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Miller, Winders lead All-County Volleyball Team
Quinci Miller has been named Putnam County's 2014 volleyball player of the year. This comes after a tremendous senior year for Miller, who led the county in kills and blocks with 312 and 122 respectively.
"It's an honor," Miller said. "To be given this award just lets me know that I'm on the right path. Working hard can get you somewhere. That's a blessing from God because I just started my freshman year and I just wanted to see how good I could be in this sport that I love doing. It's great to know that I got this award."
Miller was the outspoken leader of her team and it wasn't just her impressive stat line that makes her the player that she is. While her physical attributes allow GHS to run the entire offense through her, Tiger Cub coach Maggie Walters says the vocal leadership she typically displays is what sets her apart on the volleyball floor.
The Tiger Cubs won the Putnam County Championship and finished with the best record in the conference and the Greencastle volleyball team was filled with playmakers such as junior Allison White and senior leaders Tera Amis and Olivia Divine as well as co-captain Taylor Stoltey. Miller said this type of team success is what yields an award like this.
"I could not have gotten this award without my teammates," Miller said. "I couldn't get kills without passes or amazing sets. My team means so much. They encourage me so much when I was down or having trouble. They were there for me and I honestly could not be where I am if it wasn't for them."
Miller says despite some early-season unfamiliarity the team became really close by the end of the season and that led to her having so much fun.
"We are a family out there," Miller said. "Coming into the season this year, not a lot of people knew each other. The seniors wanted to have a family this year. That was our goal so we connected with them and they connected with us and we got through a lot this season together. We learned not to play for individuals but for each other. It's just good to see the connection that we have out there, which I love. I was so honored to be on this team this year because I love each and every one of those girls."
Miller spends the majority of her off-season playing volleyball year round on a traveling team and hopes to continue her athletic success after graduation.
"I give all the glory to God. I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for Him in my life."
The Putnam County runner-up was Cloverdale's Jessica Winders who couldn't be ignored due to her work ethic and her amazing abilities on the Clover defensive end. She helped Cloverdale to second place in the WCC with a conference record of 3-1.
"I'm really happy about it," Winders said. "I don't think I've ever been top five player of the year. It's such a high recommendation."
Winders finished the season with 89 aces, 469 assists and 229 digs, all team highs.
Winders is also known for her talent on the softball diamond but she says she has a special passion for the hardwood and the net.
"I love it," Winders said. "Its my favorite sport. I pretty much try and give it everything especially with it being my last year. It was fun."
Winders credits her volleyball success to both the team play the coaching strategies of Kathy Moore and the coaching staff.
"I think it's both because on my team we all work together really well," Winders said. "We are all best friends. So that helps, and I've had my coach since the fifth grade so she's helped push me and had me."
Moore has been an advocate of Winders' work all season saying repeatedly that she is one of the hardest workers that she has ever coached.
"Jessica was my MVP this year," Moore said. "She led our team in four skilled categories which were number of aces, number of points, number of set assists and number of digs and was a team captain. She led the WCC in aces and was third in set assists. She also was No. 7 in 2A in aces."
Like Winders, Moore values the time that she and Winders have spent over the years on the volleyball court.
"Jessica has had a passion for volleyball since the fifth grade," Moore said. "She has always been a leader and as a leader she led by example by working harder than her teammates. She has been the team leader the past two years and has challenged her teammates to be positive and never quit. She expects excellence from herself and others.
"Jessica has helped with middle school intramurals, camps and open gyms. I have had several coaches compliment Jessica because they liked how much she talked and directed her team as setter. Jessica's work ethic extends to her academic success as well."
Two more of Moore's Clovers have been named the All-County. Seniors Bailee Stevens and Lexi Branneman. Branneman led her team with 213 kills and 50 blocks. Stevens was able to compliment her nicely with 186 digs.
For the County Champs juniors Taylor Stoltey and Allison white have also been recognized. White finished with 164 kills and her 178 digs were second on the team. Stoltey showed her value with her 603 assists on the season.
The Eagles are represented on the All-County team by juniors Katie Hewitt, Mackenzi Myers and senior Emily Dobson.
Hewitt was honored as All-Conference and recorded 40 kills on the season. Myers was the team-leader in kills with 49 while Dobson, the team's only senior, accrued 35 kills.
The Cougars are represented by senior Shay Lucas, junior Taylor Nauert and sophomore Lyndi Parent.
Lucas was the team's defensive guru with her 90 digs. Parent was the architect setting up her team for kills 86 times. Nauert was the execution as she led the team with 87 kills. She also led with 55 aces and 25 blocks.