Volleyball team places fourth at state

Rongi Yost, Correspondent | Last updated Nov 13, 2012 12:0pm0

Jerry Baldock count

The Lady Outlaws placed fourth in state playoffs.

Jerry Baldock count

Shannon Fouts had an outstanding season.

The Outlaws volleyball team finished fourth at the 4A Class A Volleyball Tournament held Friday and Saturday, November 9 and 10, and brought their standout season to an end.

Sisters faced the Astoria Fisherman on Friday night and lost in a brutal five-set match with scores of 22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19 and 13-15.

The Outlaws started off a bit nervous and had to work through some early tournament jitters. Coach Miki McFadden told The Nugget that the Outlaws struggled in the first two sets of the match and just couldn't get ahead.

"We would get behind and then come back and catch up but just couldn't get points and get ahead," said McFadden. "We hit balls in the net and we didn't serve well. We got 25 net calls in the match. There were a lot of really picky net calls but I've got to give Astoria credit; they blocked well and dug our balls well."

The loss put Sisters in the consolation bracket. The Outlaws faced Phoenix in their first match of consolation and Sisters easily swept the Pirates with final scores of 25-16, 25-19 and 25-19.

"Everyone got to play and that was exciting because it was the state tournament," said McFadden. "I was very happy about that."

Sisters went on to defeat LaGrande 25-13, 25-16 and 25-19 to earn a fourth-place finish.

"In those last two matches there was never a moment when I thought we weren't in charge," stated McFadden.

Shannon Fouts finished the tournament with 110 assists. Nila Lukens led the Outlaws with 30 kills, followed by Megan Minke who tallied 29 and Duree Standley who posted 26. Allie Spear contributed 15.

McFadden noted that Savannah Spear, Shelbi Thompson, and Allie Spear led the team in digs and all passed and played solid defense the entire weekend.

McFadden was very pleased with several players and their fine performances.

"Shannon (Fouts) did an incredible job for us at setter," said McFadden. "She's been an awesome leader all year long and she came through for us again at state. She's so coachable, has a great attitude and always works hard. She ran down every ball and made great setting choices to the hitters.

"Allie (Spear), as a freshman, played very well on offense and defense," added McFadden. "She was solid all around. Nila (Lukens) and Duree (Standley) did a nice job at the net for us. They did a good job hitting and blocking."

McFadden acknowledged disappointment in the outcome.

"Overall, the tournament was very disappointing. We really should have been in the finals. We were all heartbroken that we'd lost the match against Astoria. But, I'm so proud of the girls for bouncing back the next day. They got their game back together and won the next two matches to get fourth place. That was tough."

Megan Minke, Duree Standley, and Shannon Fouts were first-team all-state selection. Kristina Johns and Nila Lukens were second-team all-league picks.

Fouts named volleyball’s player of the year

The girls volleyball team had five players selected to all-league teams, and senior Shannon Fouts was at the top of the list. Fouts earned top honors as Player of the Year and was also a first-team all-league pick.

Fouts (senior) finished league with 224 assists, 33 digs and 12 blocks. Shannon also had a 60 percent kill percentage on her digs over the net and was 161 for 171 at the service line for 94 percent.

"Shannon has been such a great leader for our team," said Coach Miki McFadden. "She is so coachable, and nobody on the team works harder than her. This is only her second season as a setter and she has worked so hard. She makes really good choices and really connects with her hitters and really gets the team going. She communicates with her hitters, knows what they do best and sets the ball accordingly."

Megan Minke (senior) and Duree Standley (senior) earned first-team all-league recognition.

Minke played middle hitter for the Outlaws and posted 87 kills and 19 blocks in league play.

"Megan was definitely our go-to gal in the middle," said McFadden. "As a senior she brought confidence to the team. I knew when she was in the game she was ready to go and we could count on her. She learned some new shots and expanded her arsenal this year. She's a powerful hitter and learned how to tip and how to find the open shot."

Standley played outside hitter and tallied 74 kills in league.

"Duree was our go-to gal at the outside," stated McFadden. "She really came on halfway through the season. She's a big, powerful hitter and really came through for us and helped us close out our last few games. She can really put the ball away."

Second-team all-league honors went to senior Kristina Johns and sophomore Nila Lukens.

Johns is a solid all-around player and finished with 20 kills, 13 aces and had 95 serves for 93 percent. Kristina passed 65 serve receive balls and was one of the Outlaws' main passers.

"Kristina is solid and steady," stated McFadden. "She's not flashy but she got the job done for us in a lot of areas."

Lukens had 65 kills in league and served 83 serves for a 92 percent success rate. Nila also posted 13 digs and 15 blocks.

"Nila had a good hitting and blocking percentage and she served very consistent," said McFadden. "She has the highest jump on the team and a great ability to get up in the air and pound the ball down against opponents. As a sophomore she's become more consistent and powerful."

McFadden was named Co-Coach of the Year, along with the coach from Elmira.

McFadden said, "I'm honored to get the award, but it's all about your team doing well. Thank you to the girls for having a great season."