Cardinals hand out awards for 2010

The Coon Rapids Cardinals held their annual banquet, Nov. 16, and handed out awards for each of the program's five teams.

Along with earning a spot on the All-Northwest Suburban Conference team, senior co-captain Ashley Engen was named the team's offensive player.

Her senior season saw her record 10-plus kills on 10 occasions. Twice she reached double digits in service aces in a match and recorded a triple-double with 20 kills, 11 aces and 20 digs in a five-set win over Cambridge-Isanti (Sept. 27). Engen led the team in kills per set (2.82), hitting percentage (.191), aces per set (0.97), digs per set (2.40) and points per set (4.01).

Senior Kayle Witzman was named the team's top defensive player. As a defensive specialist, she led the team with a .911 serve reception and a 1.774 average per reception (on a three-point scale).

Junior Chloe Jacobson was named the team's top server. She started the season on the junior varsity but made the jump to the varsity squad. She led the team with a .938 serving percentage and was third with 0.54 aces per set. As a libero/defensive specialist, she averaged 1.44 digs per set and, in just her second match with the varsity, recorded a season-high 17 digs versus Cambridge-Isanti.

The Cardinals' Sportsmanship Award went to senior co-captain Paige Jones. The team's setter was the only player to play every point of the season. In her first full season as a setter, she averaged 6.62 assists per set and tied for third on the team with 0.50 blocks per set, leading the team in block assists (40) and total blocks (44).

The Coaches Award was given to senior defensive specialist Aneisha DeNio. She led the team in receptions-to-kill percentage (.284) and was second in service percentage (.922).

It was also announced that seniors Lindsay Bratland and Angela Koch were named All-State Academic Award winners, given to student-athletes with a minimum grade point average of 3.80.

The junior varsity awards handed out went to Laurel Denney (Sportsmanship), Emily Haeska (Co-Offensive Player), Michelle Harris (Defensive Player), Kaitly Motschenbacher (Coaches), Andrea Pearson (Server) and Liz Penshorn (Co-Offensive Player).

B-Squad award recipients were Amber Ammann (Server), Ashley Connolly (Sportsmanship), Addy Hanson (Defensive Player), Rachael Sarrette (Offensive Player) and Jolene Young (Coaches).

The 9A team awards went to Marissa Anderson (Coaches), Meghan Hokanson (Offensive Player), Anna Kessler (Defensive Player, Server) and Maegan McKernon (Sportsmanship).

The 9B team award recipients included  Payton Bolander (Co-Server), Mollee Girgen (Defensive Player), Jacki Lehman (Sportsmanship), Kellie Schlie (Coaches, Co-Server) and Brynia Westra (Offensive Player).

Varsity Awards: Head coach Heidi Ulwelling, Aneisha DeNio, Kayle Witzman, Chloe Jacobson, Paige Jones, Ashley Engen, assistant coach Jessica Timmons.