Balers capture MVP and three other All-League spots
In the history of Tri County Athletic League volleyball no
player has ever won three consecutive MVP awards
– that was until this past week when San Benito High senior
Emily Kortsen, a player who her coach calls one of the greatest he
has ever seen at the high school level, was declared the league’s
MVP again.
Balers capture MVP and three other All-League spots
In the history of Tri County Athletic League volleyball no player has ever won three consecutive MVP awards – that was until this past week when San Benito High senior Emily Kortsen, a player who her coach calls one of the greatest he has ever seen at the high school level, was declared the league’s MVP again.
“I don’t know of anyone else who had ever done that,” said Baler coach Dean Askanas of Kortsen, who will attend Utah State next fall on a full volleyball scholarship. “In the 13 years that I’ve been doing this she is one of the top four players that I have ever coached. If I had a player like her every year I’d be real happy.”
This season Kortsen led the Balers in almost every single category that stats are kept. In addition to her league-leading 544 kills this season, Kortsen had 320 digs, 49 service aces to lead her team, 74 blocks, 48 assists, and 250 service points. In the Balers loss in the Central Coast Section championship game against Homestead, Kortsen had 16 kills to lead her team before racking up 22 more in the semifinal loss to Nevada Union in the Nor Cal state tournament.
In addition to Korsten, three other Baler players were singled out for their stellar play in league this year and earned spots on the prestigious All-League First Team squad.
Those players included seniors Ali Sharp and Bri Romero and junior player Justine Hunter.
Sharp made the list for her solid play up at the net.
“She was an incredible, big-time middle blocker for us,” Askanas said. “She had just great blocking technique, a real knack for it.”
During the season she led the Balers in that department with 109 blocks. Sharp also had 138 kills and 33 aces. And what amazed her coach most was that Sharp didn’t compete year-round.
“She played no club volleyball,” Askanas said. “But she was such a natural that she looks like a year-round player. In fact, her big blocks against Carlmont (CCS semifinal game) are what helped put us into the finals against Homestead.”
Another middle blocker to make the First Team list was senior Bri Romero, who was second on the team with 329 kills and No. 1 in digs with 587. She also had 238 service points and 40 blocks, proving that she was a menace all over the court.
“She is by far the best pure athlete I’ve ever coached,” Askanas said. “She never plays club volleyball either. She was one of the best defensive players in the entire CCS.”
Askanas went on to say that he believed Romero could get an NCAA Division I scholarship like Kortsen is she so chose.
“She could get a ride as a libero (defensive specialist),” he said. “She’s probably not going to pursue it but she could.”
The last Baler player to make the All-League First Team list was four-year varsity player Justine Hunter, the team’s setter.
During the regular season Hunter racked up an eye-popping 1,112 assists, more than 1,000 more than the team’s second-place finisher in the category. She also had 171 digs, 38 blocks, 47 aces, and led the Balers in service points with 394.
“She’s very dedicated to the sport,” Askanas said. “She does play year-round. With the others graduating, having her next year is critical to our success. She’ll be a floor captain for us and will be our setter again.”
The Baler players that made the league’s All-League Second Team squad were: Sophomore libero player Samantha Klauer, junior middle blocker Megan Halstead and junior defensive specialist Shayna Nakata.
