By Chuck Reherman
Sports Editor
When you play in the toughest conference in the state, earning All-Conference honors is something hard to come by.
Yukon has not had first team selection since 2013. Until now.
Senior Brianna Worth was selected to the first team All-COAC volleyball squad announced this week. She is one of nine players from the 12-team conference to be selected to the first team.
Worth has been a three-year starter for the Lady Millers and finished her senior season as one of the team leaders in kills and blocks.
“I was very excited it was a long season and I put in a lot of work so it was nice to see it paid off,” Worth said. “I was not aware I was the first since 2013, but that is also very exciting.
“Coach (Rachel) Allred notified me that I had been selected so it was really awesome to hear it from her,” she said. “It is a great honor because there is a lot of tough competition in the conference and it was great to be recognized and awarded for that.”
Although the season didn’t go quite the way the Lady Millers would have liked, Worth said the team did have success overall. The senior is also looking to continue her career on the next level. She has had inquiries and is still deciding where she wants to continue her career.
“I feel like our team was able to get really close and worked well together I felt I was about to grow personally as a leader and became a more vocal and quicker player,” she said. “I plan on going to school to play volleyball and studying something where I can work with kid. I have been talking to a couple schools but have not made a final decision yet.”
She is joined on the first team by Rorianna Chartier of Edmond Santa Fe, Regan Pendleton of Edmond Memorial, Gracie Burleson of Edmond North, Ruby Kelly of Mustang, Lauren Phillips of Stillwater, Lari Migliorino of Norman North, Lily DeGrace of Edmond North and Haley Houk of Edmond Deer Creek.
Worth is the first YHS player to be named to the first team since 2013 when Dani Chase was selected. The Lady Millers also had two players selected to the honorable mention team in junior outside hitter Addison Wimmer and senior libero Baylie Thiel.
Wimmer was one of the team leaders in kills and blocks and Thiel led the team in digs.
“I’m so proud of Bri’s leadership and accomplishments this season,” YHS head coach Rachel Allred said. “She is a pleasure to coach and is so talented. Her first team selection was well deserved.
“I hate to lose her to graduation, but I am excited to see her play at the college level,” she said. “She has left an lasting impression on the underclassmen that will challenge them to lead and perform at her level.”
Named to the second team All-Conference were McKenzie Vilade of Stillwater, Aubrey Cramer of Edmond North, Allison Pope, Santa Fe; Madison Manning, Deer Creek; Sophia Ayubi, Memorial; Myra Cartmill, Southmoore; Emma Henry, Norman; Annie Davis, Memorial; and Olivia Vance, Norman North.
On Monday night, the volleyball team held their annual banquet and Allred talked about the season and handed out awards to all three teams.
Varsity awards were MVP Offense – Wimmer. MVP Defense – Thiel. Team MVP – Morris-Worth. Team Fighting Heart – Katie Clark.
Worth. Team Fighting Heart – Katie Clark.
Junior Varsity Awards – MVP Offense – Avery Dean. MVP Defense – Bayli Gilliland. Team MVP – Abi Michael. Team Fighting Heart – Muriel Riera Martinez.
Freshman awards: MVP Offense – Jadyn Stalnaker. MVP Defense – Faith Davis. Team MVP – Libbie Hughs. Team Fighting Heart – Makynlee Castillo.
