Five players who helped their teams make a rare appearance in the South Dakota State Class A Volleyball were among the eight selected to the first team of the South Dakota Volleyball Coaches Association All-State team announced today.
Abby Dockter anchored Roncalli to a second straight appearance, their first appearances since winning the winter 2002 title. Brooke Pond helped Pine Ridge make its first-ever state volleyball appearance. Shelbie Budmayr took Belle Fourche to its first state tournament since 1995. Kylie Martin helped Dakota Valley get to state for the first time since 2005. Haley Hillestad led Sioux Valley to its first trip since 2009.
Also named to the first team were Jessa Doom, who helped Wagner to its fifth straight state appearance, and Sioux Falls Christian's Hayley McCarron and Kristin Stern, who helped the Chargers earn a sixth straight appearance and third straight title.
The teams are picked by the South Dakota Volleyball Coaches Association.
Here is a look at the first-team honorees:
Dockter: When the 5-11 Dockter was up front for the Cavaliers, she not only carved up defenses with a surgeon's precision, she blasted through them as well.
"She is very intimidating. She hits with so much power," Roncalli head coach Janelle Bierle said. "She sees the floor so well. She can hit with power, but she can tip as well. She puts the ball where the defense isn't. That is valuable, especially when she's being double-teamed a lot of the time."
Dockter added 43 kills to her season total during the three days of the state tournament, including 22 in a tough five-set loss to Wagner in the consolation final. She also had four blocks in that match, finishing the tournament with seven (2 solo).
"She was our leader on and off the court," Bierle said. "We looked to her to score in big situations, and she does."
Budmayr: In her first two years as a starter for Belle Fourche, Shelbie Budmayr was a tough hitter. This season, she became a nightmare for opponents. Budmayr's .378 kill percentage and 347 kills were the result of a lot of hard work in the off-season, according to Belle Fourche coach Loree Schlichtmeier. In the state tournament, she added 25 kills and 32 digs to her season totals, giving her nearly 400 digs on the season.
"She doubled her kills from what she had last year," Schlichtmeier said. "She played JO (Junior Olympics) volleyball and spent a lot of time in the gym."
Doom: A three-time all-stater, Doom finished her career with a 6-3 state tournament record and finishes of third, second and fifth. Doom had nine kills, one off her season high, in the Red Raiders' consolation final victory over Roncalli. She also had a season-best 49 assists in that match, finishing with 100 assists for the tournament. After suffering big graduation losses from last season's state runner-up team, Wagner needed Doom to play a bigger role for the squad. She responded with 696 assists, 133 kills (.301 kill percentage) and 75 ace serves, as well as 26 blocks and 249 digs.
"I was pretty spoiled having Jessa leading our team," Wagner head coach Amy Tyler said. "She became quite an attacker and a blocker in the front line. That was helpful down the stretch."
Hillestad: Opponents learned quickly that having Sioux Valley's number 13 across from them was unlucky for them. Hillestad posted 338 kills and 89 blocks on the season, as well as 58 ace serves and 189 digs. At state, she put up another 45 kills, 13 blocks (4 solo), 19 digs and nine ace serves, including 21 kills in the Cossacks' first-round upset of second-seeded Pine Ridge. The four-year starter finished her prep career with 929 kills, including a final total of 383 this season. She will take her talents to Dakota State.
"She is dominating at the net," Sioux Valley head coach Jill Vincent said. "She would wear a lot of opponents out with her energy."
Martin: A four-year starter, Martin played a key role in helping the Panthers end a seven-year state tournament drought. Martin's experience helped keep the Panthers where they needed to be, according to head coach Don Craig. Her .321 kill percentage, 220 kills and 61 ace serves were a reflection of her abilities on the court, as well as her focus. She posted 26 kills, six ace serves and five blocks in the three state tournament matches.
"She put in a lot of time. She understands the game as a whole," Craig said. "She not only knows where she needs to be, but what everyone else was supposed to be doing. She knows where to attack and how to attack."
McCarron: Most 5-11 volleyball players in South Dakota are hitters, but McCarron's excellent passing skills and court sense have made her a talented weapon for the three-time state champions. McCarron had 846 assists on others' kills, as well as 72 kills of her own, during the regular season. She stepped up her averages at state, posting 102 assists and 10 kills in the three tournament matches. McCarron also had 54 ace serves, 49 blocks and 89 digs during the regular season. At state, she posted seven ace serves, 16 digs and eight blocks (6 solo).
"Hayley's an excellent player, and a great leader on and off the court," Sioux Falls Christian head coach Darci Wassenaar said. "She does an excellent job of balancing our attack, spreading the ball around and making smart choices."
Pond: A four-year starter and three-time all-conference selection, Pond provided Pine Ridge with a powerful leader as it made a run to its first state tournament appearance. The 6-1 outside hitter recorded 319 kills and 66 ace serves during the regular season, as well as 64 blocks and 135 digs. At state, she led the team with 30 kills and three blocks despite missing much of the team's final match due to injury. That injury, a torn ACL, will keep her out of basketball this season.
"She was an all-around tough worker, an all-around leader," Pine Ridge head coach Nellie Long said. "She was my go-to when she was in the front row."
Stern: The lone junior on the first team, Stern gave the Chargers a quick-strike weapon in its quest for a third straight title. Stern posted a lethal .462 kill percentage in recording 275 kills during the regular season. At state, she added another 40 kills and a tournament-best 12 service aces. Stern also had 43 ace serves and 39 blocks during the regular season.
"She's done a really good job in the middle," Wassenaar said. "She's a very aggressive, a very quick athletes. She has such a quick arm swing."
CLASS A ALL-STATE
First Team
Shelbie Budmayr, Belle Fourche: Sr., OH, 5-10; 347 kills, 37 ace serves, 30 blocks, 347 digs.
Abby Dockter, Aberdeen Roncalli: Sr., MH, 5-11; 226 kills, 21 ace serves, 58 blocks, 20 digs.
Jessa Doom, Wagner: Sr., S, 5-10; 133 kills, 75 ace serves, 696 assists, 26 blocks, 249 digs.
Haley Hillestad, Sioux Valley: Sr., MH, 6-0; 338 kills, 58 ace serves, 89 blocks, 189 digs.
Kylie Martin, Dakota Valley: Sr., MB, 5-10; 220 kills, 61 ace serves, 33 blocks, 50 digs.
Hayley McCarron, Sioux Falls Christian: Sr., S, 5-11; 72 kills, 54 ace serves, 846 assists, 49 blocks, 89 digs.
Brooke Pond, Pine Ridge: Sr., OH, 6-1: 319 kills, 66 ace serves, 20 assists, 64 blocks, 135 digs.
Kristin Stern, Sioux Falls Christian: Jr., MH, 5-10; 275 kills, 43 ace serves, 39 blocks, 44 digs.
Second Team
Jayde Bergmann, Dakota Valley: Jr., RS, 5-9; 225 kills, 75 ace serves, 20 assists, 23 blocks, 56 digs.
Cassidy Hanson, Winner: Jr., OH, 6-0: 370 kills, 21 ace serves, 28 blocks, 242 digs.
Lindsey Smith, Dakota Valley: So., S, 5-6; 64 kills, 77 ace serves, 827 assists, 9 blocks, 110 digs.
Kendra Snaza, Milbank: Sr., OH, 5-8: 450 kills, 46 ace serves, 26 assists, 335 digs.
Kiara Vander Pol, Sioux Falls Christian: Sr., OH, 5-9: 219 kills, 51 ace serves, 36 blocks, 126 digs.
Kaylee VanderWal, Sioux Valley: Sr., S, 5-6: 86 kills, 62 ace serves, 698 assists, 25 blocks, 206 digs.
Honorable Mention
Allison Cross, Tri-Valley: Sr., MH, 6-1: 179 kills, 96 ace serves, 48 blocks, 218 digs.
Tiara Gibson, Deuel: Sr., MH, 6-3: 289 kills, 59 ace serves, 129 blocks, 117 digs.
Lisa Lovoll, Custer: Jr., OH, 5-10: 433 kills, 102 ace serves, 39 blocks, 428 digs.
Callie Slater, Mobridge-Pollock: Sr., S, 5-4: 33 kills, 56 ace serves, 527 assists, 120 digs.
Nicole Weber, Wagner: Sr., OH, 5-7; 278 kills, 72 ace serves, 22 assists, 226 digs.