DIVISION III VOLLEYBALL: White Pine’s Huntington, Meadows’ Brennan share league MVP

White Pine’s Ashlyn Huntington and The Meadows’ Brooke Brennan competed in three hard-fought volleyball matches this past season.

Though the Bobcats got the best of the Mustangs by winning two out of three, including the Southern League championship, the two outside hitters constantly traded blows, or kills, in each of those meetings. They were often the most dominant players on the court in every other league matchup as well.

For their efforts, Huntington and Brennan were selected the Division III Southern League co-Most Valuable Players by coaches after leading their respective schools to the state semifinals.

“It was a pretty good battle back and forth in those games,” White Pine coach Kenna Almberg said. “Brooke is definitely a good athlete. That was the only (league) match we lost all season.

“Ashlyn did a good job leading the team this year. She led us in kills and digs every match. And I expect her to continue to lead the team next year.”

Huntington, a junior, and Brennan, a senior, also were selected to the all-state first team.

“(Ashlyn) is a very good student and a honest-working kid,” Almberg said. “She doesn’t expect anything handed to her. It’s always a pleasure coaching kids like that.”

Brennan was the only Las Vegas-area player to make the all-state first team. Teammate Dani Otter was a second team all-state selection, along with Calvary Chapel’s Alexis Harris and Lincoln County’s Kayla Mathews.

Otter, Harris and Mathews also were named first team All-Southern League, with Lake Mead’s Jenette Hensley, Lincoln County’s Chesnee Harding, Mountain View’s Aariel Armstrong, Calvary Chapel’s Marrisa Tiemman and White Pine’s Jaden Ernest and Debra Kingston.

Lake Mead’s Erika Hetzer and Mountain View’s Yvette Armstrong were selected co-Coaches of the Year for the Southern League.