Volleyball produces outstanding season in 2009
11/22/2009 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Although the season came to an abrupt end in the first round of the Southland Conference post-season tournament, the accomplishments of the 2009 Sam Houston State volleyball team are many and the year will be remembered as one of the program's most exciting.
The Bearkat volleyball team ended the year with an overall record of 20 victories and 14 losses, the most wins for Sam Houston since 1996.
The Kats finished Southland Conference play as runners-up in the West Division with a 12-4 league mark. Sam Houston went undefeated at home in Johnson Coliseum in conference play.
The most remarkable characteristic of the 2009 team, however, was its "never say die" attitude.
Sam Houston was 10-2 in five set matches and won two others in four sets.
"This is one of the best teams I've coached in all my seasons here at Sam Houston," head coach Brenda Gray said. "They were a joy to coach and responded well whenever the going got tough. What is really exciting is that so many of these players return for next season."
Anna Ferguson, middle blocker from Dallas Lake Highlands; Katie Phillips, middle blocker from Spring and Shamira Washington, outside hitter from League City Clear Creek are the only seniors on the 2009 squad.
Ferguson, a two-time All-Southland Conference first team selection, completed her career ranked 18th in kills (1,070) and 8th in all-time blocks (308) at Sam Houston. She ranked fourth in the Southland Conference this season with 3.66 kills per set.
Phillips started 27 matches in 2009 and played in all 34 contests. Washington played in 28 matches this year.
Three All-Southland Conference selections return for Sam Houston in 2010 and two were freshmen this season.
Sophomore Carli Kolbe of College Station A&M Consolidated led the Bearkats in kills with 461 and ranked third in the league in kills with 3.67 per set. She was a first team All-Southland selection this year. During her two years as a Bearkat, Kolbe has totaled 745 kills and 601 digs.
Freshman Kaylee Hawkins of Dickinson was a first team All-Southland honoree as the Bearkats' libero. She set a Southland Conference and school record with 44 digs in Sam Houston's five-set victory over McNeese State. Hawkins ranked second in the Southland in digs per set (4.35). Hawkins' 522 digs this year rank as the fifth highest single season total in Sam Houston history.
Freshman Michelle Miller of Round Rock was an All-Southland Conference honorable mention selection. Miller ranked second in the league in assists with 9.81 per set. Her 1,059 assists in 2009 rank as the second highest assist total by a Sam Houston freshman ever.
Other returning players for the Bearkats in 2010 include sophomore middle blocker Kim Black of Huntsville, freshman outside hitter Camille Alfaro of San Antonio Marshall, sophomore outside hitter Jamie Kaleh of Magnolia, freshman outside hitter Kelli Stewart of Magnolia, freshman middle blocker Becky Swann of Buda Hays, junior setter Kym Loving of Houston Cy Springs, sophomore outside hitter Courtney Laskowski of Poth and freshman defensive specialist Jamie Haas of Deer Park.
