All-East Texas Volleyball: Rains’ Bradshaw leads impressive group

Published 10:55 pm Friday, February 3, 2017

Gauging how good a player can be is as simple as asking an opponent.

Van freshman Macy Rucker did not mince words when talking about Rains senior outside hitter Charlotte Bradshaw.

“She is so good,” Rucker said.

Bradshaw is the unanimous selection by the Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com for Player of the Year on the 2016 All-East Texas Volleyball Team.

The team is compiled from nominations from area coaches and is voted on by the staff of the Tyler Paper.

Bradshaw, who stands just shy of 6-0, pulverized District 13-4A to help the Wildcats win a district title en-route to reaching the regional quarterfinals.

She completed her senior season with 679 kills, 533 digs and 92 blocks.

Bradshaw follows Ann Hollas, of Spring Hill, who received the award last year.

Rucker also played in 13-4A and helped Van return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. She is the Newcomer of the Year, following Carlisle’s Keylee Adair, who received the award for 2015.

Keeping the theme of superlative winners playing in the same district, this year’s Co-Coaches of the Year, Rickey Hammontree, of Leverett’s Chapel, and Cal Goss, of Carlisle, competed against one another in District 20-2A.

They follow Spring Hill’s Karen Brundrett, who was 2015 Coach of the Year.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Bradshaw was not sure quite what Rains athletic director Randy Barnes was saying to her.

“I kind of looked at him for a second and I was kind of in shock,” Bradshaw said about hearing from Barnes that she had been chosen Player of the Year. “It then (started to sink in a little) and I got really ecstatic. It was a good feeling for sure.”

Bradshaw is a three-year starter for the Wildcats. As a sophomore and junior, she helped Rains reach the playoffs before being knocked out in the area round.

Two of the Wildcats top hitters graduated, so Bradshaw was unsure about what to expect in 2016.

What followed is one of the best regular seasons ever for Rains, a 10-0 district record and league championship before finally being foiled in the regional quarterfinals for a 35-8 campaign.

“Honestly this season came out of nowhere,” Bradshaw said. “With what we had (coming back) no one was expecting such a good season, but we didn’t lose a single (district) match.

“I really felt a close bond with all of the girls this year. I think that is why we were so successful is because the bond that we had.”

Yeah, that and Bradshaw.

In Rains’ District 13-4A opener against Brownsboro, Bradshaw finished with 27 kills.

She didn’t slow down through district or the playoffs either, powering 18 kills against North Lamar in the Wildcats’ regional quarterfinal loss.

Bradshaw is now holding out hope that a Division I program will come calling.

“I am really hoping to continue my volleyball career,” Bradshaw said. “I want to play in college. That is my goal.”

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Despite Rucker admitting to being “really shocked” upon hearing she was Newcomer of the Year, the 5-10 middle blocker was also satisfied.

“I thought, ‘Well, I guess all of this hard work paid off,'” Rucker said.

The freshman led her team in kills (363), was third in blocks (42) and fourth in aces (41) while also providing 216 digs.

Rucker is quick to credit the collective efforts of the team for Van reaching the playoffs.

“We didn’t come out that strong and I was new and didn’t know anyone,” Rucker said. “We ended the year a lot better and came together as a team. We came back from deficits in a lot of games because we would dig ourselves a hole and come out of it.”

Van graduates five players, but Rucker hopes to come back stronger and believes the freshmen coming up will have an impact.

“I am going to use (this award to challenge for more) next year and take advantage of that,” Rucker said. “We have some athletes coming up and the next year will be great.”

CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR

Hammontree began coaching volleyball in 1993. Ironically, that is the last time Carlisle advanced to the regional finals.

Twenty-three years later, led by Goss, the Carlisle Indians produced an 11-1 record in 20-2A on the way to going four rounds deep in the 2A playoffs to finish 31-12.

“This was our first year to win district since 1990 (as well),” said Goss, who is also the Carlisle boys basketball coach. “For us, we start in the spring and really and truly it is how much they want to put into it. They are the ones who work from the spring through summer workouts.

“I played basketball in college and I just started coaching volleyball six years ago. Seven years ago I didn’t even know how many times it took to get the ball over the net. I started as an assistant my first three years and just fell in love with learning the intricacies of the game.”

Hammontree produced an equally, if not more impressive campaign with Leverett’s Chapel. The Lady Lions reached the Class 1A state semifinals for the first time since 1986.

Competing in 20-2A, LC went 7-5 and finished third. As one of the few 1A teams in Class 2A, LC was automatically guaranteed a playoff spot in the Class A bracket, but Hammontree wanted his girls to earn it.

“I had already told them that if we don’t play well in the season, we are not going to play in the playoffs, kind of blowing smoke,” said Hammontree, who is also the athletic director for LC.

“We had two starters (from 2015) with one moving away and another one deciding not to play. We had 11 girls total in the whole program. I honestly didn’t see us making (it as far as we did).”

LC fell to Tioga in the semifinals to finish with a 31-12 record.

Both coaches said they were honored to be recognized.

“I didn’t expect this at all,” Hammontree said. “To have Cal with me, too; we get along and I think it’s really cool.”

Added Goss, “It caught me off guard; it just goes to show these girls, the time that they put in has really paid off.”

TWITTER: @CParryETFS

Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com’s All-East Texas Volleyball Team

Player of the Year

Charlotte Bradshaw

School: Rains

Class: Senior

Position: Outside Hitter

Notable: Bradshaw delivered 679 kills for the Wildcats with a 49.9 percent kill rate. She was also a 90 percent server. She finished with 533 digs and 92 blocks to be named co-MVP of District 13-4A in leading Rains to the Class 4A regional quarterfinals.

Newcomer of the Year

Macy Rucker

School: Van

Class: Freshman

Position: Outside Hitter

Notable: Rucker was a force in her first year for the Lady Vandals, finishing with 355 kills, 201 digs, 40 aces and 41 blocks. Rucker was named to the All-District 13-4A first team.

Co-Coaches of the Year

Rickey Hammontree/Cal Goss

Schools: Leverett’s Chapel/Carlisle

Notable: Hammontree led LC to the state tournament for the first time since 1986 with the Lady Lions falling in the Class 1A semifinals to finish with a 31-13 record. Two of LC’s losses occurred in district to Goss and Carlisle, which won its first district title since 1990 and Goss then led the Lady Indians to the Class 2A regional semifinals, their best playoff performance since 1993.

FIRST TEAM

Keylee Adair

School: Carlisle

Class: Senior

Position: Libero

Notable: Adair finished with 582 digs, 93 aces and 27 kills. She was chosen MVP of District 20-2A and helped Carlisle reach the regional semifinals, its best season since 1993.

Alli Capps

School: Carthage

Class: Senior

Position: Outside Hitter

Notable: Capps finished with 461 kills, 243 digs and 35 blocks in leading Carthage to the Class 4A regional final. Verbal commit to Southeastern Louisiana.

Morgan Grasch

School: Cayuga

Class: Junior

Position: Middle Blocker

Notable: Grasch finished with 525 kills and 82 blocks to go with 425 digs and 68 aces. She was named MVP of District 21-2A and led Cayuga to the 2A regional quarterfinals.

Laura Rose Gray

School: Hallsville

Class: Senior

Position: Middle Blocker

Notable: Gray signed a scholarship to Mississippi State. She finished with a .418 attack average with 191 kills and 80 blocks.

Alyssa Howard

School: Leverett’s Chapel

Class: Senior

Position: Outside Hitter

Notable: Howard delivered 295 kills to go with 502 digs and 122 aces in leading Leverett’s Chapel to the Class 1A state semifinals.

Shelbi Sheppard

School: Rains

Class: Junior

Position: Setter

Notable: Sheppard finished as co-MVP of District 13-4A with teammate and All-ET MVP Charlotte Bradshaw. She dished out 1,131 assists to go with 108 kills, 485 digs and 63 blocks.

SECOND TEAM

Lauren Almuete

School: Mineola

Class: Senior

Position: Outside Hitter

Notable: Almuet earned co-MVP of District 12-3A while finishing with 322 kills, 91 digs, 27 aces and 19 blocks.

Taylor Bullock

School: Pittsburg

Class: Junior

Position: Libero

Notable: Bullock was a key reason Pittsburg snapped a 15-year playoff drought, finishing with 753 digs and 81 aces.

Hayley Jordan

School: Carlisle

Class: Senior

Position: Outside Hitter

Notable: Jordan led Carlisle on offense, finishing with 569 kills to go with 84 digs and 24 blocks in helping the Lady Indians reach the regional semifinals, their best season since 1993.

Belynda Ray

School: Gilmer

Class: Senior

Position: Middle Blocker

Notable: Ray was named MVP of District 15-4A after she posted 350 kills to go with 88 blocks, 64 digs and 18 aces.

Kasey Scott

School: Leverett’s Chapel

Class: Senior

Position: Middle Blocker

Notable: Scott helped LC reach the state semifinals for the first time since 1986, finishing with 397 kills, 542 digs 50 blocks and 88 aces.

Cheyenne Vannier

School: Carlisle

Class: Senior

Position: Setter

Notable: Vannier was the top setter in District 20-2A, finishing with 1,088 assists to go with 229 digs and 61 aces.

THIRD TEAM

April Brown

School: Robert E. Lee

Class: Junior

Position: Middle Blocker

Notable: Brown finished with 302 kills and 79 blocks to earn first-team all-district honors for 11-6A while also leading the Lady Raiders back to the playoffs.

Laney Birdwell

School: Rusk

Class: Junior

Position: Outside Hitter

Notable: Birdwell led the Lady Eagles two rounds deep in the playoffs while totaling 380 kills to go with 191 digs and 74 aces.

Chelsea Chadwick

School: Pine Tree

Class: Senior

Position: Libero

Notable: Chadwick led the Lady Pirates on defense with 670 digs while adding 50 assists, 10 kills and 43 aces.

Cammie Hicks

School: Quitman

Class: Junior

Position: Setter

Notable: Hicks led the Lady Bulldogs with 882 assists while also finishing with 116 digs, 29 kills and 24 aces.

Hannah Richardson

School: Chapel Hill

Class: Junior

Position: Outside Hitter

Notable: The top hitter in District 14-4A, Richardson tallied 265 kills, 246 digs, 21 blocks and 35 aces.

HONORABLE MENTION

ERICA AIRHEART, junior, Trinidad

HALLIE AIRHEART, junior, Trinidad

ESSENCE ALLEN, freshman, Tatum

BRITTON ANDERSON, junior, Pleasant Grove

RYLIE ANDREWS, sophomore, Mabank

JADE BARGE, senior, Elysian Fields

NIKKI BELL, senior, Longview

CAMRYN BYRD, senior, Daingerfield

ABIGAIL BERMUDEZ, junior, Kaufman

JAYLIN BLAKENEY, sophomore, Overton

FRANKAZIA BOYD, junior, Elysian Fields

ASHTON BROWN, sophomore, Tatum

MALAYSIA BURNS, sophomore, Pittsburg

MADISON BUSCH, senior, Pittsburg

MADDIE BUTLER, senior, Bullard

HALEY BREAZEALE, junior, Union Grove

MACI CARPENTER, junior, Overton

KYLIE CARROLL, senior, Henderson

MCCALL COWART, senior, Bullard

SAVANNA COX, sophomore, Troup

TAYLOR CRAIG, senior, Mount Pleasant

HEATHER CRAIG, freshman, Carlisle

KAILEY CONSFORD, junior, Bullard

KAILEY CURINGTON, junior, Mabank

M’KENNA DANIEL, senior, Van

SARAH DAVIS, sophomore, Sabine

NATALIE DEVENPORT, sophomore, Troup

KATELYN EASLEY, junior, New Diana

LAUREN EDEN, Sr., Brook Hill

KEIRA EYNON, senior, Longview

KENNEDY EYNON, junior, Longview

ALEX FLORA, junior, Troup

RAJEL FLORES, senior, Lindale

BROOKELYN GRAY, junior, Sabine

DEJA HAMILTON, senior, Robert E. Lee

MCKENNA HILDEBRANDT, sophomore, Rains

DAE’JAH HEATH, junior, Pittsburg

DAZ JOHNSON, Sr., John Tyler

ALEXANDRIA JOHNSON, senior, Longview

GRACE ANN KELLEY, senior, Cayuga

FAITH LANDRENEAUX, senior, Carthage

ALLI LLOYD, junior, Van

KYNDAL MARTIN, senior, Carlisle

HALEY MASHBURN, senior, Mabank

ADDISON MCDERMOTT, sophomore, Hallsville

SARA MCKEETHAN, freshman, Bullard

ANNA GRACE MILLER, senior, Pleasant Grove

KORI MINNIX, sophomore, Troup

TAYLOR MITCHON, senior, Hallettsville

SHELBY MIXON, senior, Woodville

HALEY MCMILLAN, freshman, Overton

TORI MOODY, Sophomore, Trinidad

TRYSTEN MOSLEY, Jr., All Saints

KATRINA NOYOLA, senior, Troup

KAITLYN NUTT, senior, Carthage

VICTORIA PIERSON, senior, Longview

GRACIE PENDERGRASS, senior, Alba-Golden

KACI RALEY, junior, Quitman

ISABELLA RAMIREZ, Jr., Grace

RYLEIGH RAND, junior, Lindale

JANSEN REID, junior, Troup

TIFFANY RICHTER, senior, Sabine

ALEXIS SACZEK, Jr., Grace

LEXIE SAMPSON, sophomore, Van

KARLA SANCHEZ, junior, Union Grove

ALIYAH SHIRLEY, Fr., Robert E. Lee

BLAIR SMITH, senior, Pleasant Grove

MADALYN SPEARS, sophomore, Quitman

JAYLA STARKS, junior, Troup

KRISTEN STUART, junior, Sabine

DANIELLE SINCLAIR, junior, Mabank

AUDREY SLATEN, senior, Hallsville

MOLLY TANNER, junior, Quitman

LAUREN THOMAS, junior, Mabank

HANNA WAITS, Jr., All Saints

SYDNEY WALDREP, junior, Pittsburg

AMBER WALKER, senior, Lindale

PAYTON WHITE, senior, Spring Hill

KYRA WINN, senior, Union Grove

ALEXIS WILEY, senior, Pine Tree

MELODY WEAVER, senior, Hallsville

SYDNEE WYNN, senior, Eustace

BRIANNA YOUNG, Sr., Brook Hill

CLAUDIA YOUNG, senior Bullard

OLIVIA YOUNG, Freshman, All Saints