2021 SUN Preps All-Area Athletes & Teams
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www.yoursun.com Page 23 2440 South McCall Rd 941-473-9663 15% OFF With Ad (not including specials or alcohol) Exp. 12/31/21 adno=3798057-1 ENGLEWOOD ENGLEWOOD 2020 2020 ENGLEWOOD ENGLEWOOD 2020 2020 Lunch & Dinner Specials | Special Sports Events & Party Platters 40+ TVS with all Sports Channels - Live Music Bars/Dining Room Inside or Outdoors under the Tiki! Open at 11:00 AM daily said earlier this season. "I don't know that she'll play middle in college. They'll probably be looking at her playing outside, but her ability to jump and the fact she'll just keep getting stronger and quicker as she moves up in level is key. She can hang up in the air." Kiki Montgomery (Venice junior) At 6-2, Montgomery is in what Venice coach Brian Wheatley calls the "10-foot Club" for being able to touch a basketball goal's rim. Montgomery's junior season was about making progress. She improved her lateral movement for blocking and still has room to grow before hitting her ceiling. Adriana Barrera (DeSoto County senior) No team could ask for a more selfless libero or, in general, teammate than Barrera, who was one of just three seniors on the Bulldogs' squad. Her play in the middle and back of the court often put DeSoto's rising young group of hitters in the right spot for a kill. Laticia Nina (Port Charlotte senior) She will not be pursuing volleyball in college, but Nina definitely could hold her own at that level if she so chose. She ranked second or third in just about every statistical category on the Pirates and had a knack for coming through in the clutch, especially down the stretch of the regular season. Second team Ireland Ferguson (Venice junior) In Brian Wheatley's time at Venice, it's a rare occurrence for a freshman to make the varsity roster. Ferguson is one of them. In her junior season, she proved her versatility, competing at a high level at whatever position she was asked to play. Alicia Kowalski (Port Charlotte senior) Kowalski, along with Dailey and Nina, played a key part of the Pirates' Great Wall of Blocks, finishing sec- ond only to Dailey with 33. Her vast potential will be mined at the University of Tampa, an NCAA Division II power that won a national title in 2018. Presley Engelauf (Lemon Bay sophomore) The Mantas spent the season figuring out who they were and what position best suits each player. As such, Engelauf moved around Lemon Bay's front line searching for a home. Whether she is on the right side or middle, Lemon Bay coach Pat Auer expects her to improve on her team-high 124 kills and become more imposing as blocker. Andreya Stellwag (North Port junior) Another of the area's jack-of-all-trades, Stellwag often lined up as a defensive specialist or libero, but still managed to finish second on the Bobcats in kills (114). She led the team with 241 digs and also was second in aces (18). Serena Kohler (Imagine junior) Kohler is another of the area's overachieving hitters. Standing 5-10, she still led a very good Sharks team with 270 kills, recording more than 20 in three matches. She also was second on the team with 35 aces. Alex Vega (Charlotte junior) Vega is another of the area's difference-making liberos, a position that definitely stood out in 2020. Always in position, Vega put up prolific dig numbers and delivered accurate passes, all while being the Tarpons' primary serve receiver. Coach of the year — Christine Burkhart (Port Charlotte) Burkhart gets the nod for a second consecutive season after her season-long plan paid dividends in the postseason. Burkhart drew up a huge slate of games that gave the Pirates little rest and made sure a majority of those matches came against teams that were as good or better than they were. She knew the Pirates' record would be bad. She didn't care. And when playoff time came? Port Charlotte went deeper than any other team in the area, pulling off the best win along the way at Barron Collier. VOLLEYBALL FROM PAGE 22