THREE AREA PLAYERS CAPTURE ALL-STATE VOLLEYBALL HONORS

Three area volleyball players -- Leopold's Sarah Gowen, Bell City's Courtney Brockmeyer and Woodland's Sarah Booth -- were recently named by the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association as all-state performers.

Brockmeyer, a second team all-stater her junior year, was named to the Class 1A first team, while Gowen was named to the second team in Class 1A and Booth was named to the second team in Class 2A.

Brockmeyer, a 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter, pounded out 277 kills for the Lady Cubs this past season. She also posted 260 digs, 35 blocks, 15 assists, 132 service points and 15 aces. She recorded a 97 percent serving percentage.

"She's an excellent player," said Bell City coach Carl Ritter. "She's hard working and dedicated. She's very conscientious about the way she plays."

Gowen, a junior setter, posted a 92-percent serving percentage for the 18-10-1 Lady Wildcats. She served for 27 aces, provided 210 assists, 112 kills, 113 digs, 23 solo blocks and 36 assisted blocks.

Gowen was a first-team all-state selection her sophomore year.

"Sarah has a lot of enthusiasm for the game of volleyball and that makes her a very easy player to work with and coach," Leopold coach Leanne Huffman said. "She has an enormous amount of talent and I am excited to have her coming back next year."

Booth, a junior outside hitter, landed on the all-state team despite being named to the all-district second team.

She finished the season with a kill percentage of 88 percent and a 97 percent serving average. She also hustled for 218 digs.

Booth ended up leading the Lady Cardinals to a district and sectional championship en route to a fourth-place finish in Class 2A.

She was also earned a spot on the KTJJ Dream Team, an all-class volleyball team composed of just 12 athletes state-wide.

Woodland coach Tammy Brock said Booth's passion for volleyball has a lot to do with her success.

"I've had some good players, but I've never seen a kid who takes the video tape and analyzes it for herself," Brock said. "She's got a positive attitude and she gives 110 percent."