Spring Hill's Voelzke is All-ET Volleyball MVP
| Published on Saturday, 19 January 2013 23:20 Written by Shane Stark |
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Some believe she signed with Arkansas because of family.
But Savannah Voelzke said that’s not true.
“I signed there because the coaches are good and I liked how it felt there,” she said.
Next fall the Spring Hill senior will be one of the few area volleyball players to take their talents to the NCAA Division I level. She punched that ticket with another stellar season for the Lady Panthers, which culminates with the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s All-East Texas Player of the Year award.
Spring Hill freshman Ann Hollas is the All-ET Newcomer of the Year.
Voelzke, a 6-1 middle blocker, signed a national letter of intent with the Arkansas Lady’Backs during the early signing period in November. In doing so she pledged to join older brother Alex Voelzke (Razorbacks football player) at the Fayetteville, Ark. based school.
But before doing so, Voelzke pledged her best performances to Spring Hill and helped the Lady Panthers go 38-3 and spend the season in the Texas Girls Coaches Association’s top 10 rankings for Class 3A. Spring Hill was eliminated by eventual state semifinalist Argyle in the regional semifinals.
Such playoff runs were made possible when Voelzke decided to commit full-time to volleyball (club volleyball) as a freshman after playing high-level soccer growing up.
“I made varsity as a freshman and I knew that I loved (volleyball),” she said. “At that point I was playing soccer and was even on a Junior Olympic team. In club you have to train and play and I couldn’t do both.”
The decision paid off, so much so that Voelzke finished her high school career with more than 2,000 kills and almost 500 blocks. She recorded 757 kills, 360 digs, 163 blocks, 157 service points and 65 aces as a senior.
With her leading the way Spring Hill finished with more than 30 victories each of the past three seasons. Such success helped pave the way to a roster spot at Arkansas, which went 22-10 overall and 13-7 in the Southeastern Conference this past season.
“I’m really excited,” Voelzke said. “I’m excited to play at the next level and be challenged in that way.”
Hollas, meanwhile, finished her first high school season with 220 kills, 82 blocks and 18 digs.
2012 All-East Texas Volleyball Team
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: SAVANNAH VOELZKE
School: Spring Hill
Class: Senior
Stats: 757 kills, 360 digs, 163 blocks
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: ANN HOLLAS
School: Spring Hill
Class: Freshman
Stats: 220 kills, 82 blocks, 18 digs
COACH OF THE YEAR: MEGHAN KOONCE
School: Spring Hill
FIRST TEAM
SAVANNAH CANTRELL
School: Lindale
Class: Senior
Notable: District 16-4A Co-MVP
QUANESHIA JOHNSON
School: John Tyler
Class: Senior
Stats: 20 assists per match
KATRINA KASTMO
School: All Saints
Class: Senior
Stats: 21.5 kills per match
MALLORY KUECHLE
School: Robert E. Lee
Class: Senior
Stats: 4.2 kills per game
ABBY MACKEY
School: Overton
Class: Senior
Stats: 794 kills, 353 digs
DOROTHY SWANSON
School: White Oak
Class: Senior
Stats: 575 kills, 118 blocks
SECOND TEAM
DANIELLE ANDERSON
School: Cayuga
Class: Junior
Stats: 437 kills in regular season
JORDAN BAKER
School: Sabine
Class: Senior
Stats: 353 kills, 394 digs
SHAWNTA KNOX
School: Cayuga
Class: Senior
Stats: 424 kills in regular season
RILEE MILLER
School: Grace Community
Class: Senior
Stats: 567 assists, 106 aces
FULANI PETTIES
School: Whitehouse
Class: Senior
Notable: Co-District 16-4A MVP
RACHEL RIESTENBERG
School: Spring Hill
Class: Junior
Notable: District 16-3A top setter
THIRD TEAM
MORGAN BALDWIN
School: White Oak
Class: Senior
Notable: Class 2A All-State third team
SAVANNAH BOBBITT
School: Overton
Class: Senior
Notable: Class 1A All-State first team
ZHANELLE GEATHERS
School: Lindale
Class: Junior
Notable: District 16-4A hitter of year
SKY HOLMES
School: Pine Tree
Class: Sophomore
Notable: District 14-4A top hitter
HALEY MCCARTY
School: Van
Class: Senior
Stats: 346 kills, 220 digs
SHAY ROSS
School: Chapel Hill
Class: Junior
Notable: District 16-3A First Team
HONORABLE MENTION
All Saints — Maddie Smith; Arp — Kaci Kuykendall, Lauren Littlefield; Athens — Cari Aguilera; Brook Hill — Samantha Anderson, Abigail Baker, Baylee Rozell, Alyssa Eden, Charlie Niles; Brownsboro — Madi Montgomery, Morgan Barnes, Kylie Bridges, Jacobi Parker; Bullard — Mackenzie Fish, Meredith Daly; Canton — Sierra Zielke, Brittany Brewer; Gladewater — Katy Stephens; Gilmer — Maci Ritter, Shaylee Fennell, Makayla Sikes; Grace Community — Emma Yeatts, Taylor Kingsley; Harmony — Keirsten Seahorn, Courtney Matulis, Mariah Goguen, Bailey Rhodes, McKenna Thomas; Hawkins — Jaci Ledkins; Henderson — Tiarra Davis, Karley Free, Brooke Towe; Jacksonville — Shelbi Laney; John Tyler — Breanna Choice, Erica Franklin, Amecia Williams, Denishia Rouege; Kilgore — Nichole Flores, Sarah Mendenhall Lindale — Sydney Tiiman, Makenna Allen, Hannah Brown; Longview — A’Kia Mumphrey; Mineola — Maddie Wood, Marisa Ledkins; Nacogdoches — Ashton Brown, Taylor Layton; Robert E. Lee — Melissa Menard, Alexis Crowder; Sabine — Haley Stuart, Kylie Baker, Tylia Sylestine; Spring Hill — Aly Curtis, Dani Decherd, Jasmin Kullenberg; Troup — Paeton Nolan, Hunter Jordan, Cheyney Cover, Josee Ross; Van — Briann Thompson, Kristen Reaves, Hallee Carter, Rebekah Rogers, Morgan Wilkerson; Winona — Bethany Mochiovello; Whitehouse — Bonnie Cotton, Ashton Ates, Angela Knight.
