By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Saturday's Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match gave Katelynn Brogan the opportunity to make some new friends, get acquainted with a family member and close out her high school career with a victory.
Former Washburn Rural standout Katelynn Brogan serves the ball for the Red team in Saturday's Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Lee Arena. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
Overall it was a good couple of days for the former Washburn Rural standout.
"It was fun,'' said Brogan, who helped the Red team take a 25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-10 win over the Blue Saturday at Lee Arena. "I came in knowing nobody. I knew of people, but I had never talked to any of them. They were very welcoming and it was fun to get to know people.''
One of the teammates Brogan got the chance to know was her cousin, former Wabaunsee star Lauren Schutter.
"I actually got to play with my second cousin,'' Brogan said. "My mom had told me that we were second cousins, and then I found out we were playing together and that was cool.''
Brogan, who will play at Cloud County Community College, said the Red team did a good job of meshing as a team.
"We came in Friday morning and we practiced twice on Friday and then we got up early this morning and practiced today,'' Brogan said. "I feel like we played pretty good as a team. I feel we connected good, even with just two days. I thought we looked good.''
Brogan, who contributed a pair of long service runs for the Red, played setter for Washburn Rural, which finished fourth in Class 6A last fall with a 41-2 record, but got a chance to play a variety of roles in Saturday's match.
"I actually got to play outside and go all the way around, which I've never done.''
Seaman product Drew Baxter sets the ball for the Blue in Saturday's Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Lee Arena. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
Former Seaman standout Drew Baxter, who helped lead the Vikings to a fourth-place finish in 5A last fall, played for the Blue, ranking as one of her team's leading hitters on the night.
Baxter will play collegiately at William Jewell.
Following Saturday's match the KVA presented four indivdual awards.
Schutter received the Joan Lundstrom Wells Award of Excellence while Harley Ferralez of Hesston was awarded the Flo Hyman Scholarship, Lansing's Caitlin Bishop received the Judy Bellomo Most Inspirational Player Award and Kassidy Nixon of Central Plains received the Don Bechard Memorial Award.
MATCH RESULTS
Red def. Blue, 25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-10.
