzlick and Melissa Malott and Byron's Rebekah Lahring and Sara Armstrong.
Wenzlick, a senior right side hitter, served 91.6 percent.
Malott served 95 percent with 50 aces. She also had 300 digs.
Lahring had 43 aces, 28 blocks and served 94 percent.
Armstrong had a team-high 493 digs at libero with 52 aces, second-best on the Byron team.