South Kitsap coach Jessica Anderson talked throughout the season about her group of four seniors and how the team’s success was contingent on their play.
Middle blockers Stephanie Osterdahl and Angel Sheldon, setter Cortney Echternach and libero Sarah Voigt all seemed to respond as the Wolves finished 5-5 in Narrows League play — a two-game improvement from 2007 — and 9-11 overall. Last year, the Wolves finished 4-11.
The all-county team, made up of eligible players from schools in Kitsap County, was voted on by the sports editors and writers of the Kitsap News Group, including the Port Orchard Independent, Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter and North Kitsap Herald.
Osterdahl was a first-team selection, while the three remaining seniors drew honorable-mention honors.
2008 All-Kitsap County Volleyball Team
S/OH — Sarah Baugh, North Kitsap, freshman: The motivational and inspirational leader for the Vikes, Baugh had 131 kills, 304 assists, 108 digs and an 89 percent serving rate with 59 aces. She’s a standout communicator and never hesitated to slide across the floor to chase down the ball.
OH — Racheal Diehl, Central Kitsap, senior: Diehl finished her CK career sixth on the all-time kill list, including 297 this season with 25 against Shelton in the Narrows League Tournament. An all-around leader and contributor, Diehl also finished the 2008 season with 200 digs, 43 service aces and 28 blocks to lead the Lady Cougars to a district berth.
L — Cayla Lawson, Olympic, senior: Coach Keith Peden calls her “the top libero in the area” and Lawson’s statistics seem to support that. She had a team-high 299 digs this season in addition to 59 aces and 27 kills to help the Trojans to the district quarterfinals.
S/L — Irene Moore, King’s West, senior: Moore primarily is a libero, but also played setter because of depth issues and still contributed 263 assists, 40 aces and 45 kills. She’s holds the school record in digs and is second in serving percentage (94.1).
MB — Stephanie Osterdahl, South Kitsap, senior: Osterdahl returned to Port Orchard from Georgia a few years ago and has become one of the Wolves’ top players during that time. The 6-foot-1 Osterdahl, who also is expected to start for the girls basketball team, finished with 88 kills (.123 efficiency rating), 15 solo blocks, 17 block assists and 20 aces. Coach Jessica Anderson said Osterdahl was “painfully shy” when she entered the program, but developed into a captain as a senior. “She’s a model student,” Anderson said. “She’s grown up through the team to become a confident young woman.”
MB — Megan Rainey, Olympic, senior: The numbers are staggering: 342 kills, 76 aces, 108 digs and 15 digs — in one season alone. The team leader in kills, hitting percentage and aces, Rainey also holds Olympic records for career kills, season kills and kills in a match. An anchor at both front and back row, Rainey was a team captain and a player Peden simply called “clutch.”
Coach of the Year — Keith Peden, Olympic: Peden pieced together a splendid season to capture a regular season league championship while missing the state tournament by just two games. He led the Trojans to a 12-7 overall record, which included a victory against North Kitsap in a one-game playoff to secure the top spot in the 3A Olympic League. Postseason losses against Capital, Lakes and Kennedy, which advanced to state, ended an otherwise bright season.
Honorable Mention
OH — Rachel Bishop, Kingston, senior: The cornerstone of the Bucs team, which progressed from winning only one game in 2007 to advancing to postseason district playoffs in 2008. The 5-foot-7 Bishop averaged eight kills and 12 digs per game.
S — Chelsea Brustad, Olympic, junior: With 297 assists, 43 aces and 98 digs, Brustad joined teammate Amy Stone in Olympic’s two-setter offense.
L— Rachel Daniels, Kingston, senior: Daniels was one of Kingston’s biggest assets, averaging 21 digs and 2.5 kills per game. Coach Lacey Menne said Daniels’ defense is among the best she’s seen.
S — Cortney Echternach, South Kitsap, senior: Anderson notes her 5-1 offensive scheme is centered around Echternach, who became a starter early in her sophomore year. “When she’s gone, there will be big shoes to fill,” Anderson said. “She can dig the ball pretty well and she’s a great passer.” Echternach finished the year with 218 assists and 51 digs.
MB — Sam Ellis, Klahowya, junior: Ellis’ stats weren’t reported, but she was the glue to the Lady Eagles’ front and back lines.
OH — Morgan Euzarraga, Klahowya, sophomore — She is one of a handful of sophomores who continue to learn the ins and outs of high school volleyball.
OH — Anna Finlon, Kingston, senior: Another go-to girl for Kingston who averaged 5.3 kills and 17 digs per game. Finlon’s an all-around hitter and team leader. Menne refers to Finlon as “the most all-around hitter I have.”
The versatile Finlon played outside hitter, libero, setter and right side.
OH — Hannah Fontenot, King’s West, senior — A four-year varsity starter, Fontenot’s 96.7 percent career serving percentage and 427 career aces are both KW records. She added 85 kills, 102 digs and 70 aces in her final season as a Lady Warrior.
MH — Asha Hill, Central Kitsap, sophomore: Coach Gordy Bushaw called Hill the team’s best passer while receiving serves. She finished the season with 145 kills, 25 blocks and 31 service aces in addition to leading the team with 232 digs.
OH — Lindsey Kocker, North Kitsap, senior: Kocker tallied 81 kills and 127 digs for the season.
MB — Liz Johnson, King’s West, senior: Another four-year varsity player for KW, Johnson finished with 50 aces, 132 digs, 11 blocks and 103 kills this season.
S — Hayley McDermed, Central Kitsap, senior: McDermed is fourth on the career assists list at CK with 714, 47 of which came in one game against South Kitsap in the Narrows League Tournament. She also contributed 200 digs, 15 blocks and led the team with 63 service aces.
OH — Taylor Ottomano, North Kitsap, junior: Ottoman had 122 kills and 51 digs for the season.
OH — Natalie Pfaff, Central Kitsap, senior: Pfaff posted 210 kills and 35 service aces. On the defensive side, she notched 223 digs and 23 blocks on the season.
OH/MH — Kayla Rose, Bremerton, senior: Rose, a captain with a team-high 51 kills along with 23 blocks, Rose provided what coach Joe Tubbs called “a total positive influence.”
MB — Angel Sheldon, South Kitsap, senior: Sheldon finished the season with a team-high 100 kills (.106 efficiency rating) and added 12 solo blocks and 10 block assists.
S — Amy Stone, Olympic, junior: With a team-high 353 assists, along with 44 aces and 126 digs, Stone possessed the intangibles necessary to lead the Trojans to a regular season league championship.
L — Sarah Voigt, South Kitsap, senior: “When she gets excited, she really infects the other kids to get excited too,” Anderson said. “She really rallies the other players.” Voigt had 113 digs this season.
MH — Alexis Wesley, Central Kitsap, sophomore: Wesley had a team-high 82 blocks and also added 148 kills this season.
