Photo by Carly Pearson
The selections for the 2007 Emporia Gazette All-Area Volleyball Team are shown here. Pictured, from left to right: Ashley Lake, Emporia; Hilary Heinrichs, Emporia; Jessica Decker, Emporia; Sadie Webb, Emporia; Cali Schelling, Emporia; Coach of the Year Kendra Bloomquist, Emporia; Megan Woods, Olpe; Krista Banzhaf, Lyndon; Player of the Year Kylie Haag, Olpe; Brooke Bingham, Burlingame (08); Stephanie Goetz, Lyndon; Megan Steward, Waverly; and Mitzi Eagleburger, Lebo.
The past two seasons, the Olpe volleyball team has experienced a rejuvenation under coach Marilyn Stueve, making back-to-back trips to the Class 1A State tournament.
One player at the center of it all has been Kylie Haag.
This fall, with Haag being the go-to player on the Olpe roster, the 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter stepped into the role and flourished. In leading the Lady Eagles to a 29-8 record, Haag posted more than 250 kills.
Along the way, she was a unanimous first-team All-Lyon County League selection, an All-Class 1A State Tournament squad selection and a Class 1A All-State selection, making her the choice for The Emporia Gazette’s All-Area Player of the Year for 2007.
Joining Haag on the All-Area squad is teammate Megan Woods, another first-team All-League selection as a hitter opposite Haag.
The 2007 All-Area team was dominated by Emporia High after the Lady Spartans experienced a breakout season of their own this fall.
First-team All-Centennial League pick Sadie Webb headlines five Lady Spartans who earned All-Area status. A 5-foot-9 senior, Webb at times was dominant from her right-side hitter spot for the 27-16 Lady Spartans, and her leadership helped EHS reach the Class 5A State tournament for the first time since 1997.
EHS had three other players selected to the All-Centennial League team and, consequently, the All-Area squad.
Senior middle hitter Ashley Lake and senior outside hitter Jessica Decker, as well as junior middle hitter Hilary Heinrichs, all received All-Area honors.
Also, much of Emporia’s success was thanks in large part to the efforts of senior setter Cali Schelling, who flourished in the role of making sure the Lady Spartans got into their offense.
Lyndon spent much of the season near the top of the Class 2A State rankings, with much of the success owed to Krista Banzhaf and Stephanie Goetz. Banzhaf recently signed to play volleyball at Ottawa University, and the two were instrumental in helping the Lady Tigers to a 31-5 record this year.
The final three selections on the All-Area squad went to Burlingame’s Brooke Bingham, Lebo’s Mitzi Eagleburger and Waverly’s Megan Steward. All three were first-team All-Lyon County League selections.
Thanks to her guidance in helping the Emporia High volleyball team go from 13 wins in 2006 to 27 in 2007, EHS head coach Kendra Bloomquist earned The Gazette’s All-Area Coach of the Year selection. The 27 victories were the most in Bloomquist’s 11 years at EHS, and the State tournament appearance was her first as head coach.
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Posted by hartford (anonymous) on November 21, 2007 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so proud of you Megan Woods and Kylie Haag! I sure miss seeing you gals!
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