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Best on the court net awards
BY JUSTIN THOMAS Staff writer
In 2009, the Marcus volleyball team made a deeper run in the postseason than any other squad in program history, reaching the Class 5A Region I Final before bowing out to eventual state champion Abilene.
So, it wasn’t surprising to see the Lady Marauders represented with as many first or second team all-district players as any other team in District 6-5A.
Seven players from Marcus earned first or second team honors which tied Coppell, while regular season champ Hebron had six players named, but led the way with three superlative winners as well as the coach of the year, Karin Keeney.
Hebron junior Tiffany Baker was named Most Valuable Player while Nicole Hragyil earned Setter of the Year honors. Hebron’s Olivia Okoro was named Co-Blocker of the Year with Janelle Jenkins of Southlake Carroll.
Rounding out the superlative winners are Shelby Tamura of Coppell, the Defender of the Year, and Marcus’ Haley Neisler, the Attacker of the Year.
Neisler, the lone senior on Marcus’ team, was able to earn the award despite being one of the shorter middle players in the district. Neisler led the team in kills during the season, her second year at the varsity level.
“It wasn’t just the amount of kills she had but when she had them,” Liles said. “She made a lot of momentum-swinging plays.”
But it wasn’t only Neisler’s play on the court that led to her successful year.
“She is really deserving of the superlative,” Liles said. “She couldn’t have had a better senior season. Being the only senior, and not knowing what to count on from the younger players and if they were going to have the same hunger she did as a senior. She really did a great job of leading and the rest of the team stepped up for her.”
First team honors from Marcus went to Katie Neisler, Liz Fortado, Mallori Sando and Lauren Douglass.
Neisler, Haley’s sister, played libero for the Lady M’s but also possessed the versatility to see time at outside hitter.
“She is a well-rounded player,” Liles said. “She came up with big digs and big blocks and kills for us. She is also a great server. It is one of her favorite things to do on the volleyball court: find a weak area to serve to and almost play her own little game to exploit it.”
Sando, a junior in her second varsity season, is well known throughout 6-5A not only for her play and leading the Lady M’s in assists, but because of her “presence” on the court, Liles said.
Douglass, meanwhile, was there for the kill when Haley wasn’t.
“I don’t think there was a match where Haley or Lauren didn’t lead our team in kills,” Liles said. “As just a sophomore, [Douglass] is great on the kill and is gaining a ton of experience. Now she just needs to improve the block and I think that will come with more confidence and even more experience.”
Rounding out the first team is Liz Fortado, a sophomore right side player loaded with talent.
“She almost has too much to know what to do with,” Liles said. “She is a tall lefty that is very hard to block. The more experience she gets and figures out the tempo to play, the more she will improve.”
Second-team selections from Marcus were Bailey Bunting and Mary Koehler.
Bunting, a junior, played middle blocker last season but spent more time at right side this year. Liles described her as a great vocal leader, a student of the game and hard worker.
Koehler, meanwhile, is listed as an outside hitter but also played libero.
“She is a good all-around utility type player,” Liles said of Koehler. “She can hit hard, reads the ball well and really kept us in some key games with clutch digs.”
The last of the Marcus honors went to Michelle Wise and Sarah Hula, who were honorable mention.
While Marcus was well-represented following its successful season, Flower Mound and Lewisville players also earned attention despite being on teams that failed to qualify for the postseason.
The Lady Jaguars, who were in the mix to reach the postseason until the last week of the season, had four players named.
Junior Liz Theesfeld led the team in kills and is one of the more powerful attackers in the district, earning first team honors as a result of those attributes.
Joining Theesfeld on the first team is Annie Aspenson, a senior libero/defensive specialist who led the Lady Jaguars in digs and provided leadership. During the summer, Aspenson joins forces with Theesfeld as a powerhouse beach volleyball combination.
Honorable mentions from Flower Mound were Brittany VanArsdale and Rachael Cunningham.
Both seniors, VanArsdale powered kills from outside hitter while Cunningham spent more time on the front line at right side.
Lewisville’s volleyball team, meanwhile, struggled during the district season but kept matches close because of the play of their senior class.
Ashley Deaver, a senior setter, was the heart of the Farmers on the court.
“She is a captain and a great leader,” said Jay Samide, Lewisville coach. “She played four years on varsity, was a great hustler and was not outworked by anyone.”
Senior Leslie Ekpe, the Farmer’s leader in kills and a team captain, earned second team honors.
“She was our top offensive threat,” Samide said. “But she was also versatile. She does a great job on the block in the middle, but could also play back row.”
While the Farmers will miss the services of Deaver and Ekpe, among others, the future could be in the hands of Brandi Nickelson, a sophomore outside hitter and libero.
“She was one of our best passers and a great outside hitter for us,” Samide said. “I was really impressed with her versatility as just a sophomore. She played great defense and moved around with no complaints. She has a great work ethic and should be a great leader for us next season.
“Hopefully, the rest of the new girls next season can pick that up from her.”
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