Suffolk News-Herald

Here’s the Suffolk News-Herald’s All-Suffolk volleyball team for the 2004-05 season. Because the local boys only fielded three teams (King’s Fork didn’t have a squad), they will have only one group of All-Stars.

Boys:

Matt Hamlet, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Mark Brown, Nansemond River

Josh Anderson, Nansemond River

Chad Cross, Lakeland

Jake Conrad, Lakeland

Erik Oliphant, Lakeland

Girls:

First Team

Rachel Evans, Lakeland

Christina Williams, Lakeland

Sarah Brooks, Nans-emond River

Sarah McDonald, Nansemond River

Ellen Giermak, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Michelle Boucher, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Second team:

Amy Barnes, Lakeland

Maurissa Slocum, Lakeland

Rachel Bailor, King’s Fork

Mindy Byrd, King’s Fork

Shannon Andy, Nanse-mond River

Parris Grieder, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Players of the Year

Boys: Brian Briesemeister, Nansemond River

Girls: April Hines, Nansemond River

These two took a pair of Warrior squads that were unproven at the season’s start and led them to prominence. Both led their respective squads in kills, while Briesemeister was the top blocker, and Hines the Lady Warriors’ best in aces and saves.

Starting the season with a new coach in Wayne Godette, Briesemeister’s boys charged to third in the Granby Invitational, their highest-ever finish. After falling to Lakeland early in the season, they bolted to fifth in the district – and Briesemeister, Godette and the rest of the young Warriors give their team a sense of hope for 2005-06.

Although 10-10 doesn’t seem like a great achievement, it was the Lady Warriors’ highest since entering AAA ball, due in large part to Hines, one of three members of the squad to grab a third-year varsity letter award. Along with her team-leading marks, she was also second on the team in blocks and sets.