TEALLE HUNKUS

TEALLE HUNKUS
School: Girard
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-Ohio, all-district, all-county, all-Trumbull Athletic Conference; Division III district player of the year; will play volleyball on scholarship at Duke University.
Positive influence: My dad. He has always been there for me whenever I needed him. He's always the one telling me things to lift me up and always pushes me to do my best.
Best memory: The unity of our team that I love so much and the regional title that opened the doors to state.
Surprised to learn: I eat more than most people could imagine.
KATY JO MROSKI
School: Hubbard
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First-team all-Ohio, all-county, all-district, all-TAC-8; Division II district player of the year; MVP of Worthington Kilborn Invitational and Hubbard Classic; holds school records for kills in a match (34), season (466) and career (1,145); holds school records for aces in a season (92) and career (161); holds state record for kills in a season (466); will play volleyball on scholarship at Indiana University (Big Ten).
Positive influence: Coach Montgomery, coach Porter and coach Fleet have taught me everything I know in my career. My family and friends have supported me through it all. And Shelby Lynn Ditman, who has been the best little sister ever.
Best memories: Playing with my four fellow seniors, getting a chance to play with Monika Rajkovicova, celebrating TAC-8 wins and going to regionals for three straight years.
Surprised to learn: I'm a good artist, a good dancer and I don't like taking all the credit. There's six of us instead of one.
MAGGIE CASE
School: Fitch
Grade: Junior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team Division I all-Ohio, all-Steel Valley Conference, all-district and all-county; team MVP; Division I district player of the year; Olmstead Falls Invitational MVP; earned invitation to Ohio Elite Camp; had 235 kills, .350 hitting percentage, 23 aces, 50 solo blocks and 325 digs this season.
Positive influence: My family has been the greatest influence in my athletic career. Their coaching, love and encouragement have been more than I could have ever dreamed.
Best memory: Aug. 9. I finally started practicing with my team after wearing an aircast for 14 weeks due to stress fractures.
Surprised to learn: I love to play defense and watch my teammates succeed.
CARRIE DAVIS
School: Springfield
Grade: Junior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-district and all-Inter-County League; had 210 kills (8.4 per match), 45.9 kill percentage, 72.3 percent serve reception, 65.7 passing percentage.
Positive influence: My dad, John Davis, and coach Doug Phillips. My dad always encourages me to succeed, even when I'm ready to give up. Coach Phillips, even though he was my seventh grade basketball coach, he instilled in me a strong work ethic that has carried over into everything I do.
Best memory: The entire season was an incredible experience. Setting goals for ourselves and one another before each game and seeing all the enthusiasm our team had was awesome.
Surprised to learn: I didn't start playing volleyball until eighth grade and almost did not play after my freshman year.
SHAUNA DURIG
School: Jackson-Milton
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Division IV district player of the year; first team all-ICL; team captain; had 187 kills, 73 digs, 26 aces, 23 assists, 93 percent serving, 88 percent hitting.
Positive influence: My coaches, Sue Prozy and Linda Craig. Even if I messed up or got down, they would always encourage me to get up. And my previous coach, Pat Keney, for bringing me as far as I've come.
Best memory: In the third game of the season, I jump-served for the first time and it went right over the net and landed on the 10-foot line. Everyone was surprised, even me.
Surprised to learn: I played Junior Olympics for four years and played high school volleyball four years, lettering my sophomore year.
JEN FERET
School: Boardman
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-district and all-SVC; led team in kills (196) and was named team's defensive player of the year.
Positive influence: My parents. They have always supported me in anything I wanted to do. They're always giving me a positive attitude.
Best memory: Beating Fitch twice to win the SVC title.
Surprised to learn: I started out as a setter in seventh grade and did some hitting in eighth grade. I was a defensive specialist my freshman year and I didn't start hitting (spikes/kills) until my sophomore year.
JEN HLEBOVY
School: Boardman
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First-team all-SVC and all-district; selected to play in the Ohio all-star match in Division I.
Positive influence: My family, because of their support and encouragement throughout my athletic career.
Best memory: Winning the SVC.
KATIE MCDERMOTT
School: Fitch
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First-team all-SVC and all-district; holds school record for solo blocks in a season (70) and had a serving percentage of 93.
Positive influence: My dad, because he has supported me through everything I have ever done. His positive force keeps me going in the toughest situation, and I know I can always look to him for comfort.
Best memory: Winning the district title. It was very big for us. We played with such intensity, but there was an eerie calmness among the team that night. We knew what it was going to take to win and it was an amazing match to be a part of.
Surprised to learn: In seventh grade, my mom wouldn't let me play volleyball because she thought it would interfere with basketball and track. I was upset that my friends were playing, so I used to make fun of the sport to them.
KELLY POWELL
School: United
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-district and all-Tri-County League; Columbiana County player of the year; had 189 kills, 151 digs and 41 aces.
Positive influence: My coaches, Billina Donaldson and Jeff Daggy. They have both been there for me since my sophomore year. They always expect the best out of me and won't settle for less. I know they're also there for me off the court. They are very positive role models for everyone on the team. Also, Jason Jones for showing me what hard work and dedication can do in the offseason.
Best memory: Every game I stepped on the court with my teammates. They're the best teammates anyone could ever wish for.
Surprised to learn: I'm really shy.
NICOLE PRINGLE
School: Hubbard
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-district and all-TAC; recorded 401 assists, 127 digs, 46 aces and 184 points this season; recorded 803 career assists.
Positive influence: My mom. She has been there for me since seventh grade. She takes me to and from practice, roots for me in the stands and is there when I need her most. She has supported me and always believed in me, and told me there wasn't anything I couldn't accomplish.
Best memory: Going down to Thomas Worthington for a tournament. We had practice in the afternoon and then went to an Ohio State volleyball game. While we were there, three of my teammates and I got picked to participate in an activity between games. I had to hold a slingshot with Monika and Megan and shoot chickens over the net for Jessi to catch them in a bucket with her socks. It was a lot of fun -- and to top it off, we won the tournament.
Surprised to learn: I was a part of the fifth and sixth grade basketball team. It was a lot of fun and Mr. Duvall was our coach. But in seventh grade, I joined the volleyball team and found out I had a greater love for volleyball.
STEPHANIE SCARNECCHIA
School: Girard
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Second team all-TAC and all-district; team captain; had serving percentage of 92 and hitting percentage of 81; recorded 25 aces, 75 digs, 89 kills; 22-inch vertical leap.
Positive influence: My teammates in every sport. The Girard girls athletic programs have demonstrated hard work, dedication and perseverance.
Best memory: Making it to the state final four and being down by 10 points in the regional final and watching my team fight to the end to show how much we wanted to win.
Surprised to learn: I am co-valedictorian with a 4.3 grade point average.
MEGAN TAYLOR
School: Lakeview
Grade: Junior
Statistics/accomplishments: First-team all-TAC and all-district; third-team all-Ohio; recorded two triple-doubles in points, assists and digs.
Positive influence: My dad, because he taught me how to play volleyball and has coached me my whole life. He has always pushed me to become a better player and a better person.
Best memory: Beating Girard the first time we played them. They were ranked No. 3 in the state at the time. Everyone played their best and we played like a team.
Surprised to learn: When I was young, I played hockey on a boys team for two years, but I quit to play Junior Olympic volleyball.
LAUREN TEAL
School: Salem
Grade: Junior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-district, all-county and all-Metro Athletic Conference; honorable mention all-Ohio; named to the Hubbard Classic all-star team; ranked first in her class.
Positive influence: My parents. They have always stood behind me whole-heartedly. And my coaches, who have always pushed and supported me.
Best memory: Being with all the girls on the team everyday. We got along so well and it made this year a lot of fun.
Surprised to learn: Besides sports, I like to take part in the high school drama productions and I'm a member of my high school's band department.
JILL VERTANEN
School: Canfield
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First-team all-district and all-MAC; set school records with kills per season (185) and blocks per season (119); named to the Blue and White Classic all-tournament team; had a 97 percent serving efficiency; nominated for Wendy's High School Heisman.
Positive influence: My father. He has taught me many things on and off the courts and has constantly been a great dad. If it wasn't for his strength and persistence, I would not have half the ability I do today.
Best memory: Our goal at the beginning of the volleyball season was to win the first game in the district tournament. We fulfilled that goal, defeating Central-Hower.
Surprised to learn: I was born in Wisconsin and I'm a huge Green Bay Packers fan. Besides the sports I directly play, hockey is my favorite sport.
ERICA WILSON
School: Rayen
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Team captain; honorable mention on Divison II all-district team.
Positive influence: God. Without him, I couldn't make it. Also, my family coaches and friends who help me a lot throughout the season.
Best memory: Traveling with the team, having fun together and meeting new people.
Surprised to learn: I love to sing.
COACH OF THE YEAR
PHIL WALTERS
School: Girard
Statistics/accomplishments: Led Girard to school-record 25-4 mark and won the first regional semifinal and final games in school history; was named district coach of the year in Division III.
Positive influence: My athletic director, Joe Cappuzzello. When I introduced club volleyball to Girard three years ago, he did everything in his power to make it happen -- from letting us use the gym, to coordinating other sports so we had time to practice. There's only a handful of schools that work with us to accommodate Junior Olympic volleyball, but none has done as much for the sport as he has. He has never refused us gym time. Without his help, the Youngstown Juniors Volleyball Club would have struggled through the first few years of its existence.
Best memory: When we were down 11-2 in our regional final match against Lutheran West. Our girls calmly played the remainder of the game a point at a time without missing a serve and never worried about the score. We ended up winning 15-12 in one of the greatest heart-stopping comebacks I've ever been a part of.