Nooksack Valley's trip to the Class 1A State Volleyball Tournament didn't go unnoticed.
Pioneers coach Jenny Simmons was named 2012 Northwest Conference All-Volleyball Team Coach of the Year on Monday, Nov. 12. Simmons helped guide the Pioneers to 11-9 record overall, 7-5 mark in the NWC and a state tournament appearance.
The NWC Player of the Year is outside hitter Jessica Riddle of Anacortes. The Seahawks took fifth place at the Class 2A State Volleyball Tournament.
The NWC first-team selections were led by Anacortes and Burlington-Edison with three choices each, but four Whatcom County athletes also were chosen. Sehome middle blocker Katie Becker and Sehome outside hitter Taylor Lyall were first-team selections. Both players helped the Mariners reach the 2A state tournament.
Nooksack Valley outside hitter McKenzie Impero was a first-team choice as well as Lynden outside hitter Brooke Bonsen. Other first-team picks were Kiana Calles, Mattie Keltner and Taylor Rodriguez of Anacortes, and Maggie McTaggart, Molly McTaggart and Kim Rabenstein of Burlington-Edison.
Whatcom County athletes voted to the NWC second team were: Maddi Hommes, Lynden; Cassie Mulder, Lynden Christian; Meghan Lowry and Mikayla Chang, Squalicum; Olivia Halverson, Bellingham; Dani Johnson and Kendra Thomas, Sehome; and Elise Larson, Ferndale.
2012 NORTHWEST CONFERENCE ALL-VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Coach of the year: Jenny Simmons, Nooksack Valley
Player of the year: Jessica Riddle, OH, Anacortes
First team
Kiana Calles, S, Anacortes; Maggie McTaggart, OH, Burlington-Edison; Molly McTaggart, S, Burlington-Edison; Katie Becker, M, Sehome; Taylor Lyall, OH, Sehome; McKenzie Impero, OH, Nooksack Valley; Brook Bonsen, OH, Lynden; Kim Rabenstein, M, Burlington-Edison; Mattie Keltner, OH, Anacortes; Taylor Rodriguez, OPP, Anacortes.
Second team
Maddi Hommes, M, Lynden; Cassie Mulder, OH, Lynden Christian; Meghan Lowry, OH, Squalicum; Mikayla Chang, L, Squalicum; Olivia Halverson, OPP, Bellingham; Dani Johnson, OH, Sehome; Kendra Thomas, L, Sehome; Kristen Hiles, L, Anacortes; Elise Larson, OH, Ferndale; Alyssa Terwilleger, OH, Burlington-Edison.
