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24-5A’s elite volleyballers honored
Published November 30, 2007
Pearland and Alvin hoped their volleyball season would have lasted longer than the 2007 campaign actually did. But both teams put together a successful year and each were honored for the effort, netting players on the 24-5A All-District First Team.
Lady Oiler seniors Emily McLaughlin, Holly Moreno and Erin Leal were named to the first squad by the coaches along with Lady Yellowjacket senior Amber Brooks.
Pearland’s Malorie Pardo drew a special honor and was named newcomer of the year.
Lady Buccaneer Marissa Tepera was a second team pick as was Alvin’s Melissa Fortier and both Jessica Hendricks and Jasmine Terry of Pearland.
Pardo, just a freshman, led the Lady Oilers with 18 kills in their playoff loss to Fort Bend Clements. Pearland was district runner-up and finished the year with a 31-6 record.
“Most kids would come in scared as a freshman but it didn’t matter to Malorie,” Pearland coach John Turner said. “She’s just a great athlete. We’re going to see amazing things from her in the years to come. She’ll become one of the best hitters in the Houston area.”
Moreno has been a member of the Pearland varsity team since her freshman year. She missed all of last season after back surgery, but the team captain put together a great senior campaign and signed with St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
“Holly was our captain and pretty much anything I’d put out there she’d do,” Turner said. “She was our main go-to player in the middle, hitting and putting the ball away. She showed great leadership guiding the team throughout the year. She’s always rock-solid.”
Leal, a libero, was a two-year varsity player at Pearland.
“Erin does a great job in the back row,” Turner said. “She has a great sense of reading hitters well. When we need a key dig to keep the play going we know we can rely on her for that.”
McLaughlin emerged as the Lady Oilers’ starting setter for the first time this season and was one of the top assist leaders in the Houston area.
“Emily gives it everything she has and is always working her tail off,” Turner said. “She’s a coaches player and the quarterback of the team. She played all year long with a hairline fracture in her leg, that just tells you the type of player she is.”
Brooks was a four-year starter for the Lady Yellowjackets and has earned a selection to the all-district team every season. She will play at University of Texas-San Antonio next season.
“Amber has been a tremendous player for us all four years,” Alvin head coach Karen Blanchette said. “She’s just an incredible player. She’s done so much for the team and deserves all the honors.”
Fortier was a two-year varsity player for Alvin and was switched to libero her senior season. She’ll play next year at Quincy University in Illinois.
“Melissa has a tremendous work ethic,” Blanchette said. “She’s a fierce defender and I had to move her to libero from outside hitter because we needed that defense. She stepped up and had a great season.”
Area all-district honorable mention picks included: Erin Brookins and Natalie Vern of Brazoswood, Sarah Mayfield and Kailey Killingsworth of Alvin and Heather Leaverton and Amanda Deem of Pearland.
Local all-academic honorees are: Cassie Coleman, Liz Engen, Callan Hundi, Keley Firkins, Akua Sencherey, Courtney Wright, Jenny Simon, Tepera and Brookins of Brazoswood; Whitlie Bellmyer, Gabriella Deleon, Deannah McChesney, Brooks, Killingsworth and Mayfield of Alvin; and Paige Cisneros, Leal, McLaughlin, Moreno, Hendricks and Leaverton of Pearland.
Clear Lake’s Brittany Crislip was named District 24-5A Most Valuable player and Lady Falcons’ Chanda Eager was dubbed coach of the year.
Other first team members are: Haley Jacobs, Megan Pendergast and Becky Bekelja of Clear Creek, Breanah Bourque, Anna Schepcoff and Ellen Fandry of Clear Lake and Suzy Boulavsky and Emily Johnston of Clear Brook.
Rounding out the second team are: Natalie Cross, Madeline Gaffney and Shannon Coursen of Clear Creek; Kai Horan and Jourdan Ellison of Clear Brook; Natasha Law and Candace Richardson of Clear Lake; and Isabella Arciadiacono of Galveston Ball.
Jim Levesque is a sports writer for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0161.
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