LEOPOLD VOLLEYBALL COACH, PLAYERS EARN CLASS 1A MENTIONS

Two players from Leopold's Class 1A state-champion volleyball team balanced schoolwork and athletics on the way to all-state honors this past season.

Their coach, 1A Coach of the Year Leanne Huffman, knows exactly what those players went through in her first season as a high school coach.

Huffman, a former standout for the Southeast volleyball team, is still trying to complete her college degree.

"This is a great honor, especially for my first year," said Huffman of her coaching distinction. "Really the team is what won this for me.

"If they wouldn't have worked hard and won (state), I wouldn't have gotten this."

Huffman, on schedule to complete a degree in Physical Education from Southeast this May, was honored this past Sunday along with all-state players Alicia Halter and Sarah Gowen at a banquet in Kansas City.

The banquet honored the all-state volleyball teams from this past season as named by the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association.

Halter, a second team all-state player as a junior last season, was named first team in her final year at Leopold. Gowen, just a sophomore, was also named to the first team.

Huffman described them both as "the leaders" of the team.

Halter was Leopold's top offensive and defensive threat. The 5-foot-7 senior led the team in kills and set a state tournament record for digs this season.

"Alicia's known for her hitting, but she's awesome on defense," Huffman said. "She beat the state record for digs by eight."

Halter recently signed with Mineral Area Community College in Park Hills. But Gowen has another two years to continue her winning ways at Leopold.

The 5-8 Gowen was the Lady Wildcats' setter this season, but with her versatility could have played anywhere on the floor.

"We had her setting this year, but she's a good hitter and good defensively," said Huffman. "We don't know where she'll be next year."

On the other hand, Huffman knows exactly where she'll be next season. She'll be a full-time teacher and coach at Leopold.

"It's going to be hard to live up to after winning state my first year," Huffman said with a laugh. "The season went very well and I'm very proud of all the players for how hard they worked. It was exciting."

* Despite being knocked off by Leopold early in the state playoffs, two Bell City players returned to the 1A all-state team from last year.

Leslie Lee and Courtney Brockmeyer led the Lady Cubs to a 30-2-1 record before Bell City fell to Leopold in a 1A Sectional. Lee, a senior setter, returns on the first team. Brockmeyer, a junior hitter, was named to the second team again.

The 5-foot-6 Lee completed her fourth year on the varsity and led Bell City in assists with 476 this season. A three-year starter, Lee set the record for assists in the state tournament last year

"She's an all-around team player," said Bell City coach Carl Ritter. "She's been offered some full-ride scholarships and was a good defensive player."

The 5-8 Brockmeyer was a beneficiary of several of Lee's precision passes. Brockmeyer was second on the Lady Cubs with 186 kills.

"Courtney is a good server, a good hitter and a good team player," Ritter said. "She's another good team player."