Lady Dawg volleyball honored at banquet
Fri, 2016-01-22 05:00
News Staff
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs volleyball team continued it’s successful run by claiming their third district title in four years, despite having a handful of returners from last year’s regional quarterfinalist squad and even less that actually saw significant action.
The Lady Dawgs finished the season with a 34-12 record overall and were 11-1 in District 12-6A and claimed a share of the District 12-6A crown with Midway and, on Wednesday night, they were honored for those accomplishments during the annual Lady Dawg Volleyball banquet.
“I’ve got the best job in the world,” Cove head volleyball coach Cari Lowery said during the banquet. “I love what I do, I love these girls, I love watching their growth and watching them mature and become the players they are capable of being.
“I wouldn’t change a thing about them and I wouldn’t trade them for any other girls in the world. I would stretch them out and make them all 6-foot-2 and left-handed, but other than that, they are the best group of girls in the world. They do everything we ask the very best they can and they have such a great attitude. This is the best job in the world and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I couldn’t be more proud to be anywhere but Copperas Cove.”
Senior Katy Ranes, a three-year varsity player for the Lady Dawgs was voted by her peers as the Lady Dawgs’ Player of the Year. Ranes finished the year with 839 assists on 2,772 ball-handling attempts to lead the squad. She also had 60 aces to tie senor Bailey French as team leaders in the category and was third in digs with 397 and fifth in kills with 154.
“I feel like it gets harder every year to lose a group,” said Lowery as she talked about how long some players have been with her. “I feel like I’ve been coaching Katy for 12 years. She came to camp when she was in kindergarten for the first time.”
French was voted as the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. Her 706 digs led the team and earned her a Texas Sports Writers Association All-State Honorable Mention. She also led the team in serve receives with 650.
Also making the TSWA All-State list was junior Chyanne Chapman as a second teamer. Chapman was voted as the Most Valuable Blocker for the Lady Dawgs with her 283 blocks that set a new school record formerly held by Kara Kemp (277). Chapman also had a third-best 249 kills for the Lady Dawgs behind team leader senior Raeven Dickerson.
Dickerson was voted as the Most Valuable Hitter with a team-high 360 kills. She also led the team in kill percentage with 46.4 and was third on the team in blocks with 113.
Junior Madison Wasiak was voted as the Most Valuable Receiver with her second-best 517 digs and 567 serve receives.
Finally, junior Kiarrah Carlisle was voted as the Most Valuable Setter/Server of the Year. She was second behind Ranes in assists with 549 and led the team in serving-percentage at 99.0.
Earning additional honors were seniors Alex Foret, Bailey French and Katy Ranes for their efforts in the classroom. All three were selected to the Academic All-State Team for carrying a 94 or better average for all four years in high school.
“They take college courses and AP courses,” said Lowery. “They’re not just sliding by in the basic classes. They are taking the tough classes, they are leaders, they’re National Honor Society members, multi-sport athletes and I’m very proud of them. To make the Academic All-State team is truly an accomplishment.”
Juniors Zari Chipman and Antanese Kinard were voted as the Junior Varsity Players of the Year while junior Aniessa Vega was voted JV Defensive Player of the Year and junior Dazsa Braddock was voted JV Offensive Player of the Year.
Alexandra Bito was voted as the Freshman Player of the Year while Aviyon Wilborn was voted Defensive Player of the Year and Jada Close was voted Offensive Player of the Year.
The varsity, JV and freshmen teams finished district play with a combined 40-4 record and district champs at all three levels.