Seven area athletes earn nods for all-state

The cream definitely rose to the top in the Class B volleyball ranks in 2010.

Five of the six first-team all-state players helped lead their teams to the state tournament — Kelsey Kaufmann of Arlington, Kari Jung and Mallory Jark of Warner, Holly Hamlin of Highmore-Harrold and Lacy Stevens of Edgemont. The sixth — Jussy Tuscherer of Northwestern — lost in the District 2B championship to Warner.

The second team and honorable mention squad was well-represented at the final event as Arlington’s Lanny Gross (second team), Mount Vernon’s Chandra Koch (second) and Kelsey Schmidt (honorable mention), Parker’s Jessica Kleinsasser (second) and Mollie Cole (HM) and Kellie Winckler (second) and Brieanne Johnson of Andes Central showed their talent at the state tournament.

Rounding out the second team is Haley Wetzler of Northwestern and Tia Nihart of James Valley Christian while the honorable mention squad included Shelby Grassel of Woonsocket, Chelsey Henes of Lemmon and Ivy Pearson of Alcester-Hudson.

n Holly Hamlin, Highmore-Harrold, Sr., 5-11 middle hitter

Hamlin, an all-tournament selection, helped lead the Pirates to a 25-6 record and sixth-place finish at the state tournament. In the consolation semifinal against Edgemont, she tallied 26 kills, 12 digs and nine solo blocks in a 3-2 win.

‘Miss Everything’ for Highmore-Harrold, the four-year starter led her team in kills, blocks and digs in 2010, finishing with 429 kills, 93 blocks and 370 digs. She added 54 aces and 26 assists from her middle hitter position.

“Holly was a big part of our success this season,” Highmore-Harrold head coach Mary Wortman said. “She has over 1,300 career kills and is a leader on and off the court.”

n Kelsey Kaufmann, Arlington, Jr., 5-11 outside hitter

Kaufmann helped lead the Cardinals to their first-ever state championship, earning all-tournament honors, in addition to being named the Most Valuable Player of the Dakota Valley Conference this season. Kaufmann finished 2010 with 306 kills and a team-high 262 digs as Arlington compiled a 33-2 record. She added 67 service aces and 52 blocks, including 11 solo blocks.

n Briana Jung, Warner, Sr., 5-6 Setter

Jung was an integral part of the Monarchs’ undefeated regular season and runner-up finish at the state tournament. A member of the all-tournament team, Jung finished with 49 set assists in the championship loss to Arlington.

On the season, Jung notched 979 assists, 155 digs, 104 aces and 17 blocks.

n Mallory Jark, Warner

Jr., 6-0 Middle Hitter

Jark had a breakout season as a junior for the defending champion Monarchs, who saw their 59-match winning streak end in the 2010 title game.

Jark earned all-tournament honors as well, with a high of 14 kills in the championship match against Arlington.

Jark finished with 259 kills, 67 blocks, 66 digs, 55 aces and eight assists in 2010.

n Jussy Tuscherer, Northwestern

Jr., 5-10 Outside Hitter

Having the misfortune of being in the same district as Warner, Tuscherer saw her season end in districts, a four-set loss in the championship game of District 2B.

Despite the early end to her season, the three-time first-team all-state selection still finished with 429 kills, 112 digs, 99 aces, 54 blocks and 21 set assists as the Wildcats posted a 25-6 record in 2010.

She broke 1,000 career kills this season and needs just 14 more to break Northwestern’s school career kill record held by former Miss Volleyball Jodi (Fischbach) Melius.

n Lacy Stevens, Edgemont

Jr., 5-5 Middle Hitter/Setter

The undersized Stevens helped lead the Moguls to a 22-7 regular-season record and eighth-place finish at the 2010 state tournament.

The all-tournament selection with a 30-inch vertical leap, had 17 kills, 20 assists and 23 digs in a consolation semifinal loss to Highmore-Harrold.

Overall, Stevens finished with 353 kills on the season, in addition to 366 assists, 184 digs, 37 blocks and 33 aces.

Second team

Lanny Gross, Arlington, Jr., 6-0 OH – 348 kills, 93 blocks – 37 solo; 96 digs

Jessica Kleinsasser, Parker, Sr., 5-9 MH – 288 kills, 122 digs, 71 blocks, 29 aces

Chandra Koch, Mt. Vernon, Sr., 5-10 MH – 360 kills, 110 digs, 52 blocks, 31 aces, 18 assists

Tia Nihart, James Valley Christian, Sr., 5-5 Libero – 503 digs, 109 kills, 48 aces (school record 1,406 digs)

Haley Wetzler, Northwestern, Jr., 5-5 Libero – 370 digs, 53 aces, 20 assists

Kellie Winckler, Andes Central, Soph., 6-0 MH – 244 kills, 199 digs, 122 blocks, 32 aces

Honorable Mention

Mollie Cole, Parker, Sr., 5-3 Libero – 400 digs, 32 aces, 10 assists

Shelby Grassel, Woonsocket, Sr., 5-8 OH – 328 kills, 131 digs, 32 blocks, 29 aces

Chelsey Henes, Lemmon, Sr., 5-2 S – 717 assists, 40 aces

Brieanne Johnson, Andes Central, Sr., 5-9 OH – 350 digs, 205 kills, 56 aces, 32 assists, 22 blocks

Ivy Pearson, Alcester-Hudson, Jr., 5-8 MH/S – 406 kills, 263 digs, 67 assists, 41 aces, 41 blocks

Kelsey Schmidt, Mt. Vernon, Sr., 5-7 OH – 285 digs, 185 kills, 36 aces, 14 assists, 9 blocks

Tags: high school volleyball, mount vernon, andes central, lake andes, sports, highmore, harrold, huron