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Celebrating The Best of 2003

Instead, we want to recognize players, coaches and teams for outstanding accomplishments during the high school campaign. And as we said last year, we admit that we are biased. When compiling individual awards we prefer to recognize athletes who excel and have an impact against top competition. For that reason, a player who runs up big stats in a weak district but disappears once the competition heats up doesn't impress us. We don't put too much stock in stats, anyway, since no school seems to keep them the same way. We also realize that makes it difficult for players at small schools to be recognized, since they don't often get a chance to compete against top teams and players. But to be recognized as the best, you have to do it against the best.

This year we are adding an award for defensive specialists. With high schools moving to rally scoring the defensive specialist became even more of a weapon and several players turned in performances worthy of recognition.

Volleyball is the ultimate team sport, so we once again begin our awards presentation by recognizing the Team of the Year.

Team of the Year

Wimberley

For the second year in a row this was an easy selection. Wimberley started the season with four of six starters gone from its 2002 championship team (Abbi Meyer, Colleen Westfall, Leah Goldstein and Ashley Leach). Obviously there were questions about just how good this year's version of the Lady Texans would be. But once again coach Lee Grisham and his team proved that a school of only 600 students can run with the big dogs. He threw his Lady Texans up against the state's best and they responded. Jesi Grisham, Caitlin Rainbird, Brittany Ables, Courtney McCrocklin and crew compiled a 40-3 record that included wins over 5A champion San Antonio Clark, Churchill, Austin Westlake and a number of other 5A and 4A playoff teams. Amazingly, 37 of Wimberley's 40 wins were sweeps including an 18-0 performance in the playoffs that led to a third straight 3A state crown.

Honorable Mention

San Antonio Clark - The Cougars proved that in a time when girls are getting bigger and stronger, there is still no substitute for great defense and ball control. With only one 6-foot player, Clark won the state's toughest region with surprising ease then went 6-1 in San Marcos to capture the state title with a record-breaking defensive showing.
Allen - Like Clark, Allen proved that defense and ball control is the key to winning in rally-scoring. Peaking at just the right time, the Eagles finally ended a decade of disappointment at the regional tournament in Huntsville then knocked off Stratford in a dramatic five-gamer to earn a berth in the 5A state finals.
Stephenville - As anyone who has followed this site for the past couple of years knows, the Honey Bees have always been our favorite nickname. So we admit that we were secretly pleased to see them go home with a state championship. By rallying from 24-17 and 11-2 deficits in the state finals against Highland Park they proved that in the new era of high school volleyball it is still possible to come back from large deficits.
Red Oak - Until the loss of Laurie Burrow, the Hawks were clearly the class of 4A and among the state's elite. They opened the season with a win over eventual 5A regional finalist Westwood at Duncanville then after a third round loss to Allen, Red Oak ripped off 33 straight wins before finally falling in five (17-15) to Arlington while losing Burrow in game four of the playoff warm up match. The wounded Hawks still added a revenge warm-up win over Allen and came within a couple of close calls in the regional finals of a return trip to San Marcos.
Houston Stratford - Three straight trips to the 5A state tournament is enough of an accomplishment to earn a mention, but Becky Palermo's Spartans did it in a season considered by some to be a rebuilding year and with one of their smaller lineups in recent seasons. Like Allen and Clark, however, they made up for a lack of size with solid defense and ball control.
Round Top-Carmine - After four straight losses to Windthorst in the 1A state finals and two losses earlier in the season, RTC shocked the six-time defending state champs in one of the all-time classic state finals. That accomplishment alone earns coach Tanya Nygrin's team a mention, but the Cubettes also compiled 37 wins with several coming against larger schools.
Wallis Brazos - Only a mid-season loss to TAPPS 5A finalist Houston St. Agnes spoiled a perfect season for the 39-1 Cougarettes.
Saint Mary's Hall - The two-time SPC champion staked its claim as the state's top private school with impressive wins over TAPPS 5A champion St. Michael's Academy, which was one of only two teams to beat Wimberley this year. Like St. Michael's, the Barons sprinkled their schedule with top public school teams and turned in a number of impressive wins.

Player of the Year

Jesi Grisham
Setter, senior, Wimberley

She may not be the biggest setter in the state or the most highly recruited, but whether the Lady Texans were going up against the state's top 5A teams or blowing through the 3A playoffs, Jesi Grisham was the driving force behind Wimberley's impressive run this season. When the season started, Grisham was one of only two Wimberley players returning who had played in the 2002 state tournament. However, the three-time state tournament MVP was a primary reason that newcomer Caitlin Rainbird, Brittnay Ables, Skyler Campbell and others were able to move into the lineup without missing a beat. She was also the reason they always had something to hit. Without her leadership and ability to keep opponents off-balance, Wimberley is a good team. With her, the Lady Texans finish the season as the state's best.

Outstanding Hitter

Mary Batis
MB/OH, sophomore, San Antonio Clark

From an Open championship and All-Tournament honors at the junior nationals in July to a state championship and state tournament MVP honors in November, it's been quite a year for the 6'0" sophomore from Clark. Considered the most complete player among the San Antonio area's Super Sophs, Batis became the go-to player for Clark as the Cougars rolled through the state's most brutal region then captured the 5A title, losing only two games in the process. In San Marcos, Batis led Clark with 35 kills, 15 digs, five blocks and two aces over two matches. When Batis takes off from the outside and starts her swing that seems to begin at the ankles, there are few players anywhere who can stop her.

Outstanding Hitter
Honorable Mention

Chibuzo Aguocha, Dobie
Jenny Banse, Churchill
Jordan Bostic, El Paso Franklin
Laurie Burrow, Red Oak
Melissa Caldwell, Stratford
Erika Castro, Saint Mary's Hall
Krystal Cooper, Elkins
Laura Crumrine, Monahans
Shannon Davis, Austin Westlake
Jessica Dorrell, Aledo
Jessica Glover, SA Judson
Michael Faulkner, St. Michael's Academy
Emily Jones, Arlington Martin
Lindsey Louis, Austin Westlake
Nicole Mahan, Amarillo
Courtney McCrocklin, Wimberley
Ellen Orchard, Cypress Springs
Lindsey Peterson, Arlington Lamar
Caitlin Rainbird, Wimberley
Brittany Randel, Arlington
Heidi Scheopner, Harlingen South
Morgan Spencer, Churchill
Kelly Stanton, Friendswood
Nickie Thomas, Westwood
Colleen Tomlin, Boerne
Kyna Washington, Westfield
Erica Wendell, New Braunfels
Lindsey Yon, San Antonio Reagan

Outstanding Setter

Michelle Moriarty
Senior, Houston Stratford

Long considered one of the nation's top setters, this was a season that Moriarty also had to display the leadership and drive that led her to be named captain of the US national youth team this past summer. With Millicent Martin and Becca Sartori gone from last year's state finalist, the Spartans had no regulars taller than 5'11". But with Moriarty's ability to place the ball in near perfect position from almost anywhere on the court, Stratford's "rebuilding" year ended wtih another trip to San Marcos. This fall she joins last year's Outstanding Setter, Jenny Andrew, at Texas giving the Longhorns a terrific one-two punch and no excuses for their hitters.

Outstanding Setter
Honorable Mention

Taylor Barnes, Arlington Martin
Jessie Carvajal, San Antonio Clark
Julie Chester, Cinco Ranch
Adrian Dunson, Stephenville
Holly Hicks, Round Rock
J.J. Jones, Allen
Meghan Kainz, Westlake
Emily Ziegler, Highland Park

Outstanding Defensive Specialist

Jena Pierson
Senior, San Antonio Madison

This was a tough one. On the one hand you have Kelly Broussard, whose dramatic point-saving digs and inspirational play in the state finals were instrumental in Clark's ability to hold off Allen and rally to a state title. On the other hand you have Jena Pierson whose defense and leadership were responsible for keeping San Antonio Madison's playoff hopes alive until the final week of the season in this year's toughest district. We went with Pierson. One of the most competitive athletes in the state, Jena didn't let the move from Round Rock to San Antonio affect her play. In her new home she even had the opportunity to play a little offense. Still, it was her defense that set the 5'6" senior apart from all others. After a late season district loss to Churchill, one of our correspondents reported that in defeat Pierson had turned in the single most impressive defensive performance he had seen.

Outstanding Defensive Specialist
Honorable Mention

Kelly Broussard, San Antonio Clark
Jennifer Moore, Allen
Laura North, Dulles
Deidre Shawen, Arlington Martin

Newcomer of the Year

Jessee Ericson
Sophomore, setter, Westwood

With seven seniors returning and high expectations, the pressure of running the Warriors explosive offense fell on the shoulders of the 6-foot sophomore and she played like a veteran. Jessee took full advantage of her offensive weapons, averaging 8 assists per game to lead the Warriors to the Region II finals and a 33-6 record that included playoff wins over Cy Springs and Cy Creek.

Coach of the Year

Lee Grisham
Wimberley

While we couldn't have gone wrong with a coach who led her team to the 5A championship with only one 6-footer, or coach who ended one of the longest state tournament winning streaks in history, or a coach who won the 4A title with no club players ... there was really little question about who would win the Coach of the Year honor. With only two players returning with any state tournament experience, Lee Grisham not only reloaded but this year's team may have been even stronger than last year's. And once again, he put a team of girls on the court who were never intimidated, no matter the opponent.

Coach of the Year
Honorable Mention

Fran Campos, Stephenville
Deena Kolafa, Wallis Brazos
Kirby Jameson, San Antonio Clark
Tanya Nygrin, Round Top-Carmine
April Fricke, Saint Mary's Hall

2003 Special Awards

Comeback Player of the Year

Krystle Brydon
Senior, OH, San Antonio Clark

Krystle missed 22 matches last season and half the club season with stress fractures in her back. She returned this season to play a pivotal role in the Cougars drive to a state championship and, among other honors, earned a berth on the All State Tournament Team.

Small School Player of the Year

Allison Schreiber
S/OH, junior, Windthorst

The 5'10" junior was quarterback of a team that lost to eventual 4A state champion Stephenville in the second match of the season then reeled off 39 straight wins before falling to Round Top-Carmine, a team they had beaten twice earlier, in the 1A finals. The versatile Schreiber had 277 kills and 540 assists to go with 287 digs, 47 aces and even chipped in 11 solo blocks for the Trojanettes.