Cooper's Brittany Ruble, left, and Lubbock Christian High's Alan Williams are The A-J's All-City volleyball player and coach of the year.

Cooper volleyball coach Courtney Pesterfield said this year’s team was one of the “silliest” she’s ever been involved with, and Brittany Ruble was “definitely the ring leader,” whether she was cracking a joke during practice or causing some light-hearted mischief on a road trip.

In terms of producing on the court, Ruble was the leader in that department, too.

The junior middle blocker with a ferocious swing and even deadlier jump serve led the Lady Pirates to a 24-14 overall record and their third trip to the Region I-3A quarterfinals in the last four years, all while keeping her teammates and head coach in stitches.

As a result, Ruble is The Avalanche-Journal’s 2009 All-City Player of the Year.

Aycock

Hays

Johns

Webster

Limmer

Moorhead

“She’s pretty giddy and doesn’t have a lot of cares in the world,” Pesterfield said of Ruble, who also is a Cooper cheerleader. “But when it does come down to volleyball, she’s pretty focused and competitive, and she definitely works hard. She’s worked hard to get where she’s gotten, but definitely with some craziness in there.”

Along with her skills as a volleyball player — the 5-foot-10 Ruble racked up 268 kills, 178 total blocks and 118 service aces this season — her bubbly personality also worked to her advantage. Her friendly nature and seemingly sweet demeanor didn’t strike fear in opponents, who often came away with a much different impression after watching Ruble hit the ball.

“I think it kind of takes people by surprise,” Ruble said. “I’m tall, but I don’t really look like a volleyball player.”

Pesterfield also described Ruble as an emotional player from which the Lady Pirates drew energy and confidence, and they also looked to her in pressure situations. If Cooper was locked in a close match and needed a momentum-changing kill or a run of tough serves, Pesterfield said Ruble usually provided it.

“She handles pressure well. She does not crumble,” Pesterfield said. “There were times she could have just packed it up. Especially when you’re jump-serving on match points, it’s so easy to crack, but she’s not going to crack under pressure.

“She has this no-holds-barred attitude about things, that she’s just going to go after it. I think she has the attitude, ‘Nothing’s going to stop me. If you want to try to stop me, have at it, but it’s probably not going to happen.’ ”

After playing more of a supporting role as a sophomore, Ruble said she knew she had to elevate her game this season. She did just that, but she also gave credit to a solid supporting cast.

Senior Ruby Johnson was the team’s leading hitter with 337 kills, and two youngsters — freshman setter Katelyn Stewart and sophomore libero Hannah Limmer — also were critical to Cooper’s success.

Ruble will have to play an even greater role as a senior next year, and continue to improve her blocking and back-row defense, but she’s “really excited” about the challenge. Pesterfield said she’s confident Ruble will become better and a more well-rounded player, which will make her more attractive to collegiate programs, and the coach hopes Ruble also can help the Lady Pirates reach the regional tournament for the first time.

“I don’t really think there’s anything Brittany can’t do as far as volleyball,” Pesterfield said. “She’s a really smart kid, too. She’s in (advanced placement) classes and dual-credit classes, and she’s pretty determined. So if I say, ‘I want you to play back row by August,’ that’s what she’s going to work on.”

Staying the course

Alan Williams did not lead Lubbock Christian High to a district championship this season, and he wasn’t able to make a seventh state-tournament appearance with the Lady Eagles.
But his 12th season as Lubbock Christian’s head coach might have been his best.

The Lady Eagles had only two seniors on their roster this year, and one of them — leading hitter and server Brittany Hays — missed most of TAPPS District 1-3A competition with a broken finger. Thanks in large part to Williams’ steady guiding hand, though, they didn’t stumble.
LCHS finished 26-14 overall and second in district play at 4-2, and also won a playoff match.

“It’s hard to say if it was one of my better coaching jobs,” said Williams, the All-City Coach of the Year. “I was proud of the team. … We won quite a few games with a really young team, so I see that as a success. It certainly was a very enjoyable season.”

Williams knew it could be a fruitful season for the Lady Eagles, who returned every player from a team that went 26-13 in 2008. And LCHS got off to a great start this fall, finishing second in three of its tournaments.

But the campaign took a turn for the worse on Sept. 16, when Hays — who led the team in kills and service aces and ranked second in digs — broke her left ring finger while playing a flag football game. She was sidelined for nine matches, including the first four district contests.

Williams was forced to shuffle his lineup, and several players had to take on different or more significant roles. But the Lady Eagles survived until Hays returned to the court, winning enough district matches to secure a playoff spot.

Williams said they also grew from the experience, and dealing with the adversity brought the team closer together.

“It didn’t make us a stronger team, but it helped us to be a better team — maybe not in wins and losses, but definitely in team chemistry,” he said. “And when Britany was gone, we got to a see a little bit of what next year’s team is going to be. Girls were playing positions they may play next year, and getting real game-time situations and good experience. In the long run, I’m sure it’ll pay off for us.”

Williams’ work on the bench has been paying off for more than a decade, with the Lady Eagles reaching the playoffs in 11 of his 12 seasons and advancing to the TAPPS state tournament six times. His teams typically have played scrappy defense and been fundamentally sound, and just like their coach, they keep wins and losses in perspective and have plenty of fun along the way.

“When I started out in coaching, I thought that you had to be the big disciplinarian, you had to scream and holler,” Williams said. “But I quickly found out (otherwise). I guess maturity and experience has taught me you can have a whole lot more enjoyable season if you try to motivate girls without yelling.

“Let’s just say that winning is not the most important thing,” he added. “I certainly want to see us have success, but I don’t measure that success by winning. Effort and attitude, that’s what I like to see.”

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Player of the Year
Brittany Ruble, 5-10, MB, Jr., Cooper
A dominant force at the net and from the service line, Ruble become more and more productive as the season progressed to lead Cooper to its third regional-quarterfinal appearance in the last four seasons. She racked up 268 kills and led the Lady Pirates with 118 service aces, 80 solo blocks and 98 block assists. First-team all-District 1-3A.

Coach of the Year
Alan Williams, Lubbock Christian
The Lady Eagles had only two seniors, and one of them, leading player Brittany Hays, missed nearly all of TAPPS District 1-3A play with a broken finger. But Williams, their longtime coach, held the young team together and guided Lubbock Christian to a 26-14 overall record and a playoff victory.

FIRST TEAM

Outside hitters
Brittany Hays, 5-7, Sr., Lubbock Christian
Despite missing most of TAPPS District 1-3A play with a broken finger, Hays was Lubbock Christian’s unquestioned floor leader. She racked up a team-leading 415 kills and 81 service aces while also making 306 digs defensively, helping the Lady Eagles reach the second round of the playoffs. First-team all-TAPPS District 1-3A.

Tyler Webster, 5-9, Sr., Coronado
A team leader as well as the Lady Mustangs’ most versatile and complete player, Webster produced from all spots on the court. She led Coronado with 38 service aces, ranked second on the team with 323 digs and was third with 192 kills. First-team all-District 2-5A.

Middle blockers
Kailey Moorhead, 5-8, Sr., Frenship
With a 28-inch vertical leap, Moorhead played much taller than her actual height. She tallied 256 kills and 83 blocks and was just as solid on the back row, making 161 digs. Moorhead also was a vocal floor leader who helped the Tigers recover from a slow start and return to the postseason. First-team all-District 4-4A.

Stephanie Johns, 6-0, Jr., Coronado
A dangerous weapon at the net, the tall and athletic Johns was the Lady Mustangs’ best blocker and one of its leading hitters. She racked up 38 solo blocks, 79 block assists and 167 kills, and she also was effective in the service game with 26 aces. Second-team all-District 2-5A.

Setter
Carsey Aycock, 5-9, Sr., Frenship
An outside hitter as a junior who was forced into the setter’s role this year, Aycock made a smooth transition and led the Tigers to another playoff appearance. She racked up 934 assists and also was effective at the net and on the back row, adding 63 blocks and 238 digs. District 4-4A Setter of the Year.

Libero
Hannah Limmer, 5-6, So., Cooper
Although just a sophomore, Limmer already is a seasoned back-row player. She made 275 digs to help lead the Lady Pirates to a second-place finish in district play and a run to the third round of the playoffs, and she also served for 30 aces. District 1-3A Defensive Player of the Year.

SECOND TEAM
Outside hitters: Maddie Johnson, 5-9, Jr., Frenship; Ruby Johnson, 5-6, Sr., Cooper; Kasey Shaw, 5-9, Sr., Trinity Christian; LaShondra Ray, 5-6, Sr., Estacado
Middle blockers: Kellyn Schneider, 6-4, So., Monterey; Kacey Deterding, 5-10, Jr., Frenship
Setters: Katelyn Stewart, 5-6, Fr., Cooper; Catherine Wiechmann, 5-7, So., Lubbock High; Logan Lockard, Sr., Monterey
Liberos: Megan Granado, 5-6, Jr., Coronado; Makenzie Brown, 5-6, Sr., Trinity Christian