All-ET Volleyball: Lindale’s Geathers, Rand best on the court

Published 11:59 pm Thursday, January 30, 2014

Lindale’s Zhanelle Geathers is skipping basketball this season to focus on volleyball, which she’ll play at UT Arlington next fall.

Her talent on the volleyball court means one thing, for sure: she’s picked the right sport.

The 6-2 senior is the Player of the Year on the Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com’s All-East Texas Volleyball Team. She follows Spring Hill’s Savannah Voelzke as the award’s recipient.

Geathers got plenty of help from teammates throughout the season, including sophomore outside hitter Rhyan Rand — the All-ET Newcomer of the Year. Rand follows Spring Hill’s Ann Hollas as that award’s recipient.

Geathers hovered above the competition to help the Lady Eagles claim their consecutive district title, finish the season 37-4 and reach No. 11 in the Class 4A state rankings. The middle blocker finished the season with 382 kills, 124 blocks, 43 aces and 48 digs en route to earning 16-4A Most Valuable Player honors.

“It was a lot of fun,” Geathers said. “I felt like we worked hard as a team and we accomplished a lot. …I was just sad for it to end so soon.”

Lindale, which fell in the area playoffs, was a senior-laden squad that went unbeaten in district for the second consecutive season.

Geathers has had a great senior year.

“It couldn’t be better,” she said. “It started pretty strong and volleyball helped me enjoy my senior year a whole bunch. …It felt good to finally be a captain and a senior.

(The younger players) really looked up to me. I felt like I played a big role in helping them get to where we were. I just felt like I had to lead the younger ones.”

Geathers’ next stop is UT Arlington.

“I’m really excited about that,” she said. “I’m ready to play at the next level. I’ll start doing summer school and leave the weekend after the fourth of July and will start working out with them and doing a couple summer classes.”

Meanwhile, Rand is set to return next fall and will be one of the Lady Eagles’ leaders during the next two seasons. She shined in her first varsity season, finishing with 238 kills, 145 digs, 43 blocks and a 95.5 serving percentage.

“I knew we were going to be a good team,” she said. “We had six seniors this year. I just expected us to go out and play our best and have fun.

“I was going to contribute as much as I could. I’ve always tried my best and just kept that goal in mind.”

Geathers’ and Rand’s stats were made possible by their teammates, including All-ET member Sydney Tiiman. The senior setter contributed 1,205 assists, 216 digs and 87 kills.

Coach of the Year: Gambil leads Quitman to regional semis in first season

 Quitman coach Ashlee Gambill enjoyed a memorable debut season.

She led her team to dramatic victories. She led them to the regional tournament. And she led the Lady Bulldogs into a clash with her former coach.

Gambill, a 2006 Quitman HS graduate, is the Coach of the Year on the Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com All-East Texas Volleyball Team. She follows Lindale’s Meghan Renicker as the award’s recipient.

Gambill, an assistant the previous two seasons, guided Quitman to a 26-14 record and the Class 2A regional semifinals. She went against former Lady Bulldogs coach Keith Guyon (now at Brock) in the regional semifinals.

“I am so grateful to have had the season I had this year,” Gambill said. “Every coach dreams of their first season to go as smoothly as mine did. I owe it all to my team. They worked extremely hard from the first day of two-a-days to the last point of the last game.”

Gambill is joined on the All-ET team by senior Lady Bulldogs’ seniors Allison McKinley, Kelsey Daniel and Beth Noble.

“Their great attitudes and work ethic made it possible to excel,” Gambill said. “It was also wonderful to have the parent and community support.”

Quitman claimed the District 14-2A title and progressed through the playoffs before falling in the regional semifinals to Brock and Guyon, who’d led the Lady Bulldogs to three state tournament appearances before going to Brock.

“Caching against Coach Guyon was very special because he was my high school coach,” Gambill said. “He was also the defending state champion coach, so I felt honored to be coaching against someone of that caliber. It wasn’t as easy task because I knew he would be well prepared as usual. I knew he would serve us tough and play smart. Hopefully we will meet again soon!”

Quitman loses six of eight players to graduation (all six were starters), but returns junior outside hitter Holly Gilliland and libero Alyssa Harris next season. Gambill expects next season to present many coaching challenges.

“Next year will be a true test of my coaching abilities, but it will be fun,” she said. “Next year’s freshmen class is very eager to play; they love volleyball and work very hard. I am already excited to start the next season.”

Player of the Year — Zhanelle Geathers, Sr., Lindale…382 kills, 124 blocks, 43 aces and 48 digs

Newcomer of the Year — Rhyan Rand, Soph., Lindale…238 kills, 145 digs and 95.5 service percentage

Coach of the Year — Ashlee Gambill, Quitman

FIRST TEAM

Bri Thompson, Jr., Van…428 kills, 339 digs, 90 blocks

Allison McKinley, Sr., Quitman….446 kills, 487 digs, 102 aces, 90 percent server

Iesha Bryant, Sr., Carthage…481 kills, 103 blocks

Rachel Riestenberg, Sr., Spring Hill…1,217 assists, 125 service points, 86 digs, 31 blocks, 26 aces

Sabrah Shipman, Sr., Big Sandy…529 kills, 42 blocks, 107 aces, 49 digs, 10 assists

Josee Ross, Sr., Troup…421 kills, 413 digs, 97 blocks, 51 aces,

SECOND TEAM

Sky Holmes, Jr., Pine Tree…384 kills, 119 blocks, 231 digs, 79 aces

McKinna Seahorn, Jr., Harmony….547 kills, 161 digs, 21 blocks, 92 perent server

Sydney Tiiman, Sr., Lindale…1,205 assists, 216 digs, 87 kills

Kelsey Daniel, Sr., Quitman…515 digs, 292 kills, 52 aces, 90 percent server

Neeli Hardison, Sr., Palestine Westwood…1,044 assists, 221 digs, 58 aces

La’Daisha Gillard, Sr., Mount Pleasant…415 kills, 227 digs, 46 aces, 27 blocks

THIRD TEAM

Ashton Ates, Jr., Whitehouse…246 kills, 55 blocks, 75 digs

Lacey Wooden, Jr., Palestine Westwood…775 digs, 124 aces

Beth Noble, Sr., Quitman…1,006 assists, 326 digs, 55 kills, 46 aces, 97 percent server

Madison Pecot, Sr., White Oak…303 kills, 64 aces, 60 blocks, 153 digs

Haley Stuart, Sr., Sabine…421 kills, 65 blocks, 54 aces

Morgan Wilkerson, Sr., Van…1,181 assists, 260 digs, 13 blocks, 84 aces

HONORABLE MENTION

All Saints — Lanna Johnson, Madison Smith; Alba-Golden — Caitlin Lennon, Cetara Carter, Corlie Lennon, Gracie Pendergrass; Arp — Megan Campbell; Athens — Carli Aguilera; Brownsboro — Amber Walker, LaDae Lugman; Big Sandy — Deanna Blood, Suhmer Mitchell; Bullard — Madi Hodges, Mackenzie Fish, Mallory McCoy; Brook Hill — Samantha Anderson, Charlie Niles, Lindsay Wheeler, Desarae Rowan; Canton — Brooke Erickson, Madi Allen, Brantley Neff; Carlisle — Hannah Hamilton, Alyssa Smith, Carlee Turner; Carthage — Morgan Wedgeworth; Marisah Ingram; Kelsey Sharpe; Kenzie Tate; Cayuga — Cory McCulloch, Presley Luce, Maci Poland; Central Heights — Regan Humphreys; Chapel Hill — Shay Ross; Cross Roads — Lauren Waldo, Rebecca Kramer, Paulette Burgess, Kelsi Lookabaugh; East Texas Christian Academy — Lindsey Shawver; Edgewood — Paige Parker, Bailey Cates, Emily Rutter; Frankston — Latesha Gray, Autumn Kummer; Elkhart — Catie Bridges, Robin Grant, Courtney Cheatham, Ryan Grimsley, Paige Huff; Eustace — Peyton Dibari, Caitlyn Culp, Crystal Garza; Gladewater — Jarika Hodge; Gilmer — Shaylee Fennell, Maci Ritter, Makayla Sikes; Grand Saline — Brittany Joslin, Kelsie Monty; Grapeland — Cymone Davis, Shelby Frauenberger, Heilee Sheridan; Hallsville — Savannah McAmis, Haley Boyett, Katie McElroy, Madison Gonzalez, Allison Lawrence, Erin McCallum; Harmony — Jodi Hoelscher, McKenna Thomas; Hawkins — Bre Lemons; Henderson — Jordan Boles, Karley Free; John Tyler — Dede Rouge; Kilgore — Annie Mehringer; Lindale — Makenna Allen, Nicole Borger, Kaitlin Rice, Travicia Acy; Longview — NaQwavian Nelson; Mabank — Payton Costlow, Mikayla Adams, Bailey Swain, Meagan Holyfield; Longview Christian Heritage — Alli Leach; Malakoff — Georgina Salazar; Marshall — Hidi George; Mineola — Lauren Almuete; Mount Pleasant — Genesis Alvarez, Sarah Flanagan, Ladeshia Gillard; Nacogdoches — Taylor Layton, Sydney Watson, Brittanni Phillips, Qymeka Jackson; Neches — McKay Lee Chapman; Oakwood — Callie Kellum; Overton — Heather Raney; Palestine Westwood — Diamond Dewberry, M’Kayla Benson, Pine Tree — Kennedy Sampson, Sky-Lynn Holmes, Kabrshia Orange, Kerri Johnson, Hannah Seibel; Quitman — Kelsey Daniels, Beth Noble; Rains — Briley Cole, Shye Meador-McCray, Hannah Harris, Cortney Anderson, Megan Hazelwood, Hailey Lawson, Alexa White; Robert E. Lee — Taylor Winchester, Rebekah Bowden; Rusk — Shayla Townsend; Sabine — Haley Stuart, Tylia Sylestine, Jayden Mount; Spring Hill — Ann Hollas, Jenna Hampton, Allison Akins, Mikai Brown, Jacy Fleet; Tatum — Rikki Glezen, Lauren Reeves, Kaylah Starling; Trinidad — Emily Airheart; Troup — Bethany Mason, Carly Dyess, Caitlyn Vickers, Cheney Cover, Paeton Nolan; Union Grove — Lakyn Stanley, Kayla Wagner; Van — Ashlin Lovett, Hailee Carter, Carissa Luther, Rebekah Rogers; West Rusk — Alison Nutt; White Oak — Rebecca Green, Cayman Sutton; Whitehouse — Amanda Dimon, Ronnie Fountain, Kelly Keller, Lindsey Hannah; Wills Point — Makayla Denson, Norma Cunigan; Winona — Jamece Gulley.