Hickory, Freedom stars join Watauga
head coach with conference honors
By CHRIS HOBBS
Hobbs Daily Report.com
After winning a league title to start her second tenure as head coach at Watauga High, Kim Pryor has been named Northwestern A-4A Coach of the Year in volleyball.
Pryor joined senior Jessica Cannon of McDowell, senior Bren White of Hickory and Freedom junior Brooke Baker in winning top league honors.
PRYOR
This was Pryor’s first season back as the Pioneers’ head coach. She previously filled that spot from 2001-2010, and she is conference coach of the year for the third time (won in 2006, 2007).
Cannon won the league’s Player of the Year, registering 82 kills and 273 assists for the Titans, who finished third behind Watauga and Hickory in the league race.
White, named Offensive Player of the Year, helped Hickory finish second. She had 355 assists and 89 kills this season, finishing a four-year career with 479 assists, 549 digs, 445 kills and 116 aces.
Barker won Defensive Player of the Year as Freedom finished in last place in the conference standings. She had 193 digs and 226 returns.
Watauga got two rounds deep into the state 3A playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the West, falling in the second round to West Henderson.
Hickory, seeded No. 12 in the West, also fell in the second round, losing at Cox Mill while fourth-seeded McDowell was knocked out of the state 4A bracket in the second round by Providence.
ALL-NORTHWESTERN 3A-4A VOLLEYBALL
(as voted on by conference head coaches)
Alexander Central: Bryanna Payne, Brianna Abernathy
Freedom: Brooke Barker, Ava Thomas
Hickory: Brooke Rowland, Kellen Morin, Taylor Rose, Bren White
McDowell: Kathryn Baker, Jada Cannon, Lucy Haynes, Jessica Cannon
St. Stephens: Carter Leatherman, Mack Fairchild
South Caldwell: Emma Grace Hiatt
Watauga: Caroline Farthing, Brelyn Sturgill, Brooke Scheffler, Sadie Sharpe
