Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Monday, Nov. 16, 2009

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Underclassmen make their mark on NWC

The All-Northwest Conference volleyball team had a younger look to it in 2009 after it was dominated by seniors a year earlier. Nearly half of the 11 players who were selected to the first team by the conference’s coaches were underclassmen this year, including MVP Katlyn Mataya of Burlington-Edison.

Mataya, who despite being only a sophomore makes the team for the second straight year, helped lead the Tigers to a share of the NWC regular-season championship and the 2A state tournament. Mataya was the only sophomore on the first team, but she was joined by four juniors.

The only other repeat first-team selection was Mount Vernon’s Jenny Taylor, who is a senior.

Lynden Christian coach Kim Grycel, who led the Lyncs to a share of the NWC crown and into the 1A state tournament, was selected the NWC Coach of the Year.

Two of Grycel’s players — junior Kayleigh Ryan, who was a second-team selection as a sophomore, and senior Andrea Vicic — were first-team selections.

Lynden, which also was part of the three-team tie atop the NWC standings and advanced to the 2A state tournament, had two first-team selections — junior Hannah Shine and senior Krista Groves.

Ferndale junior Erika Locker and Sehome senior Lacey Taubenheim also made the first team, along with Anacortes’ Tyler Calles and Jessica Straight and Burlington-Edison’s Cheryl Eubanks.

Lynden Christian also placed two players on the second team, with sophomore Jasmine Hommes and junior Kendra Gross earning the honor. The other Whatcom County second-team selections were Blaine junior Libby Moore, Ferndale senior Leslie Sigurdson, Meridian senior Bree Park, Mount Baker senior Kelsey Oiness and Squalicum senior Taylor Ulrich.

2009 ALL-NORTHWEST CONFERENCE TEAM

Selected by NWC coaches

MVP: Katlyn Mataya, Burlington-Edison, So.

Coach of the Year: Kimberly Grycel, Lynden Christian

First team

Player School Yr.

Andrea Vicic Lynden Christian Sr.

Cheryl Eubanks Burlington-Edison Sr.

Hannah Shine Lynden Jr.

Kayleigh Ryan Lynden Christian Jr.

Tyler Calles Anacortes Sr.

Erika Locker Ferndale Jr.

Jessica Straight Anacortes Jr.

Lacey Taubenheim Sehome Sr.

Jenny Taylor Mount Vernon Sr.

Krista Groves Lynden Sr.

Second team

Player School Yr.

Lucy Capron Burlington-Edison So.

Taylor Ulrich Squalicum Sr.

Jasmine Hommes Lynden Christian So.

Bree Park Meridian Sr.

Kelsey Oiness Mount Baker Sr.

Libby Moore Blaine Jr.

Kendra Gross Lynden Christian Jr.

Leslie Sigurdson Ferndale Sr.

Anna Swanson Burlington-Edison Sr.

Carrie Starbuck Lynden So.

Honorable mention

Player School Yr.

Janelle Allison Sehome Sr.

Devin Pearsall Bellingham Sr.

Faith Vandeway Anacortes Jr.

Hannah Gowen Bellingham Sr.

Robyn Morris Squalicum Sr.

Derrick Walser Mount Vernon Jr.

Katie Adams Sehome Jr.

Danae Vermulm Mount Vernon Sr.

Laura Webb Lynden Jr.

Allison Johnson Nooksack Valley Jr.

Sara Ringhouse Sedro-Woolley Sr.

Laine Holubik Squalicum Sr.

Amber Evans Ferndale So.

Anna Erickson Sehome Sr.

Dani Plagerman Meridian Sr.