Bayfield High School volleyball players made up half of the All-Intermountain League first team, fitting for a team – with a brand new head coach – that again went undefeated in league play.
Libero Maddi Foutz, hitter Kirstie Hillyer and setter Suzie Rhodes all were named to the all-conference team, while Rhodes was named the league’s Player of the Year.
“Rhodes was handed the arduous task of running a new offensive system last fall and performed beautifully,” Wolverines’ first-year head coach Terene Foutz said in a news release to The Durango Herald.
Rhodes led the IML with 7.4 assists per game and finished second behind Foutz with .8 aces per game.
Foutz, a freshman and the coach’s daughter, ranked first with 4.l6 digs per game and one ace per game and collected 35 kills from a primarily defensive position.
Hillyer led the league with a .424 hitting percentage, 3.9 kills per game and 1.1 blocks per game.
“Hillyer turned in a multi-faceted MVP-level performance this year with the ‘finisher’ performance,” coach Foutz said.
Katy Funkhouser earned a spot on the All-IML second team with a .124 hitting percentage, good for fifth in the league, and .6 aces per game, which ranked fourth.
Senior Jenna Sirios also made the All-IML second team by picking up 25 aces and 92 total kills.
Foutz was awarded the IML Coach of the Year in her first year at the helm after guiding the Wolverines to a 21-6 record, including a perfect 8-0 mark in the IML.
“There are many unsung heroes throughout our roster who made significant contributions to our season’s success,” coach Foutz said.
The Wolverines qualified for a fifth consecutive state tournament, where they finished 1-1.
BHS returns Foutz; Hillyer, a Colorado State recruit; and Rhodes next year in addition to three other seniors.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
All-Intermountain League
All-Intermountain League Volleyball
First Team
Maddi Foutz, Bayfield
Amanda Garcia, Centauri
Kirstie Hillyer, Bayfield
Katie Lepp, Alamosa
Suzie Rhodes, Bayfield
Payton Shahan, Pagosa Springs
Coach of the Year: Terene Foutz, Bayfield
Player of the Year: Suzie Rhodes, Bayfield
Second Team
Jessica Brown, Monte Vista
Katy Funkhouser, Bayfield
Kendra Garcia, Centauri
Madi Lewis, Pagosa Springs
Jenna Sirios, Bayfield
LaShae Smith, Pagosa Springs
Honorable Mention
Brooke Kudelski, Pagosa Springs
Emily Logan, Monte Vista
Durango Herald
