All-Thumb team announced
Brown City and North Branch have both landed two players each on the 2016 All-Thumb Volleyball Team. The two teams combined for a total nine players on the All-Thumb Team in all. North Branch’s Madison Miner became only the second player to repeat as All-Thumb Player of the Year.
A unanimous selection by local media outlets miner had over 1,000 assists, 150 kills, nearly 300 digs and 40 blocks.
Joining Miner on the first team are teammate Olivia Fike, Brown City teammates Becki Krause and Alexia Mason, Croswell-Lexington’s Lexie Davidson and Unionville-Sebewaing Area’s Rylee Zimmer. North Branch captured Team of the Year honors for a record 10th time. Coach of the Year went to Brown City’s Jenna Welke for the third time in four years. Welke also holds the distinction of the only person to be named All-Thumb Coach of the Year, while also being a former All-Thumb Player of the Year (2007).
The All-Thumb Second Team consists of Brown City’s Jasmin Bender, Cass City’s Sayge Cuthrell, Cros-Lex’s Claire Knapp, North Branch teammates Stephaney Fifield and Allyson Severance and Reese’s Lauren Hecht.
Honorable mention players included Bad Axe’s Emma Cubitt, Brown City’s Kendal Muxlow, Caro’s Cameryn Brown, Caseville’s Heidi Ewald and Olivia Grates, Cass City’s Kelsey Bouverette, Cros-Lex’s Rebecca Oden, Deckerville’s Madisyn Guza, Kingston’s Carley Smith, North Branch’s Janel Ruhlman, North Huron teammates Raegan Gembarski and Breezy Fischer, Reese’s Madison Thompson, Sandusky’s Haley Nelson and USA’s Katelyn Engelhardt.
