By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School volleyball team placed five players on the All-Northwest Conference squads in voting conducted Sunday, October 15, by league coaches.

Versatile Pirate setter Grace Yarnell was named first team All-NWC. She led the team in assists (630) and aces (55), and was second in digs (224). The 5-7 junior also hit 65 kills and added 17 blocks.

Junior 6-2 hitter Ayla Grandey was the top vote-getter on the All-NWC second team. She led the team in kills with 305, and in attack pct. (.371). She also served 42 aces and made 15 blocks.

Sophomore 5-10 hitter Kendall Stackhouse also was named second team all-league. She smacked 232 kills on 36.6 attack accuracy.

Freshman 5-10 hitter Karlie Lora knocked down 175 kills on a team-best .435 attack percentage, and added 37 blocks.

The Pirates finished 18-5 overall and authored a mid-season 11-match win streak. Their only league losses came in the same week to the top two finishers.

Crestview won the league crown at 8-0, followed by Leipsic (7-1) and Bluffton (6-2) in third place. 

Allen East went 18-5 overall and 5-3 in the league, good for fourth place in the nine-team standings.

Lady Knight ace Cali Gregory was voted NWC Player of the Year.
Crestview mentor Tammy Gregory was named NWC Coach of the Year by her peers.

All-NWC teams
NWC Player of the Year: Cali Gregory – Crestview
NWC Coach of the Year: Tammy Gregory – Crestview

1st Team
Cali Gregory – Sr – Crestview
Danaysia Danzy – So – Leipsic
Myia Etzler – Sr – Crestview
Soraya Jackson – Sr – Allen East
Emma Bowersock – Jr – Lincolnview
Grace Yarnell – Jr – Bluffton
Alivia Jones – Sr – Leipsic
Adelyn Figley – Jr – Crestview

2nd Team
Ayla Grandey – Jr – Bluffton
Savana Brooks – Sr – Allen East
Karmyn Brough – So – Leipsic
Kendall Stackhouse – So – Bluffton
McKailey Bermudez – Sr – Columbus Grove
Samantha Hazelton – Sr – Leipsic
Beth Hughes – So – Lincolnview
Autumn Andreasen – Sr – Ada

Honorable Mention
Ellie Kline – Jr – Crestview
Avery Talavinia – Jr – Bluffton
Karlee Lora – Fr – Bluffton
Ashlyn Price – Jr – Lincolnview
Daicy Robinson – Sr – Ada
Kaci Gregory – Fr – Crestview
Abbi Hageman – Sr – Delphos Jefferson
Jenna Bassitt – Jr – Ada
Kylee Longworth – Jr – Columbus Grove
Briley Cook – Fr – Spencerville
Kaitlyn Keller – Jr – Spencerville