Two of the areas best volleyball players were recognized among the best in the state Wednesday.
Madeline Foutz of Bayfield and Chrystianne Valdez of Ignacio were named to All-State teams by the Colorado High School Activities Association. Valdez was named to the Class 2A second team, while Foutz was a Class 3A honorable mention selection.
Valdez helped the Ignacio Bobcats to a 15-9 record and 11-1 finish in the Class 2A/1A San Juan Basin League. She also was named to the All-SJBL First Team.
The senior defensive specialist finished the year with a team-high 262 digs, averaging 2.9 digs per set and 11.4 per match. She also had 32 serving aces and was second on the team with 39 assists. She was key in receiving serves, successfully handling 568 during the season. She only had 46 serving receiving errors in more than 600 attempts.
“Her defensive play was amazing. She’s going to be super hard to replace next year,” IHS head coach Thaddeus Cano said.
Cano said Valdez has had a strong postseason and was able to perform in front of many of the state’s coaches at the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports All-State Game on Nov. 22 in Arvada.
“She’s had a really good postseason,” Cano said. “I’m thrilled for her. The coaches saw her ability, and I know her performance there had a lot to do with her All-State selection by CHSAA.”
Cano said Valdez has interest from three colleges to continue playing at the next level. She’s not only a strong volleyball player but also a standout student, as she is already taking college-level courses at Fort Lewis College.
Foutz, who also was named the Class 3A Intermountain League Player of the Year, helped the Wolverines stay in the postseason picture by reaching the regional round. Bayfield went 13-12 this season and 6-2 in the IML.
“It’s a huge honor, and I’m so beyond excited,” said Foutz, daughter of Mike and Terene Foutz. “We all worked so hard together at Bayfield, and getting that award is something so special. It will make me work even harder to get All-State next year.”
The junior libero and outside hitter was the captain of the team this season. She led the Wolverines in kills with 231, averaging three per set. She had a hitting percentage of .207. Foutz also led the team with 77 serving aces, averaging one per set, and solo blocks with 18. She finished with 41 total blocks.
To go with her offense, Foutz also got it done defensively, coming up with 312 digs to finish second on the team in that category to fellow junior Emily Bauer, who was named to the All-IML Second Team. Foutz was good for an average of four digs per set and 13.6 per game. Foutz also handled serves well with 401 receptions to only 48 receiving errors.
Foutz, a verbal commit to volleyball powerhouse Colorado State University, said she takes pride in being able to play all over the floor, especially at only 5-foot-4.
“I worked really hard to be able to do that,” she said. “I started in third-grade, and ever since then until I was a sophomore in high school I was just a libero. Shorter people never see the front row, but I’ve been working as hard as I could and finally got up there. I take pride in being a 5-4 outside hitter and being successful at it.”
The Class 3A Player of the Year was Caiden Rexitus of Eaton, and Valley’s Rene Aafedt was named the Coach of the Year.
The IML also was represented on the Second Team by Pagosa Springs’ Megan Farrah. Alamosa’s Brooke Trujillo also was named to the honorable mention list.
In Class 2A, Yuma swept the top awards with Tara Traphagen claiming Player of the Year and Jenny Noble being named Coach of the Year.
The SJBL also saw Ridgway’s Kaitlyn Rutherford named to the First Team and Jenna Mansfield of Rye on the Second Team.
Durango High School did not have a player selected to the All-State team in Class 4A. State champion Cheyenne Mountain swept the top awards, with David Barkley earning Coach of the Year and Bethany Cullity named Player of the year.
Durango senior Maddie Robertson was named to the Class 4A/5A Southwestern League All-Conference First Team. Lia Henricksen also was named to the All-Conference Second Team for the Demons, who went 14-11 overall and 5-5 in league games.
Also honored on the Class 3A IML All-Conference team was Bayfield senior Brooke Kudelski and sophomore Kylee McCoy. Both were named All-IML Honorable Mention players.
Joining Valdez on the Class 2A All-SJBL First Team was sophomore setter Shoshone Thompson, who also was named the team’s MVP. Kelly Campbell also made the All-League First Team.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
