Roseburg dominates all-star selections

By TIM PYLE
of the Mail Tribune

Roseburg's dominance of the 2001 Southern Oregon Conference volleyball season has extended beyond the court.

For her part in leading the Indians to a 13-1 SOC campaign, senior outside hitter Shannon Burmeister is the conference player of the year.

"She's so very athletic," Roseburg coach Bruce Myers said of his 6-foot-1 star. "She can hit from antennae to antennae. ... And she improved her back-row play."

Myers shares coach-of-the-year accolades with Crater's Leaf Jensen.

Joining Burmeister as first-team all-SOC performers are: Ashland junior hitter Marla Morin, Crater senior hitter Nicholette LeBel, Roseburg senior hitter Katie Kahn, North Medford senior hitter Chaley Higgins, Ashland senior hitter Kacey Zundel, Ashland junior defensive specialist Megan Beugli, Roseburg senior defensive specialist Mary Hooper, Ashland senior setter Molly Grossmann and Roseburg senior setter Mary Pat Junkin.

Burmeister, Grossmann and Beugli are repeat first-team picks, while Higgins and Junkin earned second-team accolades in 2000.

Myers' Indians were the preseason pick to win the SOC, and the eighth-year coach was honored by his fellow conference coaches for living up to those expectations. Roseburg's SOC crown is its first since 1997.

"Very pleased with the way we performed in league," said Myers, who had been named SOC coach of the year once before. "It was our overall play. Everybody contributed."

For the first time in his five-year tenure, Jensen guided Crater into the postseason. After four straight fourth-place finishes, the Comets tied for second with Ashland at 10-4 and earned the SOC's second postseason seed by virtue of tiebreaker.

The Comets were tabbed fourth in the preseason poll.

Behind Ashland, North Medford took fourth in the SOC at 7-7, South Medford was fifth at 6-8, Grants Pass and Eagle Point tied for sixth at 5-9 and Klamath Union went 0-14.

Neither Crater nor North Medford were able to survive subtournament play and advance to the Class 4A state tournament. Ashland, however, did manage to join Roseburg on the big stage at the Chiles Center in Portland.

And after losing twice to the Indians during the regular season, the Grizzlies defeated Roseburg in three games in the consolation final to earn fifth in the state. With the loss, the Indians took eighth.

2001 Volleyball SOC All-Stars

First Team

Hitter - Shannon Burmeister, Roseburg, Sr.
Hitter - Marla Morin, Ashland, Jr.
Hitter - Nicholette LeBel, Crater, Sr.
Hitter - Katie Kahn, Roseburg, Sr.
Hitter - Chaley Higgins, North Medford, Sr.
Hitter - Kacey Zundel, Ashland, Sr.
Defensive Specialist - Megan Beugli, Ashland, Jr.
Defensive Specialist - Mary Hooper, Roseburg, Sr.
Setter - Molly Grossmann, Ashland, Sr.
Setter - Mary Pat Junkin, Roseburg, Sr.
Player of the Year - Shannon Burmeister, Roseburg
Co-Coaches of the Year - Leaf Jensen, Crater; Bruce Myers, Roseburg

Second Team

Hitter - Kristen Bitter, Roseburg, Jr.
Hitter - Meagan Shanahan, South Medford, Sr.
Hitter - Ally Codington, Grants Pass, Sr.
Hitter - Dani Rouhier, Eagle Point, Sr.
Hitter - Erin Kinney, Crater, Jr.
Hitter - Amy Bakker, North Medford, Sr.
Defensive Specialist - Tara Siebenlist, North Medford, So.
Defensive Specialist - Audrey Hop, Crater, Jr.
Setter - Sarah Yager, Crater, Sr.
Setter - Aubrey Harrington, Eagle Point, Jr.

Honorable Mention

Hitter - Ashley Fence, Ashland, Sr.; Taylor Jones, Roseburg, Sr.; Megan Leppert, Klamath Union, Sr.; Kara Stuart, Eagle Point, Sr.; Amanda Cox, South Medford, Sr.; Stacey Casebier, North Medford, Jr.

Defensive Specialist - Tiffany Talbott, Ashland, Sr.; Michelle Chancler, South Medford, Jr.; Krissy Cossey, Roseburg, Sr.

Setter - Candace Fleener, North Medford, Sr.; Stephanie Anderberg, South Medford, So.

Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail tpyle@mailtribune.com 

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