Denton Record-Chronicle
2017 All-Area Volleyball FIRST TEAM
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR
Danielle Davis Argyle, OH, Sr.
Danielle Davis was one of several Lady Eagles who had a ton of added responsibility thrust upon them in 2017. Davis, a Concordia Irvine signee, had 161 kills in district and playoffs to go with 22 aces, 18 blocks and 240 digs. Her ability to adjust on the fly allowed Argyle to stay one step ahead of its competition en route to its fourth straight state final appearance.
Sydney Price Sanger, MB, Junior
Price was the main benefactor of the big year Kenzie Turkoly had as a setter. The junior middle blocker finished with 446 kills to lead the Lady Indians’ offensive attack. She added 141 blocks as Sanger advanced to the region quarterfinals before falling to Krum in three sets. Price will be relied on heavily next year on an even more veteran roster.
Taylor Terry
Ryan, OH, Sr. Terry was last year’s DRC offensive player of the year and was a shoe-in pick to retain that title this year. The Lady Raiders’ primary offensive threat finished with 444 kills, 567 digs, 31 blocks and 31 aces while leading Ryan back to the playoffs for a second straight season. Terry also broke the school record for career kills and was the one constant for a Lady Raiders offense that suffered through a mountain of injuries early in the season.
Reese Robinson Krum, OH, So.
While her older sister, Rhett, dominated most of the headlines this season, Reese Robinson had an extremely productive year as a sophomore. She finished with 451 kills, 85 aces, 353 digs and 53 blocks while helping guide Krum to its first region final. Robinson will undoubtedly shoulder a heavier load next year as the Lady Cats look to continue their run of success.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR
Brooke Slusser Guyer, S/RS, Sr.
It’s not an easy task distributing the ball between a host of future Division I athletes. But Guyer’s Brooke Slusser managed the challenge well all season while also making her own impact offensively. The senior setter and right-side hitter had 527 assists and a team-high 356 digs to go along with 198 kills in her final season with the Lady Wildcats.
Kenzie Turkoly Sanger, S, Junior
One could argue that Turkoly was the heart and soul of the Lady Indians’ attack this year. The junior setter racked up 1,154 assists, 147 kills, 92 aces, 36 blocks and 84 digs as Sanger advanced to the third round of the playoffs before falling to Krum. Turkoly is one of several young players who will have a ton of experience next season.
Kenzi Valadez Ryan, Lib., Sr.
Valadez broke nearly every record there was to break at Ryan, and had a mean serve to boot. She finished her final high school season with 818 digs, 46 assists and 55 aces. As for the school records, the Lady Raiders’ star libero set new records for digs in a match, digs in a season, career digs and career aces. Her leadership on the court will be missed next year.
Rhett Robinson
Rachel Tullos
Krum, MB/OH, Sr.
Rhett Robinson was the catalyst for everything Krum did in 2017 and was a unanimous pick for this year’s DRC All-Area MVP award. The 6-0 senior middle blocker and outside hitter was the only upperclassman on a talented but young Lady Cats’ squad that won its first District 9-4A title and rolled to the Class 4A region tournament for a third straight season. Robinson, a North Texas signee, turned in eye-popping stats during that run with 805 kills, 173 blocks, 400 digs and 82 service aces. She was a Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state selection in December and was the only Denton-area player to earn a district MVP award.
NEWCOMER OF THE OF YEAR
Guyer, MB, Sr. Tullos returned as a junior and had a dominant season to help the Lady Wildcats return to the playoffs after a oneyear absence. Tullos, an Arkansas State commit, was one of four Division I commits on this year’s roster and stood out while leading Guyer with 331 kills while chipping in 86 digs and 167 blocks. She was named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star Red team.
CO-SETTER OF THE YEAR
Alyssa Wallace Argyle, Lib., Junior
Wallace was everywhere on the floor for the Lady Eagles this season and upped her game when it mattered most in the postseason. The junior libero led the team in digs with 418 (district play and playoffs) and was named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 4A All-Star Red team, which is comprised of the top juniors in the state.
SECOND TEAM Kasey Bortnem
Lake Dallas, S, Sr. Bortnem was a difference maker for the Lady Falcons during a year that saw Lake Dallas get a new head coach and once again face a tough District 14-5A slate. Bortnem led Lake Dallas with 915 assists while recording 88 kills, 435 digs and 26 service aces.
Jordyn Williams
Guyer, MB., Fr. Guyer made a return to the playoffs under new coach Heather Van Noy and Williams’ immediate emergence as a reliable weapon was a big reason why. She provided a spark to the lineup anytime she was on the floor and her versatility gave the Lady Wildcats options at the net. Williams finished with 328 kills, 142 digs, 153 blocks and 10 aces. She was the District 6-6A newcomer of the year and has a bright future ahead at Guyer.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR
Kassidy Reeves
Argyle, Setter, So. Reeves, a Class 4A all-state selection and District 9-4A setter of the year, was a consistent force for a 27-19 Argyle team during its improbable run to the state tournament. She recorded 518 assists in district play and playoffs alone and stepped up during the Lady Eagles’ state semifinal match against one-loss Glen Rose when she recorded 50 assists in a five-set win. That win catapulted Argyle to its fourth straight state finals appearance.
Maddi Brown
Braswell, Lib., Jr. Brown is the first representative from Braswell to make the DRC all-area team since the school opened in 2016. The junior libero recorded 669 digs, 51 aces and 82 kills for the Lady Bengals, who nearly made the playoffs for the first time in school history.
CO-SETTER OF THE YEAR
Bailey Dolezalek
Lake Dallas, OH/RS, Sr. After a productive year as a junior, Dolezalek managed to have an even better finale to her high school career while leading the Lady Falcons to the playoffs. Dolezalek posted 398 kills, 271 assists and 399 digs as one of the team’s primary offensive threats.
Kaia Saylor
Aubrey, RS/MB, So. Saylor was the do-it-all threat the Lady Chaps needed this season. The sophomore racked up 525 kills, 39 aces, 360 digs and 33 blocks while playing on both the front and back row. She led Aubrey to the playoffs and finished the year being named the 11-4A offensive player of the year.
Ashley Schroeder
Kate Cowan
Guyer, Lib., Sr. Cowan was the anchor for the Guyer roster, both on the court as a dedicated and versatile player and as a leader off of it. The four-year starter and LSU signee finished her high school career with a bang on the defensive side with a team-high 691 digs while also adding 137 assists and 56 aces. She signed with LSU in November and was also named to the Dallas Morning News’ second team all-area squad.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ryan, MB, Sr. Schroeder was crucial to head coach Nicole Hervey’s attack given that she could essentially play anywhere on the floor. Schroeder finished her senior year with 339 kills, 340 digs, 95 blocks and 17 aces. Her 339 kills were good enough for second on the team. She led the team in blocks.
Sabrina Simms
Liberty Christian, OH/MB, Sr. Simms legitimately has a rocket for an arm and showed her versatility while leading Liberty Christian to the playoffs. The Oklahoma signee had 188 kills despite a shoulder injury that plagued her for much of the season. She added 171 digs, 56 blocks and 34 aces.
Taylor Thomas
Denton, S, Fr. Thomas was one of the top freshman in the area and was a monster help for Denton during its playoff push. The freshman setter finished with 323 digs, 267 kills, 324 assists and 27 aces while being named the District 5-5A newcomer of the year.
Megan DeGroot
Taylor Brann
Argyle
Argyle’s run to the Class 4A state final this season would not have happened without the guidance of first-year head coach Megan DeGroot. DeGroot, a former Southlake Carroll assistant, galvanized a program hit hard by graduation by making her younger players believe they could continue Argyle’s winning tradition. Despite a so-so 27-19 record, the Lady Eagles won 12 of their final 14 matches, including playoff wins over rivals Decatur and Krum.
Ryan, Setter, Sr. Brann was a godsend for a Lady Raiders’ squad that lost star setter Brynn Warnack to graduation. Brann not only ran a 5-1 for Ryan, but she also blocked in the middle for two of her three rotations on the front row. She finished with a team-leading 1,209 assists and 61 aces to go with 447 digs (third on the team), 60 blocks (second on the team) and 103 kills while leading the new-look Lady Raiders to their second straight playoff berth.
DRC file photos, feature shot of Rhett Robinson by staff photographer Jeff Woo Section 5
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