Wagner's Doom lands third straight all-state honor

Five players who helped their teams make a rare appearance in the South Dakota State Class A Volleyball were among the eight selected to the first team of the South Dakota Volleyball Coaches Association all-state team, announced today.

Brooke Pond helped Pine Ridge make its first-ever state volleyball appearance. Shelbie Budmayr took Belle Fourche to its first state tournament since 1995. Kylie Martin helped Dakota Valley get to state for the first time since 2005. Haley Hillestad led Sioux Valley to its first trip since 2009. Abby Dockter anchored Roncalli to a second straight appearance, their first appearances since winning the winter 2002 title.

Also named to the first team were Jessa Doom, who helped Wagner to its fifth straight state appearance, and Sioux Falls Christian’s Hayley McCarron and Kristin Stern, who helped the Chargers earn a sixth straight appearance and third straight title.

Here is a look at the first-team honorees:

n Doom: A three-time all-stater, Doom finished her career with a 6-3 state tournament record and finishes of third, second and fifth.

“I was pretty spoiled having Jessa leading our team,” said Wagner head coach Amy Tyler. “She became quite an attacker and a blocker in the front line. That was helpful down the stretch.”

Doom had nine kills, one off her season high, in the Red Raiders’ consolation final victory over Roncalli. She also had a season-best 49 assists in that match, finishing with 100 assists for the tournament.

“She really did a good job of distributing the ball, especially to our more inexperienced players,” Tyler said. “She worked really well with Kim Koupal on our back side.”

After suffering big graduation losses from last season’s state runner-up team, Wagner needed Doom to play a bigger role for the squad. She responded with 696 assists, 133 kills (.301 kill percentage) and 75 ace serves, as well as 26 blocks and 249 digs.

“We talked to her about the role she would have to play in building the confidence of our younger hitters,” Tyler said. “She did a good job of trying to get the ball where they needed it to be in order to be successful.”

n Budmayr: In her first two years as a starter for Belle Fourche, Shelbie Budmayr was a tough hitter. This season, she became a nightmare for opponents.

Budmayr’s .378 kill percentage and 347 kills were the result of a lot of hard work in the off-season, according to Belle Fourche coach Loree Schlichtmeier.

“She doubled her kills from what she had last year,” Schlichtmeier said. “She played JO (Junior Olympics) volleyball and spent a lot of time in the gym.”

n Dockter: When the 5-11 Dockter was up front for the Cavaliers, she not only carved up defenses with a surgeon’s precision, she blasted through them as well.

“She is very intimidating. She hits with so much power,” said Roncalli head coach Janelle Bierle. “She sees the floor so well. She can hit with power, but she can tip as well. She puts the ball where the defense isn’t. That is valuable, especially when she’s being double-teamed a lot of the time.”

n Hillestad: Opponents learned quickly that having Sioux Valley’s number 13 across from them was unlucky for them.

Hillestad posted 338 kills and 89 blocks on the season, as well as 58 ace serves and 189 digs. At state, she put up another 45 kills, 13 blocks (4 solo), 19 digs and nine ace serves, including 21 kills in the Cossacks’ first-round upset of second-seeded Pine Ridge.

She will take her talents to Dakota State.

n Martin: A four-year starter, Martin played a key role in helping the Panthers end a seven-year state tournament drought.

Martin’s experience helped keep the Panthers where they needed to be, according to head coach Don Craig.

n McCarron: Most 5-11 volleyball players in South Dakota are hitters, but McCarron’s excellent passing skills and court sense have made her a talented weapon for the three-time state champions.

McCarron had 846 assists on others’ kills, as well as 72 kills of her own, during the regular season. She stepped up her averages at state, posting 102 assists and 10 kills in the three tournament matches.

n Pond: A four-year starter and three-time all-conference selection, Pond provided Pine Ridge with a powerful leader as it made a run to its first state tournament appearance.

The 6-1 outside hitter recorded 319 kills and 66 ace serves during the regular season, as well as 64 blocks and 135 digs. At state, she led the team with 30 kills and three blocks despite missing much of the team’s final match due to injury.

n Stern: The lone junior on the first team, Stern gave the Chargers a quick-strike weapon in its quest for a third straight title.

Stern posted a lethal .462 kill percentage in recording 275 kills during the regular season. At state, she added another 40 kills and a tournament-best 12 service aces.

CLASS A ALL-STATE TEAM

NOTE: Statistics listed are from the regular season

First Team

Shelbie Budmayr, Belle Fourche: Sr., OH, 5-10; 347 kills, 37 ace serves, 30 blocks, 347 digs

Abby Dockter, Aberdeen Roncalli: Sr., MH, 5-11; 226 kills, 21 ace serves, 58 blocks, 20 digs

Jessa Doom, Wagner: Sr., S, 5-10; 133 kills, 75 ace serves, 696 assists, 26 blocks, 249 digs

Haley Hillestad, Sioux Valley: Sr., MH, 6-0; 338 kills, 58 ace serves, 89 blocks, 189 digs

Kylie Martin, Dakota Valley: Sr., MB, 5-10; 220 kills, 61 ace serves, 33 blocks, 50 digs

Hayley McCarron, Sioux Falls Christian: Sr., S, 5-11; 72 kills, 54 ace serves, 846 assists, 49 blocks, 89 digs

Brooke Pond, Pine Ridge: Sr., OH, 6-1: 319 kills, 66 ace serves, 20 assists, 64 blocks, 135 digs

Kristin Stern, Sioux Falls Christian: Jr., MH, 5-10; 275 kills, 43 ace serves, 39 blocks, 44 digs

Second Team

Jayde Bergmann, Dakota Valley: Jr., RS, 5-9; 225 kills, 75 ace serves, 20 assists, 23 blocks, 56 digs

Cassidy Hanson, Winner: Jr., OH, 6-0: 370 kills, 21 ace serves, 28 blocks, 242 digs

Lindsey Smith, Dakota Valley: So., S, 5-6; 64 kills, 77 ace serves, 827 assists, 9 blocks, 110 digs

Kendra Snaza, Milbank: Sr., OH, 5-8: 450 kills, 46 ace serves, 26 assists, 335 digs

Kiara Vander Pol, Sioux Falls Christian: Sr., OH, 5-9: 219 kills, 51 ace serves, 36 blocks, 126 digs

Kaylee Vanderwall, Sioux Valley: Sr., S, 5-6: 86 kills, 62 ace serves, 698 assists, 25 blocks, 206 digs

Honorable Mention

Allison Cross, Tri-Valley: Sr., MH, 6-1: 179 kills, 96 ace serves, 48 blocks, 218 digs

Tiara Gibson, Deuel: Sr., MH, 6-3: 289 kills, 59 ace serves, 129 blocks, 117 digs

Lisa Lovoll, Custer: Jr., OH, 5-10: 433 kills, 102 ace serves, 39 blocks, 428 digs

Callie Slater, Mobridge-Pollock: Sr., S, 5-4: 33 kills, 56 ace serves, 527 assists, 120 digs

Nicole Weber, Wagner: Sr., OH, 5-7; 278 kills, 72 ace serves, 22 assists, 226 digs

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