Anasha Martin attacks the ball for Tyler Lee, on Tuesday August 13, 2019, during their game with Pine Tree in the Pirate Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Two Division I-bound players and a coach that led her team to 40 wins and the regional tournament earned the superlative honors for the 2019 All-East Texas Volleyball Team.

Briana Brown is set to take her talents to the University of Texas at Arlington, but first, she was a dominant force for the Whitehouse Ladycats.

Her performance as a senior for Whitehouse has earned her a selection as the All-East Texas Most Valuable Player.

The senior outside hitter finished with 621 kills, 209 blocks, 607 digs, 37 aces and a hitting percentage of .336.

“She is not just a wonderful volleyball player but also a wonderful young lady,” Whitehouse head coach Britney Nordin said. “I hope you had a chance to watch her play this year because what she does cannot be shown by stats even though her stats are impressive. She makes very difficult things look very easy. She can simply fly out of the gym. And she worked very hard to get to this level. It is incredible to watch her play and even more incredible to coach her.”

Harley Kreck had a standout first year for Rains. The 6-0 freshman, who is already committed to Baylor University, has been chosen as the All-East Texas Newcomer of the Year.

Kreck had 587 kills, 590 digs, 415 assists, 99 aces and 75 blocks.

Bullard head coach Cristy O’Bannon led the Lady Panthers to a record of 40-7 and a spot in the Class 4A Region II Tournament.

O’Bannon was selected as the All-East Texas Coach of the Year.

Earning first-team honors are John Tyler’s Symone Morris, Tyler Lee’s Anasha Martin, Van’s Macy Rucker, Bullard’s Sara McKeethan, Neches’ Kacie Kimbrough, Carthage’s Kristen Stewart and Tatum’s Essence Allen.

Morris had 448 kills, 363 digs and 43 blocks. Martin had 629 digs, 22 aces and a 92 percent serve percentage.

Rucker had 615 assists, 466 kills, 425 digs, 47 blocks and 37 aces. She will play volleyball at UT Tyler.

Steen had 134 assists, 35 kills, 38 blocks, 472 digs, a .274 hit percentage and a .351 kill percentage.

McKeethan had 578 kills, 582 digs, 32 aces and 71 blocks.

Kimbrough had 158 aces, 570 kills, 358 digs and 35 blocks for the Class 1A state champion.

Stewart had 925 assists, 300 digs, 50 blocks, 100 kills and 82 aces.

Allen, a Texas-A&M Commerce pledge, had 601 kills, 453 digs, 179 assists, 92 blocks and 90 aces.

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2019 ALL-EAST TEXAS VOLLEYBALL TEAM

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER — Briana Brown, Whitehouse

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Harley Kreck, Rains

COACH OF THE YEAR — Cristy O’Bannon, Bullard

FIRST TEAM

Symone Morris, John Tyler

Anasha Maritn, Tyler Lee

Macy Rucker, Van

Shelbi Steen, Lindale

Sara McKeethan, Bullard

Kacie Kimbrough, Neches

Kristen Stewart, Carthage

Essence Allen, Tatum

SECOND TEAM

Ryann Foster, Whitehouse

Kelli Richmond, Bullard

Jada Abercrombie, Kilgore

Heather Craig, Henderson

Rebekah Sutton, Grace Community

Olivia Young, All Saints

Annabelle Reed, Brook Hill

Alexis Rumbo, Brownsboro

THIRD TEAM

Michiah McFarland, John Tyler

Anna Stone, Tyler Lee

Taylor Stiles, Athens

Ava Burroughs, Quitman

Sam Bell, Sabine

Skylar Savage, Van

Ashley Riffe, Canton

Airikah Pippins, Big Sandy

HONORABLE MENTION

Alba-Golden: Crimson Bryant, Cacie Lennon, Anne Marie Pendergrass

All Saints: Madeline Perkins, Shelby Phillips

Arp: Kierra Yarbrough

Athens: Abigail Garcia, Josie Godwin, Jadyn Greenlee, Kyra Dawson, Sydney Briggs, Jadyn Harris

Beckville: Mirandy Mize, Kinsley Rivers, Allison Baker

Big Sandy: Elizabeth Worden, Gracie Jenison, Chyler Ponder

Bishop Gorman: Olivia Roberts

Brook Hill: Anna Hardee, Lexi Turner, Kensi Holley, Mary Elizabeth Roberts, Laurel Reed, Katherine Mondrik

Brownsboro: Christen Downey, Allie Cooper

Bullard: Libby Eitel, Kylie McKeethan, Sarah Lewinski

Canton: Kayden Prox, Rockie Collier

Carthage: Faith Kruebbe, Chesney Baker, Cami Hicks

Central Heights: Chloe Cook

Edgewood: Kenzie Smith, Libby Martin, Tabitha Parker

Elysian Fields: Sha’Mya Glenn

Gilmer: Aaleya Morton, Delaney Wilson, Madyson Tate, Haylee Jordan, Alexis Mathis, Kirsten Waller

Grace Community: Anna Olson, Maddie Rutherford

Hallsville: Ashley Jones

Harmony: Kinzee Settles

Hawkins: Logan Jaco, Morgan Jaco, Alyssa Eddington, Lynli Dacus, Makena Warren, Jordyn Warren, Victoria Miller

Henderson: Ann Mills

Kilgore: Miah Thomas

Leverett’s Chapel: Jillian Shaw, Michelle Jamaica

Lindale: Harleigh Thurman, Kalaya Pierce, Skylar Wyllie, London Reue

Linden-Kildare: Peyton Turner

Longview: Angell Evans

Neches: Lexi Rogers, Emily Hill, Nayeli Quistian, Raegan Hill, Kourtney Mannix

Palestine Westewood: Jordan Carter, Avrey Jenkins, Shamaya Downie, Tiana Davis

Pine Tree: Samantha Sommerfeld, Hannah Barry

Quitman: Jentri Jackson, Shelby Hayes

Rusk: Jamyah Anderson

Sabine: Mikinzi Cantrell, Sierrah Richter, Aubree McCann, Maddie Furrh

Tatum: Essence Allen

Trinidad: Eryn Airheart, Cassandra Patch, Rebecca Ellison, Trayli Smith

Tyler Lee: Je’Myiaa Johnson, Semira Udosen, Claire Trosclair

Union Grove: Kasi Jones, Shayla Gallagher, Brooke Reeves

Union Hill: Alex Mitcham, Briana Edwards

Van: Kennedy Dunn, Bella Thompson, Gracie Brewer, Avari McCain, Macy Rucker

Whitehouse: Kate Idrogo, Ashlee Taylor, Aja Williams

White Oak: Alysa Hall, Lexi Baker

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