Talent across the board on 2012 All-Area volleyball team

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There are times where finding words to describe something is difficult.

This was the situation I found myself in when thinking of ways to describe the 2012 volleyball season. Overall, it was a good experience.

Of the six teams in the coverage area, only two qualified for the postseason — Shiner and St. Paul. While Gonzales, Luling, Nixon-Smiley and Waelder did not qualify for the playoffs, they still gave their all each time they stepped foot on the court.

The Gonzales Lady Apaches were primed for their second playoff appearance in as many seasons, but UIL realignment dealt them a tough hand by placing them into District 26-3A with the likes of Giddings, La Grange and Smithville. Gonzales won nine matches out of its rigorous nondistrict schedule, and began its 26-3A slate 1-1 before the task of having to compete in the rigors of 26-3A took its toll on the Lady Apaches who lost their final eight matches, including two to eventual state runner-up La Grange.

Luling and Nixon-Smiley duked it out for the third-place playoff spot in 2011 out of the previous 29-2A alignment, which the Lady Eagles won. But realignment sent both teams into 28-2A against the likes of state powerhouses Poth and Schulenburg, playoff regulars Hallettsville and Karnes City, and Stockdale.

Instead of playing for a playoff spot, Luling and Nixon-Smiley found themselves playing to stay out of the district basement. The Lady Mustangs swept the season series from the Lady Eagles and split with Stockdale to finish fifth in the league, while Luling’s only win in league play was against Stockdale.

The Waelder Lady Cats had to deal with something far greater than volleyball as they mourned the loss of one of their own. Sophomore-to-be Courtney Orona died in an automobile accident Aug. 18 — just three days before the Lady Cats’ first volleyball match was to take place.

Waelder cancelled its first two matches of the season, and the entire volleyball team attended Orona’s funeral wearing their volleyball jerseys. The Lady Cats finished 2-17 in the always-tough 26-A, which features Shiner, Flatonia, Ganado, Louise, Prairie Lea and Weimar.

Speaking of Shiner, the Lady Comanches welcomed a first-year coach in Megan Klimitchek, and picked up right where they left off. Shiner ran through 26-A competition with wins over every opponent except Weimar, whom the Lady Comanches split the season series with.

Shiner did beat Weimar in a tiebreaker match for the district’s No. 1 seed. After rolling past Leakey, 3-0, in the area round, the Lady Comanche’s season came to an end Nov. 6 with a 3-1 loss to Burton in the region quarterfinal round.

The St. Paul Lady Cardinals also had new stomping grounds as they moved from TAPPS District 8-2A to 5-2A. This meant no more trips to the Greater Houston Area and closer trips to the New Braunfels/Schertz/Universal City area, the Austin area and just 14 miles down the road to Sacred Heart instead.

Just as it did in its previous district, St. Paul ran the table in TAPPS 5-2A, and claimed another district championship. After receiving a first-round bye, the Lady Cardinals swept Sacred Heart in the area round of the TAPPS 2A playoffs before their season came to an end with a 3-0 loss to Conroe Covenant Christian Oct. 30.

Selecting an all-area team was very difficult. There were numerous players who earned all-district nominations as well as five athletes who were named to all-state teams, and one who was a MaxPreps.com Player of the Week.

I gave a point each for every 10 kills, every 10 blocks, every 10 assists, every 10 aces and every 10 digs a player earned throughout the season. I also gave points for MaxPreps.com Player of the Week (5), all-state (5), all-district superlative (4), first team all-district (3), second team all-district (2) and honorable mention all-district (1).

Strength of schedule and head-to-head competition also came into play.

Head-to-head competition came into play this season because Shiner defeated Gonzales, Nixon-Smiley and St. Paul all in nondistrict tournaments, and swept through Waelder in district play.

After pointing all of this out, I’m finally at a loss for words.

2012 All-Area volleyball team

First Team

Outside Hitter — LaNeshia Hunt, Shiner; Morgan Long, St. Paul; Julianna Rankin, Shiner

Middle Blocker — Amanise Coleman, Shiner; Allison Raley, Gonzales

Setter — Kourtney Knesek, St. Paul; Kristin Schacherl, Shiner

Libero — Carly Bozka, Gonzales

Second Team

Outside Hitter — Lindsey Akers, Gonzales; Alex Benitez, Waelder; Carley Glass, Luling; Lauren Oden, Shiner; Alexa Schaefer, St. Paul; Devon Tristan, Nixon-Smiley

Middle Blocker — Hailey Boatright, Nixon-Smiley; Danyelle Glass, Gonzales

Setter — Kiley Braune, Gonzales; Claire Patterson, Luling

Libero — Meagan Chumchal, Shiner; Madison Kurtz, St. Paul

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