Greene is player of the year

Sisters Outlaws volleyball star Shelly Greene was named 3A Player of the Year last week in a coaches poll. Greene, a junior hitter, helped lead the Outlaws to their first 3A state championship.

Outlaws senior Heather Dempsey was named to first team all-state and Suzanne Fouts, also a senior, was named to the second team all-state. Kelly Davis received honorable mention.

"I was really shocked," Greene said. "I was really happy because my hard work really paid off."

Greene believes she was recognized for her aggressive play at the net and for her competitiveness.

"When the pressure's on more, I rise to the occasion," she said.

Greene has one more year of high school volleyball ahead of her, and she doesn't plan to rest on her laurels. Not satisfied with simply being a dominant hitter, Greene plans to round out her game, improving her setting and passing.

Dempsey and Fouts said they hope to play volleyball in college, but they are both putting academics first.

"If I got the opportunity to play, I think it would be a great opportunity for my," Dempsey said, but, "mostly my education comes first."

Fouts said she is looking into programs at the University of Oregon and at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is also interested in pursuing beach volleyball, which has become a high-profile Olympic sport. Like Dempsey, however, she said volleyball is secondary to her education.

Greene, Dempsey, Fouts, Davis and Amie Garrison all plan to play for their high school coach Rod Jones in club volleyball this summer.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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