By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The Big Foot girls volleyball team landed seven players on All-Rock Valley Conference South Division teams based on recently released voting results.
Senior outside hitter Gloria Esarco and sophomores Kampbell Hehr (setter) and Sophia Foster (libero) each were voted to first team.
Earning second-team honors were senior right-side hitter Jordan Bobek, junior middle blocker Payton Courier and sophomore outside hitter Abby Peterson.
Senior outside hitter/libero Kennedy Hehr, who played in just 36 sets before she was sidelined with a knee injury, was named honorable mention.
Esarco, a two-year captain and a six-rotation player who rarely came off the court, had 346 kills, 54 aces, 14 blocks and 315 digs for the Chiefs this fall.
“Gloria once again was a major contributor to our team’s success, not only in her skills, but her work ethic and leadership,” Big Foot coach Caitlin Dowden said.
“Gloria was involved in every single play in one way or another. She truly leaves everything she has on the court each time she plays.”
There were hardly any moments when the Chiefs didn’t turn to Esarco to get something done, Dowden said, which signaled quite a player growth from her freshman to senior years.
“She was our go-to hitter,” Dowden said. “When we needed the ball in the court, we went to her. When we needed the ball to be put down, we went to her.”
Kampbell Hehr tallied 816 assists 142 kills, 65 aces, 37 blocks and 319 digs.
Hehr, one of the team’s most valuable players, led the Chiefs in assists and solo blocks and was second in digs, kills and aces.
“She also was our floor general on the court,” Dowden said. “She ran an extremely consistent and effective offense.
“Kampbell is extremely athletic and a great volleyball player whose potential is unlimited. She continues to impress me as she is constantly improving some point of her game all the time. This year, we focused on her becoming an offensive threat and she did just that.”
Foster led the team with 332 digs and added 32 aces, as her defensive role continues to increase, Dowden said.
“She led the defense in all aspects and was truly a leader on the court,” she said. “Sophia’s ability to read balls and beat them to the spot is amazing.
“If the first contact came from her, our team was extremely successful. Sophie is a great teammate. She is the first to congratulate or the first to encourage her teammates after every play.”
Kennedy Hehr tore her meniscus in her knee for a second time in Big Foot’s third RVC match of the year and was lost for the season.
That loss obviously was a big one, as Hehr was the reigning RVC Player of the Year, Dowden said.
“Prior to her injury, she was our team’s most valuable player and contributor as her numbers show for such a short period of time,” she said. “She was a staple to our team, and it really hurt to not have her out there.”
But having a chance to get Hehr some kind of recognition was at least some kind of consolation, Dowden added.
“She and I spent a great deal of time together throughout her career, and she is a player who has definitely impacted my coaching career,” Dowden said. “I look forward to watching her (college) career and all of her success unfold.”
Big Foot was 30-10 overall and 10-0 in the RVC – another successful campaign, Dowden said.
“We faced a lot of adversity throughout the season, and the girls responded to each situation and took on each challenge,” she said. “This team was a true pleasure to coach, and it is a bummer we fell two points short in the (regional) semifinal because we truly believe we could challenge any team we faced.”
