As winter sports begin, fall sports are wrapping up their seasons with traditional end-of-the-season banquets and other festivities. One sport that has concluded its 2021 season is volleyball. Varsity volleyball finished their season with a 19-17 record. Both the Reserve and JV teams also had winning records. 

Seniors Amauri Browning and Avah Steggall set new school records this year. Browning’s record is for digs in a season. The previous record was 497, and Browning finished with a total of 517. She also surpassed 1000 career digs, a significant accomplishment. Steggall broke the school record for ace serves in a match. The previous record was seven, and Steggall achieved eight against Gordon-Rushville.

AHS volleyball had a very successful season overall. The Varsity team was the Douglas Invite and McCook Invite champion and was also runner up at the home Pilfold Invite. The JV team was the Pilfold Invite champion, and the Reserve team won the tournaments that they competed at.

Even with a successful season, there are always high and low moments. One of the low moments that head coach Jessica Kaiser talked about was that “[We] experienced a lot of sickness about a month into [the] season.” Kaiser said that one of the high moments this year is that “[There were] so many memories [made] this year. I loved that the kids were always wanting to travel together even if it wasn’t an event that they were getting to compete at. They were always there for each other cheering each squad on.”

At the end-of-the-season banquet, four awards, “Most Improved”, “Most Inspirational”, “Team Captains” and “Most Valuable Player/s”, were given out to each volleyball squad, along with “Most Valuable Teammate.” These honors were awarded to the following: 

Reserve Most Improved– Ella Oezen

Reserve Most Inspirational– Shyla Salcido

Reserve Team Captains– Josie Sanders and Taylee Thompson

Reserve Most Valuable Players– Josie Sanders and Macey Seebohm

JV Most Improved– Addisyn Muhr and Macey Seebohm

JV Most Inspirational– Regan Braun and Kaylee Henthorn

JV Team Captains– Peyton Kindred and Haylie Winter 

JV Most Valuable Player– Kinley Pfeiffer 

Varsity Most Improved– Kenna Montes and Haley Weare

Varsity Most Inspirational– Shelbee Burke

Varsity Team Captains– Amauri Browning and Jaelynne Clark

Varsity Most Valuable Player– Amauri Browning

Most Valuable Teammate- Shyla Salcido

NCPA Academic All-State- Shelbee Burke and Jaelynne Clark

Thank you, seniors, for your hard work and dedication to the program. The SPUD would like to wish the Lady Bulldogs good luck next season, and good luck, seniors, on your future endeavors!