Club News

4-Year Player Awards:

Olivia Boyle – 12 Tom

Sarah Boyle – 12 Tom

Ella Burris – 15 Kelsey

Elise Camerieri – 15 Megan

Elizabeth Curry – 15 Kelsey

Natalie Dietter – 16 A’Sheana

Ava Fiorelli – 13 Davis

Kaitlyn Hite – 13 Erik

Alecia Holmes-Terry – 16 A’Sheana

Meredith Howell – 17 Scott

Gillian Huffman – 15 Amy

Lauren Johnson – 16 A’Sheana

Cayla Kalinowski – 15 Kelsey

Sarah Laufer – 17 Amy

Ashley Lawrence – 13 Davis

Sydney Letsch – 16 Rachael

Camille McCraw – 16 Michael

Blakely Meyer – 15 Megan

Abby Nyberg – 18 Sarah

Alyssa Parodi – 17 Mikki

Gabbi Phillips – 16 Michael

Anne-Briscoe Ponogonis – 15 Erin

Kayla Roberson – 16 A’Sheana

Meghan Shultz – 13 Erik

Mary Stallings – 16 Michael

Brynnan Thompson – 15 Amy

Camden Weigle – 15 Megan

 

Beast Mode (PHOTO):

Player showing off their ultimate beast mode. The nominees for the 2019 “Beast Mode” Award are…

Cara Cone (12 Ally)

Liza Dobbins (16 Rob)

Victoria Ergle (18 Sarah)

Ava Garner (13 Megan)

Kaitlin Grace (16 Rachael)

Addison Kostyniak (12 Ariane)

Alyssa Parodi (17 Mikki)

Diane Pierre-Loius (14 Taisa)

Emma Toro (14 Jim)

AND THE WINNER IS… Alyssa Parodi (17 Mikki)

 

“Can’t Touch This” Team Award (VIDEO):

Video of great defensive plays to prevent the ball from hitting the floor! The nominees for the 2019 “Can’t Touch This” Award are…

12 Tom

15 Kelsey

16 Rachael

17 Scott

18 Sarah

AND THE WINNER IS… 12 Tom

 

Most Spirited:

Presented to the athlete whose participation best exemplifies the true spirit of sport in athletics and in life. This year, 35 nominations were submitted for “Most Spirited”! The nominees for the 2019 “Most Spirited Award” are…

Audrey Brooks (15 Amy)

Ellie Chilton (14 Kelly)

Kendall Compton (14 Tish)

Sofia Cruz (12 Ariane)

Emily Cunningham (14 Kimberly)

Ella Fiorelli (15 Kelsey)

Sophie Gould (17 Scott)

Brooke MacCartney (13 Chad)

Lucy Siegel (13 Cali)

Brooke Shafer (12 Ariane)

Ava Storelli (14 Kimberly)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2019 “MOST SPIRITED” AWARD IS…. Ellie Chilton (14 Kelly)

Ellie’s nominators described her as…

“Ellie is a spirit on the team. constantly rousing the team to stay in the game and also the crowd. She loves to dance and be silly on the sidelines and has energy for days. She makes the team smile. she is an aggressive player that loves to rally and play hard.

Ellie puts it all out there on the court! She is energy personified from the moment she steps out there and keeps it going from the sidelines, too. She is spirited in a way that sometimes makes our opponents uneasy, and we think it's AWESOME. No matter what is happening on the court, she cheers, dances, and encourages her teammates to focus on the next point and stay ENERGIZED. We are lucky to have her on the team, and even LUCKIER to not be facing her from the other side of the net. :)”

 

“Not Today” Award (VIDEO):

Video of the best dig or play on the ball. The nominees for the 2019 “Not Today” Award are…

Elizabeth Baum (16 Rachal)

Kortney Bolen (14 Kimberly)

Luiza Ceasr (14 Jim)

Taylor Hall (18 Sarah)

Meredith Howell (17 Scott)

Kristin Ross (16 A’Sheana)

AND THE WINNER IS… Luiza Cesar (14 Jim)

 

 

Rookie of the Year:

Presented to a first-year club player who demonstrated outstanding athletic performance and dedication. This year, we received 50 nominations for “Rookie of the Year”. The nominees for the 2019 “Rookie of the Year” are…

Riley Duncan (14 Jim)

Ashley Jhun (17 Amy)

Kalana Garner (16 Julie)

Norah Harmon (13 Erik)

Makayla Mitchler (15 Kristin)

Kylie Scott (14 Taisa)

Brooke Shafer (12 Ariane)

Nadia Webster (13 Jola)

Ashlyn Willis (13 Jola)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2019 “ROOKIE OF THE YEAR” AWARD IS…. Kalana Garner (16 Julie)

Kalana’s nominator describe her as…

“This was Kalana’s first season playing club volleyball and she picked it up so quickly! She is a natural athlete and was able to step up and play middle for our team. She had some amazing blocks, kills, serves, and even digs throughout the season. Kalana was always asking how she could improve in all aspects of the game. She always wanted to try new positions to become as versatile as possible. She was dedicated to the sport and learning as much as possible to better herself and her team.”

 

Setting the Bar Awards:

Players who attend Setting Sessions throughout the season and go above and beyond what’s required. The following setters are being recognized for their efforts this season!

 

Commitment Award:

Lillie Murrell – 15 Crystal

“Lillie goes above and beyond to improve her setting skills by attending multiple setting sessions each week.  Her volleyball IQ has grown tremendously over the season due to the work she has put in. Lillie demonstrates the commitment that is expected of the setting position and Cobb Atlanta.”

Alex Boydstone – 17 Scott

“Alex takes every opportunity she can to improve her setting skills. She is always looking for additional touches on the ball, feedback from her coaches, and opportunities to take her game to the next level. Her commitment and strive to be the best she can be is contagious and inspiring.”

 

Quarterback Award:

Gabbi Phillips – 16 Michael

“Gabbi is the definition of a leader at setting sessions. She demonstrates the ability to help coach up younger players, but is able to craft her own skills at the same time. She has a confidence on the court that is critical for the setting position, a drive to better every ball, and the determination to help those around her excel. She is extremely coachable and accepts whatever challenge is thrown her way.”

 

Most Improved

Lindsey Heslin – 15 Kristin

“Lindsey's improvement in set location, footwork, and overall control of her form has led to her success on the court. She puts in the time to get better, and throughout the season has made consistent adjustments to her setting game.”

Sadie Parkerson – 13 Chad

“Sadie's confidence level as a setter has sky rocketed this season. She is able to command the court and her setting ability backs up her leadership. Her consistency on and off the court shows her dedication to her craft. It has been fun to watch her improvement over the course of the season.”

Jessie Taylor – 17 Mikki

“Jessie has improved drastically this season, as a setter and a defender. She has learned how to use her athleticism to make great saves and better the ball for her attackers. She has stepped up as a leader by taking her setting game to the next level.”

 

The CAJ Way Award

Ella Burris – 15 Kelsey

“Ella is always ready to work and give 100% of her effort. Her love for the game and for setting is obvious when you watch her train. She trains like it is match point in the Gold Bracket Finals. Every ball matters, every contact is a chance to get better, an opportunity to make her attackers better, to win. She applies feedback immediately to her game, and continues to become a better setter because of her determination to be the best.”

Paige Armstrong – 15 Kelsey

“Paige is a communicator, a team player, and an all-around outstanding volleyball player. When you train with Paige you can't help but enjoy it. She has fun being challenged, and there is never a challenge too difficult for her... she will find a way to win! Paige is a natural leader, and likes the responsibility that comes with the setting position. To be able to put the team on her back is a challenge she will take any day, and that is how she trains 100% of the time.”

 

Most Improved (SELECTED BY COACHES):

Awarded to the player who made the most significant improvement this season on their team.

Alex Lambert (11 Kris)

Anjali Jaglan (12 Ally)

Sarah Ann Mathies (12 Ariane)

Tumi Adeyinka (12 Anne)

Nicole Hurioglu (13 Davis)

Kaitlyn Henschied (13 Chad)

Olivia O’Connor (13 Jessica)

Emily Powell (13 Carli)

Nadia Webster (13 Jola)

Carly King (13 Megan)

Avery Meyer (13 Jena)

Diane Pierre-Louis (14 Taisa)

Riley Duncan (14 Jim)

Addie Eiland (14 Kelly)

Carter Strech (14  Stuart)

Abbey Evans (14 Tish)

Winnie Matanmi (14 Emma)

Daly Miller (14 Kimberly)

Audrey Brooks (15 Amy)

Lauren Adrian (15 Megan)

Michaela Creighton (15 Crystal)

Carmen Sotunde (15 Erin)

Olivia Patrick (15 Kristin)

Emma  Fanney (16 A’Sheana)

Ayanna Farmer (16 Rachael)

Tess Smith (16 Julie)

Rachel Faulmann (16 Rob)

Jessie Taylor (17 Mikki)

Alex Rogers (17 Scott)

Ashley Jhun (17 Amy)

Beth Bowman (18 Sarah)

 

Best Game Face – Player (PHOTO):

Player with a serious, celebratory, intense look on their face. The nominees for the 2019 “Best Game Face” Award are…

Beyonce Andrews (18 Sarah)

Jillian Dunphy (12 Ariane)

Lauren Haynes (15 Kelsey)

Elsa Loechl (15 Erin)

Izzy Migchelbrink (13 Carli)

Riley Milner (12 Ally)

Azzie Williams (13 Chad)

AND THE WINNER IS…  Riley Miler (12 Ally)

 

5-Year Player Awards:

16 Players are being recognized for reaching their 5 years at Cobb Atlanta milestone. That’s 7 more than last year! Let’s give these dedicated athletes a grand round of applause!

Claire Andres (16 A’Sheana)

Renee Bissel (17 Scott)

Beth Bowman (18 Sarah)

Kaila Dowd (16 Michael)

Ella Fiorelli (15 Kelsey)

Sophie Gould (17 Scott)

Kendall Guthrie (17 Scott)

Taylor Hall (18 Sarah)

Maya Harris (18 Sarah)

Khloe Henderson (18 Sarah)

Kelli Kaiser (16 Michael)

Emily Maddocks (15 Kelsey)

Sarah Mesaros (16 Michael)

Michaela Mulqueen (17 Amy)

McKenna Nelson (17 Mikki)

Lauren Watson (17 Scott)

 

“You Got Served” Award (VIDEO):

Video of an amazing serve/ace. The nominees for the 2019 “You Got Served” Award are…

Nicole Hurioglu (13 Davis)

Samantha Nagel (13 Chad)

Paisley Shoch (14 Emma)

Emmye Simpson (15 Kristin)

Sofia Slavov (12 Ally)

AND THE WINNER IS… Paisley Shoch (14 Emma)

 

Most Social:

Player who posts the most about Cobb Atlanta/volleyball on Instragram. The players nominated for “Most Social” outwardly share their love for Cobb Atlanta with their online fans! The nominees for the 2018 “Most Social” are…

Maddie Bonds (14 Jim)

Elizabeth Braun (12 Ally)

Gabby Davis (16 Julie)

Imani Mensah (13 Megan)

Riley Milner (12 Ally)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2018 “MOST SOCIAL” AWARD IS…. Maddie Bonds (14 Jim)

Maddie’s nominator describe her presence on social media as:

“Maddie’s love for Cobb Atlanta is evident in person and even more so on social media. She’s posted about Cobb Atlanta over 15 times since Commitment Night in October! Her posts are also positive and uplifting!”

 

Longest Rally (VIDEO):

Video of a long rally – must last 10 seconds or longer! The nominees for the 2018 “Longest Rally” Award are…

13 Davis (:23 seconds)

13 Chad (:42 seconds)

14 Kimberly (:42 seconds)

16 Rachael (:57 seconds)

16 Rob (:41 seconds)

17 Scott (1:00 min)

AND THE WINNER IS…  17 Scott

 

Comeback Athlete:

Presented to the athlete who has overcome odds to succeed as a Cobb Atlanta athlete. The nominees for the 2019 “Comeback Athlete” are…

Kendall Buice (14 Taisa)

Kinley Hoegh (12 Ally)

Kayla Johnson (16 Michael)

Blakely Meyer (15 Megan)

Lizzie Williams (17 Mikki)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2018 “COMEBACK ATHLETE” AWARD IS…. Blakey Meyer (15 Megan)

A fellow teammate described Blakely’s comeback this season as:

“Blakey was plagued with constant elbow pain for nearly a year, before it was finally diagnosed as OCD Osteochondritis dissecans in which had to be operated on. This all went down right after she made the 14-2s. So, for that entire season, Blakely did not get to play. Yet she still went to all team practices, fitness, and tournaments - while also going to rehab 3 times a week. She watched and cheered her team on, all the while wanting so badly to be out there playing the sport she loves. After a year of intense rehab and therapy, Blakely got cleared to play volleyball again right before tryouts for the 2018-19 season. She endured some hardships at tryouts when her elbow began to feel some significant pain. At this point she was worried she would not make a team at all. Fortunately, she did make the 15-3’s which proved not only to be a perfect fit, but also a tremendous opportunity. She’s spent most of her time as DS or Outside hitter, but the team did not have a true setter. The coach asked if she would try to fill the role. As always, she gave it her best effort and has been the setter for the entire year. She is just thankful to be back on the court with her team & friends!”

 

Most Improved – Fitness (SUBMITTED BY KELSEY):

This award goes to the player that has worked extremely hard and made significant strides in their overall fitness. They have also specifically made improvements in the fitness exercises that were tested at the beginning of the season. The nominees for the “2019 Most Improved Fitness Award” are…

Tatum Beckwith – 16 Rachael

Audrey Brooks – 15 Amy

Brianna Caldwell – 14 Stuart

Norah Harmon – 13 Erik

Rasmsey Huff – 12 Tom

Brooke MacCartney – 13 Chad

Mackayla Mitchler – 15 Kristin

Sofia Slavov – 12 Ally

Carter Strech – 14 Stuart

Alexis Stubbs – 14 Jim

AND THE WINNER OF THE “2019 MOST IMPROVED FITNESS” AWARD GOES TO… Alexis Stubbs – 14 Jim

"Alexis began the season not placing in an overall fitness level from the preseason fitness testing. Over the course of the season, Alexis retested those exercises every 6 weeks. She went on to achieve the overall Black Fitness Level and then 6 weeks following that improved to achieve the overall Red level (the highest level and 1 of 2 players in the club to do so). She jumped 2 inches higher on her vertical, 18 more jumps on the high box test, and increased her broad jump by 13.5 inches. Alexis also significantly brought down her times for the agility and speed tests, she knocked off 1.63 seconds on her time for Touch 6! Alexis was determined to make the board for pushups and set a goal to do pushups each day, outside of fitness on her own, she can now do 26 pushups in 1 minute (16 more than she did at the beginning of the season).  Alexis has worked hard this season to improve her overall fitness level and should be an inspiration to all."

 

Coaches’ Award (SELECTED BY COACHES):

Awarded to the player who is always coachable and has a great attitude on and off the court.
Kendahl Baxter (11 Kris)

Sofia Slavov (12 Ally)

Lilla Golden (12 Ariane)

Olivia Hamilton (12 Anne)

Charlotte May (13 Davis)

Brooke MacCartney (13 Chad)

Jayla Short (13 Jessica)

Sydni Hardeman (13 Carli)

Anabell Gordon (13 Jola)

Imani Mensah (13 Megan)

Eva Petiot (13 Jena)

Kylie Scott (14 Taisa)

Luiza Cesar (14 Jim)

Athen Singleton (14 Kelly)

Lisa Njoroge (14 Stuart)

Mary Kriger (14 Tish)

Sydney Tincher (14 Emma)

Ava Storelli (14 Kimberly)

Kate Siglin (15 Amy)

Blakely Meyer (15 Megan)

Caroline Buhay (15 Crystal)

Caroline Schmitt (15 Erin)

Makayla Mitchler (15 Kristin)

Alecia Holmes-Terry (16 A’Sheana)

Elizabeth Baum (16 Rachael)

Catherine Ethridge (16 Julie)

Arianna Cantillo (16 Rob)

Alyssa Parodi & Claire Terwilliger (17 Mikki)

Renee Bissel (17 Scott)

Sophie Vincent (17 Amy)

Olivia Pugh & Taylor Hall (18 Sarah)

 

6-Year Player Awards (Statistics):

3 Players are being recognized for reaching their 6 years at Cobb Atlanta milestone. Let’s give these dedicated athletes a grand round of applause!

Ellie Boyle (15 Kelsey)

Payton Lackey (17 Mikki)

Claire Terwilliger (17 Mikki)

 

Best Celebration (Coach) (PHOTO):

Video or photo submission of a coach celebrating their team. The nominees for the 2019 “Best Celebration” for a coach Award are…

Coach Rob Andres (16 Rob)

Coach Stuart Briscar (14 Stuart)

Coach Allie Elson (17 Mikki)

Coach Ally Hurd (14 Taisa)

Coach Jim McDermott (14 Jim)

AND THE WINNER FOR THE BEST CELEBRATION BY A COACH IS… Allie Elson (17 Mikki)

 

Best Celebration (Player) (PHOTO):

Video or photo submission of team or individual players celebrating on the court. The nominees for the 2019 “Best Celebration” for a player is…

Alex, Lauren & Meredith (17 Scott)

Grace Barnes (17 Amy)

Ashley Jhun (17 Amy)

Kayla, Taylor, Kendahl & Leah (11 Kris)

Marena Parodi (14 Taisa)

Hannah Todd (15 Erin)

AND THE WINNER FOR THE BEST CELEBRATION BY A PLAYER IS… Ashley Jhun (17 Amy)

 

Best Celebration (Team) (PHOTO):

Video or photo submission of team or individual players celebrating on the court. The nominees for the 2019 “Best Celebration” for a team Award are…

12 Tom

13 Carli

14 Taisa

14 Jim

15 Kelsey

16 Rachael

17 Mikki

AND THE WINNER FOR THE BEST CELEBRATION OF A TEAM IS…  14 Taisa

 

“Brick Wall” Award (VIDEO):

Video of a fantastic block. The nominees for the 2018 “Brick Wall” Award are…

Katie Bain (14 Emma)

Mary Anna Cumbie (14 Kimberly)

Lauren Haynes & Ellie Boyle (15 Kelsey)

Avery Morlot (16 Rob)

McKenna Nelson (17 Mikki)

AND THE WINNER OF THE “BRICK WALL” AWARD IS…  McKenna Nelson (17 Mikki)

 

Sportsmanship Award (WRITTEN):

Presented to the athlete that displayed outstanding sportsmanship throughout the season. Sportsmanship can be described by this quote by highly regarded, former football coach, Harry Sheehy: “It is your response to winning and losing that makes you a winner or a loser.” Having good sportsmanship is a quality of a player that coaches admire. This year, we had 26 players nominated for the Sportsmanship Award. The nominees for the 2019 “Sportsmanship” Award are…

Paige Armstrong (15 Kelsey)

Elizabeth Ballenger (12 Anne)

Ella Mae Burris (15 Kelsey)

Anabell Gordon (13 Jola)

Sophie Gould (17 Scott)

Eileen Grouchnikov (13 Chad)

Kelli Kaiser (16 Michael)

Daly Miller (14 Kimberly)

Kayla Roberson (16 A’Sheana)

Claire Terwilliger (17 Mikki)

Ella Wileman (15 Kristin)

Kelsie Wright (13 Jessica)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2018 “SPORTSMANSHIP” AWARD IS…. Daly Miller (14 Kimberly)

Daly’s nominator described her with the following words:

“Daly came into the season excited to be a setter after playing DS on her school team. She went to many clinics and constantly asked for drills to do at home. Daly was our only setter for several tournaments and never came out of a single game. I preached to my girls the importance of showing good sportsmanship and never “taunting” or talking bad about another team. Daly took this to heart, and I saw her compliment at least one player on opposing teams after each game. She truly loves the sport and spent many hours watching other Cobb Atlanta teams on our off weekends. She is an example for all players.”

 

Best Celebration (VIDEO):

Video of team or individual players celebrating on the court. The nominees for the 2019 “Best Celebration” Video Award are…

12 Ariane

13 Chad

13 Carli

14 Jim

14 Kimberly

15 Amy

16 Rachael

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2019 BEST CELEBRATION VIDEO AWARD IS…  12 Ariane

 

Unsung Hero:

Presented to the athlete who might not make all the plays but displays great work ethic, character, potential and serves as an example to their teammates. With over 50 nominations for this award, we are excited to announce the nominees…

Phoebe Antoniades (14 Stuart)

Ryan Barber (12 Ally)

Ellie Boyle (15 Kelsey)

Sophie Gould (17 Scott)

Gillian Huffman (15 Amy)

Kelli Kaiser (16 Michael)

Abbie Kallbreier (13 Davis)

Reese Marty (12 Tom)

Meghan Shultz (13 Erik)

Emma Siglin (13 Erik)

Alexis Stubbs (14 Jim)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2019 “UNSUNG HERO” AWARD IS…. Phoebe Antoniades (14 Stuart)

Phoebe’s nominators described her as:

“She is the L/DS for ATL 14-2 Stuart and is very dependable! You can count on her to pass the ball to the setter no matter how hard that ball is coming at her. She is tiny but mighty! Her serve is proof of that!

Although Phoebe makes many amazing plays, I don’t think she gets as much credit or praise as she deserves. Phoebe is a libero, so she is responsible for getting most of the serves and hits. Each time she passes, she gets the ball right to the setter. Even when she dives, she gets the ball where someone can get it. If our team has a good pass, set, and hit, the setter and hitter get the praise. I believe that Phoebe should get some recognition for all the perfect passes she makes.”

 

Iron Woman Award (SUBMITTED BY KELSEY):

Players who go above and beyond in fitness and show significant strength and composure during fitness sessions. The following players have been nominated for the “2019 Iron Woman” Award…

Raven Craig (13 Davis)

Kelli Kaiser (16 Michael)

Emily Light (14 Kevin)

McKenna Nelson (17 Mikki)

Kayla Roberson (16 A’Sheana)

Alex Rogers (17 Scott)

Kylie Scott (14 Taisa)

Alexis Stubbs (14 Jim)

Maya Szkaradek (15 Megan)

Risa Wynne (15 Kelsey)

AND THE WINNER OF THE “2019 IRON WOMAN” AWARD GOES TO… Maya Szkaradek (15 Megan)

"Each time Maya steps into fitness she is focused on getting better. Maya works hard each and every fitness session. She is an incredible athlete and pushes those around her to get better. Maya is one of the quickest players in the club and is always composed even in the toughest workouts."

 

MVP (SELECTED BY COACHES):

Awarded to the player who made the most contributions on the court.

Mia Hite (11 Kris)

Kinley Hoegh (12 Ally)

Abigail Brooks (12 Ariane)

Grace Leath (12 Anne)

Ava Fiorelli (13 Davis)

Sadie Parkerson (13 Chad)

Ryleigh Pruitt (13 Jessica)

Izzy Migchelbrink (13 Carli)

Ashlyn Willis (13 Jola)

Elaina Hoffecker (13 Megan)

Carys Nyboer (13 Jena)

Kate Luckett (14 Taisa)

Emma Toro (14 Jim)

Kendall Cochran (14 Kelly)

Phoebe Antoniades (14 Stuart)

Olivia Haynes (14 Tish)

Marina Cesar (14 Emma)

Emily Cunningham (14 Kimberly)

Brynnan Thompson (15 Amy)

Camden Weigle (15 Megan)

Tori Iorillo (15 Crystal)

Lilli Gernatt (15 Erin)

Emmye Simpson (15 Kristin)

Kayla Roberson (16 A’Sheana)

Kaitlyn Grace (16 Rachael)

Marley Schlosberg (16 Julie)

Ginna Rodriguez (16 Rob)

McKenna Nelson (17 Mikki)

Lauren Watson (17 Scott)

Michaela Mulqueen (17 Amy)

Khloe Henderson (18 Sarah)

 

Best Game Face (Coach) (PHOTO):

Coach with a serious, celebratory, intense look on their face. The nominees for the 2019 “Best Game Face” for a coach Award are…

Coach Ally & Coach Taisa (14-2)

Coach Jeff & Coach Amy (17 Amy)

Coach Kelsey (15-1)

Coach Kimberly (14-2 Premier)

Coach Mikki (17-1)

Coach Rob (16-2 ATL)

AND THE WINNER FOR THE BEST GAME FACE OF COACH IS…  Ally Hurd & Taisa Turner

 

“Killer” Award (VIDEO):

Video of an unstoppable kill. The nominees for the 2019  “Killer” Video Award are…

Claire Andres (16 A’Sheana)

Beyonce Andrews (18 Sarah)

Audrey Brooks (15 Amy)

Tori Iorillo (15 Crystal)

Diane Pierre-Louis (14 Taisa)

Sofia Slavov (12 Ally)

AND THE WINNER OF THE KILLER AWARDS IS… Beyonce Andrews (18 Sarah)

 

Breakthrough Athlete of the Year:

Presented to the player who made the best or most significant breakthrough in volleyball for the season. With 25 nominations for this award, we are proud to announce the nominees for the 2018 “BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR” are…

Alex Boydstone (17 Scott)

Audrey Brooks (15 Amy)

Ashley Jhun (17 Amy)

Lindsey Hesline (15 Kristin)

Christina Pratcher (16 Michael)

Lucy Siegel (13 Carli)

Tess Smith (16 Julie)

Annie Tremayne (14 Kimberly)

Ashley Willis (13 Jola)

Anna Claire Wright (12 Tom)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2018 “BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR” AWARD IS…. Audrey Brooks (15 Amy)

Audrey’s nominators described her as:

“Audrey has shown significant growth this Club season. This was her first year playing on a Travel team. Since November, Audrey has shown notable improvement in all aspects of her play. As a Middle Hitter she has enhanced her hitting, serving, blocking and even defense when playing back row between serves. Audrey’s improved strength and timing have allowed her to get much harder hits. She also has developed a consistent and aggressive serve. As a reflection of her growth this season, Audrey has progressed into a starting position on her team. Her teammates said: Audrey has improved her middle hits significantly this season and has become an asset to our team and I couldn’t be more proud of her for how amazing she’s done this season.”

 

“Gym Rat” Award (SUBMITTED BY CAJ STAFF):

Player(s) who attended the most clinics and/or open gym sessions this season. AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 “GYM RAT” AWARD ARE….

Luiza Cesar (14 Jim)

Marina Cesar (14 Emma)

Ashley Lawrence (13 Davis)

Brooke MacCartney (13 Chad)

Jasmine Nguyen (14 Tish)

 

Extra Sweat Fitness Award:

Players who attended over 4 extra required fitness sessions this season. This season, we had 24 players who dedicated more time than required to fitness to take their volleyball to the next level. That’s 16 more athletes than we had last season!

Paige Armstrong – 15 Kelsey

Loren Baker – 14 Kevin

Renee Bissel – 17 Scott

Olivia Boyle – 12 Tom

Sarah Boyle – 12 Tom

Ella Burris – 15 Kelsey

Elizabeth Curry – 15 Kelsey

Rosemary DeDona – 15 Kelsey

Lauren Haynes – 15 Kelsey

Kaylee Howell – 14 Kevin

Leila Gainsford – 15 Kelsey

Abigail Jhun – 14 Taisa

Kayla Johnson – 16 Michael

Hallie Kaiser – 14 Kevin

Kelli Kaiser – 16 Michael

Addie McLarty – 13 Erik

Emily Maddocks – 15 Kelsey

Gabbi Phillips – 16 Michael

Christina Pratcher – 16 Michael

Catalina Rodriquez – 14 Jim

Cadence Spilotros – 14 Kevin

McKenna Spilotros – 13 Erik

Jackie Weller – 14 Kevin

Anna Claire Wright – 12 Tom

 

Player Council Recognition:

Paige Armstrong (15 Kelsey)

Lolo Baker (14 Kevin)

Maddie Bonds (14 Jim)

Ella Burris (15 Kelsey)

Elise Camerieri (15 Megan)

Arianna Cantillo (16 Rob)

Natalie Dietter (16 A’Sheana)

Anyah Delemar (15 Erin)

Catherine Ethridge (16 Julie)

Kyndal Folsom (15 Megan)

Maya Garcia (14 Taisa)

Lauren Giles (14 Tish)

Laura Ginter (16 A’Sheana)

Anabell Gordon (13 Jola)

Sophie Gould (17 Scott)

Lindsay Heslin (15 Kristin)

Graham Hills (16 Michael)

Alex James (13 Jena)

Kayla Johnson (16 Michael)

Rylie Keeble (15 Crystal)

Dani Kluger (13 Chad)

Ashley Lawrence (13 Davis)

Grace Leath (12 Anne)

Reilly Marty (14 Kelly)

Winnie Matanmi (14 Emma)

Imani Mensah(13 Megan)

Riley Milner (12 Ally)

Lillie Murrell (15 Crystal)

Eve Northrop (12 Anne)

Sadie Parkerson (13 Chad)

Hannah Parrott (13 Jola)

Brooke Shafer (12 Ariane)

Emmye Simpson (15 Kristin)

Claire Terwilliger (17 Mikki)

Brynnan Thompson (15 Amy)

Lauren Watson (17 Scott)

Ashlyn Willis (13 Chad)

Serena Xu  (15 Erin)

 

Miss Cobb Atlanta (WRITTEN):

Presented to the athlete who always shows pride in playing for Cobb Atlanta on and off the court through involvement with the club beyond just a member of the team. She may attend extra fitness sessions, extra clinics, post frequently on her social media about CAJ, be a member of Player Council, volunteering her time, etc.

We are excited to announce the nominees for the 2019 “MISS COBB ATLANTA” are…

Paige Armstrong (15 Kelsey)

Ella Burris (15 Kelsey)

Sarah Mesaros (16 Michael)

Emmye Simpson (15 Kristin)

Claire Terwilliger (17 Mikki)

Lauren Watson (17 Scott)

WE WOULD LIKE THE 6 NOMINEES TO JOIN US ON STAGE….

Paige Armstrong (15 Kelsey)

“Paige is proud to be part of Cobb Atlanta; you can tell this by her words and her actions. Paige always has a smile on her face as she enters the building wearing her Cobb Atlanta gear. She works hard in everything she does, whether it's in fitness, practice, or a setting clinic she puts her best foot forward always. Paige is always thinking of others; she never puts herself above anyone else. She is so positive and is consistently telling her teammates and those around her how amazing they are. Paige is a member of player council and loves to find ways to help Cobb Atlanta improve. There is not a more deserving player to be crowned Miss Cobb Atlanta this season.”

Ella Burris (15 Kelsey)

“Ella Mae deserves this award because she is very involved with the club. She is on the Player Council executive committee and she’s been playing at Cobb Atlanta for a long time. She works hard in practice and attends extra fitness sessions. She has a great attitude and cheers on other Cobb Atlanta teams.

Sarah Mesaros (16 Michael)

“Sarah is a great player and she cares for the team! She is up lifting and believes in every player on the team! She keeps the spirits high and her determination motivates players around her. She is genuinely one of the main key players on my team. She is always willing to go the extra step.”

Claire Terwilliger (17 Mikki)

“There are many faces to CAJ but the one that has stood out for the last 6+ years is Claire. She is the kid that you want to be the face of CAJ - she personifies what CAJ's brand is through her positive attitude, strong work ethic and her leadership on and off the court. On the court, Claire is a consistent positive force for herself and her teammates. No matter the position, the drill or the time of day, Claire always gives 100% and strives to be a better player. Off the court, Claire is consistently seen in the building - she is a leader in the player council, works in the store in her "spare" time and always is eager to volunteer when needed to help the club. Her dedication and heart she has for CAJ is the prime example of Miss Cobb Atlanta.”

Lauren Watson (17 Scott)

“Lauren is such a team leader. She is so kind and so caring to everyone on and off the court, and always makes everyone feel included. She is able to pick up on when someone is having a bad day and will help anyone who needs it. Besides all of that, she is an amazing volleyball player and is a team leader. She is the perfect example and role model for everyone in the club. Her dedication is inspiring! Lauren is Player Council President and works in the CAJ Sports Store, all while having great academic success at BT. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”

AND THE 2019 MISS COBB ATLANTA RECIPIENT IS… Claire Terwilliger (17 Mikki)

 

*FITNESS LEVEL ACHIEVEMENTS*

At the beginning of the season, every player is participates in the Fitness Level Testing to assess their ability in 6 exercises: vertical, broad jump, box test, t-drill, touch 6 and pushups. Players who meet the mark in a certain # of exercises get recognized by reaching an overall fitness level either: Blue, Black and the ultimate level, Red. This year, 29 athletes achieved an overall fitness level! Please stand up when your name is called to be recognized.

RED LEVEL

Alexis Stubbs

Trinity Washington

 

BLACK LEVEL

McKenna Nelson

Sophie Gould

Gabbi Phillips

Jaya Moore

Raven Craig

Ramsay Huff

Brooke Shafer

Nyla Boswell

 

BLUE LEVEL

Beyonce Andrews

Khloe Henderson

Payton Lackey

Chandler Alter

Kayla Roberson

Elizabeth Curry

Kaylee Howell

Maya Garcia

Carter Strech

Grace Howe

Brianna Caldwell

Sarah Jacobson

Norah Harmon

Kaitlyn Hite

Gabi Fullwood

Logan Kalinowski

Ryleigh Pruitt

Anna Claire Wright

Sofia Slavov

 

Individual Performance of the Year:

Presented to the athlete who had an outstanding performance in an individual game/match. We are excited to share the nominees for the 2018 “INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR”! They are…

Sofia Cruz (12 Ariane)

Annie Elliot (13 Carli)

Lauren Haynes (15 Kelsey)

Mackenzie Konz (17 Mikki)

Abby Lantrip (17 Amy)

Marley Schlosberg (16 Julie)

Brynnan Thompson (15 Amy)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2018 “INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR” AWARD IS…. Lauren Haynes (15 Kelsey)

Lauren’s nominators described her as:

“Lauren is an outstanding hitter who can always be counted on for siding out when our team is in a big hole. She is always aggressive at the net and in the back row. At this point in the season Lauren has had 446 kills with a hitting percentage of .341 which is outstanding for an outside hitter! She is also leading her team in digs for the season with 286 over 7 tournaments! Lauren is a 6-rotation player on her team and is the go to hitter.”

 

Athlete of the Year:

Presented to the athlete who demonstrates the competitive spirit of desire, dedication and determination, leading themselves to the top of the competition and serving as an inspiration to her teammates and those around her. We are honored to share the nominees for the 2019 “ATHLETE OF THE YEAR!'' They are…

Grace Keith (14 Kimberly)

Reilly Marty (14 Kelly)

Camille McCraw (16 Michael)

Gabbi Phillips (16 Michael)

Ryleigh Pruitt (13 Jessica)

Lauren Watson (17 Scott)

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2019 “ATHLETE OF THE YEAR” AWARD IS….

14s & Under: Ryleigh Pruitt (13 Jessica)

15s & Up: Lauren Watson (17 Scott)

Ryleigh’s nominators described her as:

“Having never played club before and taking her school coach's advice, Ryleigh made a big impression with her performance at tryouts. Her dedication to her team and the sport shined through out the season. Even when her team was faced with a mental challenge she held it together and pushed herself further than she knew she could. She rose to the occasion without hesitation to play outside during a tournament when we had to change our rotation due to missing player. Ryleigh was voted by her entire team as co-captain after only knowing her teammates a few weeks. She made a lasting impression on everyone she played with and against. Her natural athleticism does not compare to the passion and dedication she has to be the best volleyball player she can be.”

Lauren’s nominators said:

“Lauren is by far the most important player on our team. She can do it all, pass, set, block and all those amazing hits!!! She lead our team as one of the captains and she very respected by all teammates and coaches. She definitely deserves this award.”

 

Team Performance of the Year:

Presented to the team who performed in the top performance in tournaments this season. We are excited to share the nominees for the 2019 “TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR!'' They are…

12 Tom

13 Chad

15 Kelsey

18 Sarah

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2019 “TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR” IS…. 15 Kelsey

15 Kelsey has been in gold bracket for EVERY tournament they have been in this season including the 3 national qualifiers! They also have won 2 tournaments (one being an age division up) and made Cobb Atlanta club history by being the first 15s team to earn a Bid at a National Qualifier!

1st Place - Music City - 15 Power

1st Place -  Lil' Big South - 16 Open

5th Place - Gasparilla  - 15 Open

9th Place - Beast of the Southeast - 15 Open

9th Place - Orlando - 15 USA

9th Place - Big South, 15 USA

3rd Place - Windy City Qualifier - 15 USA

4th Place - SRVA Regionals

Overall record: 46-12

This is the first team to double qualifier!

 

Team of the Year:

Presented to the team who demonstrates the competitive spirit of desire, dedication and determination, and serving as an inspiration to the rest of Cobb Atlanta teams. We are excited to share the nominees for the 2019 “TEAM OF THE YEAR!'' They are…

13 Jola

14 Jim

17 Mikki

17 Scott

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2019 “TEAM OF THE YEAR” IS…. 13 Jola

A parent from another team describe 13 Jola:

13 Jola has been one of the teams many have noticed as being one of true sportsmanship. The coaches and teammates are always complimenting other girls (even teams that may have beaten them earlier in the day) and sitting to watch when they are not in play to cheer loudly for any Cobb Atlanta team. They even shared their well earned pizza party with another team after practice one day!  I am constantly hearing positive comments, encouraging words and chants from this team. Kudos to the parents who raised the girls, and to the coaches who coach them!

 

Coach of the Year:

Presented to the team who demonstrates the competitive spirit of desire, dedication and determination, leading themselves to the top of the competition and serving as an inspiration to the rest of Cobb Atlanta team. We are excited to share the nominees for the 2018 “COACH OF THE YEAR”! They are…

Chad Heath (13-3)

Coach Chad has been an outstanding coach. The players have seen a drastic transformation in their skills and performance. It is because of his leadership and coaching that our players have seen a great number of achievements. At the end of the volleyball season, the big question to ask "Is your player better than she was at the beginning of the season?" … The answer is yes because of Coach Chad!

Mikki Hite (17-1)

Her determination and drive shines through each of her players - this is evident on the court.  Mikki respects and loves the girls - and it's obvious the girls feel the same way about her. A lot of coaches win, not a lot of coaches produce players at the end of the season who have developed leadership skills and communication skills they can take with them in their next chapter of life. She is encouraging, supportive, understanding, determined, kind and highly respected by her athletes that want to make her proud!

Amy McClelland (17-1 ATL)

She has been a wonderful addition to Cobb Atlanta. Not only does she put the time and effort in developing her own players,  but she runs many clinics and works with our clubs setters . She invests in all of our players and truly wants them to succeed. She always has a positive attitude and energy that is contagious to be around. Her players highly respect her and that is evident through her coaching strategies.  

Jim McDermott (14-3)

He has been so much more than just a wonderful volleyball coach. He truly cares about each girl as individuals. He constantly reminds the girls that he cares about them. He provides them with several life lessons that he believes will help them in every aspect of life (good manners/respect, penmanship & grammar, etc). He cares about their academics. He encourages them to be responsible and accountable for their actions. He is the most involved, enthusiastic, caring volleyball coach we ever met

Kimberly Nordeen (14-2 Premier)

Kimberly has one of the biggest hearts, the most genuine love for the game and the most inspiring ability to connect to each and every one of the players on her team. She takes time with each girl to provide instruction, feedback, correction, and encouragement that is all delivered with love and passion. Her character and class is best demonstrated on the court, in their practice and mostly by going that extra mile by sending out recaps of every practice, tournament, golden ball opportunity, team bonding night. On top of all of this, she also spends time investing in other players in the club. She was one of our setting instructors and clinic coaches for the year and did a phenomenal job at both.

Emma Simonsen (14-1 Premier)

She is selfless and always puts our team before herself.  She has pushed me past what I thought I could achieve and made me a better player because of it.  She always knew how to get my "head in the game" no matter what it took. I learned that no matter what is going on outside of volleyball, I should put forth my full effort every time we met. Emma is also dedicated to growing our youth program by coaching Volley Skills class every Sunday morning!

Taisa Turner (14-2)

She’s new to Cobb Atlanta but not new to coaching club volleyball. She has all the attributes a great coach and leader should have. She guides, inspires, and empowers the players in every way to be the best athlete they can be as individuals and as part of a team. She is one of those coaches who goes above and beyond in many ways outside of her own team. She subs for other coaches, she runs clinics and has stepped up to be a Lead for one of our Select Teams two nights a week.

Stuart Briscar (14-2 ATL)

He has an incredible amount of enthusiasm for his team. He works hard to develop leaders in his team on and off the court. Some of his players stated, “ He puts every ounce of himself in making us the best athletes we can be. Even if he has to sacrifice his free time and his family time. He deserves this award because of the love he shows each of his players as a coach, friend, and mentor.

 

The parents on this team, described their coach as:

She has all the attributes a great coach and leader should have. She guides, inspires, and empowers the players in every way to be the best athlete they can be as individuals and as part of a team. In Orlando, she and her assistant coach tried a new way to motivate the team to bring their A-game front and center. For every ace or kill, she wagered to do 5 pushups, while the assistant coach had to do 5 jumping jacks/squats. Not only was it a creative way to motivate the players, but it showed how much she was willing to put on the line to help the team. Her players chimed in and said: “Out of every single coach I have ever had, our Coach has been the most dedicated, passionate, and effective. She has helped me grow as a player but even more as a person. She was always easy to talk to on and off the court, and she never stopped believing in me. When I made a mistake she always encouraged me. When our team needed disciplining, she disciplined us, but she never stopped believing in us. She has made our team who we are today and I could not appreciate a coach any more.”

 

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2019 “COACH OF THE YEAR” IS…. Taisa Turner

 

Recognition of Juniors & Seniors:

JUNIORS:

Regan Austin (17 Scott)

Grace Barnes (17 Amy)

Renee Bissel (17 Scott)

Beth Bowman (18 Sarah)

Alex Boydstone (17 Scott)

Lily Brody (17 Mikki)

Skylar Deakins (17 Scott)

Renee Dockins (18 Sarah)

Keely Goodloe (17 Amy)

Sophie Gould (17 Scott)

Asia Griffiths (16 Rob)

Kendall Guthrie (17 Scott)

Ashley Jhun (17 Amy)

Mackenzie Konz (17 Mikki)

Natalie Krasnoff (17 Mikki)

Payton Lackey (17 Mikki)

Abigail Lantrip (17 Amy)

Sydney Letsch (16 Rachael)

McKenna Nelson (17 Mikki)

Kira Pardue (17 Amy)

Alyssa Parodi (17 Mikki)

Olivia Pugh (18 Sarah)

Alex Rogers (17 Scott)

Sydney Royal (17 Amy)

Lydia Scherholz (17 Scott)

Eden Taylor (17 Am)

Jessie Taylor (17 Mikki)

Claire Terwilliger (17 Mikki)

Meredith Tjepkema (17 Scott)

Sophie Vincent (17 Amy)

Lauren Watson (17 Scott)

Lizzie Williams (17 Mikki)

 

SENIORS:

Beyonce Andrews (18 Sarah – North Paulding HS)

Victoria Ergle (18 Sarah – Sequoyah HS)

Taylor Hall (18 Sarah – North Cobb HS)

Maya Harris (18 Sarah – Kennesaw Mountain HS)

Khloe Henderson (18 Sarah – Hillgrove HS)

Michelle Nader (18 Sarah – Wheeler HS)

Abby Nyberg (18 Sarah – Kell HS)

Recognition of Committed Athletes

Beyonce Andrews – University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia

Victoria Ergle – Shorter University in Rome, Georgia

Michelle Nader – University of Rochester in Rochester, New York

 

Presentation of Roses:

We would like to honor the team earning a Bid to USAV Nationals at this time. Will the following teams please join us on stage…

18-1 Sarah

15-1 Kelsey

14-1 Kevin

13-1 Erik

12-1 Tom

 

Thank you for being apart of the Cobb Atlanta Family! We can’t wait to see everyone’s successes on their school team.