Panthers celebrate season filled with highlights

     Despite its season record, the Monticello High School volleyball team had several highlights during the 2018 season.

     The Panthers celebrated those, and doled out individual awards, during their annual awards banquet Oct. 29 in the MHS Commons.

     “With only three returning players, we were almost a whole new team,” head coach Stacie Breitbach told those in attendance. “I thought we showed great growth throughout the season.”

     One highlight came from the team-voted Most Valuable Player, junior Jordan Kuper, who became Monticello’s all-time career kill leader, running her total to 841.

     Team highlights included beating Cascade to reach the bracket round of the River Valley Conference Tournament, and scoring wins over Bellevue and Springville.

     The Panthers were 2-9 in the conference, 12-22 overall. The list of awards presented at the banquet follows.

ALL-CONFERENCE

     Elite: Jordan Kuper, junior.

     North Division: Jaelynn Kraus, senior.

     Honorable Mention: Tori McDonald, sophomore.

TEAM AWARDS

     Most Valuable: Jordan Kuper, junior.

     Best Offensive: Jordan Kuper, junior.

     Best Defensive: Jaelynn Kraus, senior.

     Most Improved: Lainy Fellinger, sophomore.

     Panther Pride: Tori McDonald, sophomore.

ACADEMIC ALL-STATE

     Clara Finger, senior; Jordan Lorenzen, senior; Marissa McNally, senior.

CAPTAINS’ AWARDS

     Jaelynn Kraus, senior; Megan James, senior; Marissa McNally, senior; Jordan Kuper, junior.

JV TEAM AWARDS

     Most Valuable: Lainy Fellinger, sophomore.

     Best Offensive: Emma Hynick, freshman.

     Best Defensive: Leah Holub, junior.

     Most Improved: Payton Jaeger, junior.

     Panther Pride: Piper Hansen, freshman.

FRESH-SOPH TEAM AWARDS

     Most Valuable: Bronwyn Hodge, freshman.

     Best Offensive: Megan Mahoney, sophomore.

     Best Defensive: Aubree Fairley, sophomore.

     Most Improved: Hayley Manternach, sophomore.

     Panther Pride: Caroline Olson, sophomore.