After leading their team to a share of the Six Rivers West conference volleyball title this past season, River Ridge coach Dianne Langmeier was named the league’s Coach of the Year, while River Ridge senior Traci Kirschbaum was given the honor of being the league’s Player of the Year.
River Ridge and Potosi each finished the 2011 volleyball season with identical league records of 11-1, and both dominated this year’s All-Conference voting as well.
Kirschbaum, a 5’10” middle hitter for the Timberwolves, wrapped up the season with a team-high 304 kills and 101 total blocks. She also contributed 69 digs, 15 assists and 20 ace serves.
Joining Kirschbaum on this year’s all-conference first team was senior teammate Chelsey Knapp, while Claire Webster earned second-team honors and Kelsey Martin a spot on the honorable-mention team.
Knapp led River Ridge in digs with 406 and also contributed 10 aces on the year.
As for Webster, the 5’9” middle hitter was second on the team with 217 kills and 54 blocks, while also adding 15 ace serves and 41 digs.
Martin, a 5’7” outside hitter, concluded the season with 76 kills, 12 blocks, 28 ace serves and was second on the team with 237 digs.
While the Timberwolves had four players earn postseason honors, the Chieftains of Potosi had five.
Earning first-team all-conference honors from Potosi were senior Ashley Flesch and junior Rylie Bausch.
Bausch, a 6’2” middle hitter, led the Chieftains this past season with 209 kills and 104 total blocks. She also added 25 ace serves and 46 digs to her year’s total.
Flesch, a 5’9” outside hitter, concluded the season with 157 total kills, 16 blocks, 31 ace serves and 233 digs.
Earning second-team all-conference honors from Potosi was senior Meleah Mumm, who managed 119 total kills, 34 blocks, a team-high 48 aces and 116 digs.
Honorable-mention selections from Potosi were seniors Kylie Meier and Emily Hill.
Meier managed 44 kills, 33 aces, 18 blocks, 189 digs and five assists, while Hill led the team in assists with 562, to go along with 127 digs and 34 ace serves.
The Cassville Comets, who finished 3-9 in the Six Rivers West conference, had three members earn postseason honors at the conclusion of this season.
Junior outside hitter Tiffany Junk earned a spot on the second-team all-conference list after missing a portion of the season with an ankle injury.
Even still, Junk managed to lead the team in kills with 95, while also contributing with 43 blocks, 39 digs, 70 assists and 23 ace serves.
Earning honorable-mention honors from Cassville were seniors Harley Anderson and Krista Wieseler.
Anderson led this year’s team with 117 total blocks, to go along with 75 kills, 18 digs, nine assists and 30 aces.
Wieseler was the team’s leader in assists with 202 and in aces with 33, while also managing 11 kills, two blocks and 38 digs.
Rounding out this year’s all-conference first-team list are Highland senior Taylor Wienkes and Belmont senior Kailee Kamps.
Six Rivers West
All-Conference Selections
Coach of the Year
Dianne Langmeier River Ridge
Player of the Year
Traci Kirschbaum River Ridge Sr.
First team
Traci Kirschbaum River Ridge Sr.
Ashley Flesch Potosi Sr.
Taylor Wienkes Highland Sr.
Rylie Bausch Potosi Jr.
Chelsey Knapp River Ridge Sr.
Kailee Kamps Belmont Sr.
Second team
Molly Blackbourn Shullsburg Sr.
Sarah Redfearn Benton So.
Leigh Drury Highland So.
Tiffany Junk Cassville Jr.
Meleah Mumm Potosi Sr.
Claire Webster River Ridge Sr.
Honorable mention
Kylie Meier Potosi Sr.
Bailey Redfearn Benton Fr.
Morgan McComish Shullsburg Sr.
Molly Bockhop Belmont Sr.
Emily Wolfe Highland Sr.
Harley Anderson Cassville Sr.
Kelsey Martin River Ridge Sr.
Emily Hill Potosi Sr.
Krista Wieseler Cassville Sr.
Shanaya Hebgen Highland So.
Hannah Rand Belmont Sr.
Blaire Lutes Shullsburg Jr.
