Burleson, Morrison earn RRD volleyball honors

By Cody Dalton
sports@southwesttimes.com

ROANOKE – After finishing her career as a Lady Cougar volleyball player, senior Ashley Burleson was honored for her playing ability, along with junior teammate Marlena Morrison. The two were given River Ridge District volleyball honors during the tournament at Hidden Valley High School last week.

Burleson, who finished her career over the 1,000 dig mark, was given the River Ridge District Second Team honor. The award marks the second time in two seasons she has been awarded honors in the district. It is an improvement from her River Ridge honorable mention she received last year.

Joining Burleson on the second team are Christiansburg’s Ashton Moran and Emily Davis, Blacksburg’s Katy Kipps and Lindsey Henderson, and Hidden Valley’s Sarah Church and Rachel Thomas.

Burleson fell just short in the voting for the RRD First Team. Members of the first team included Sam Ringer (Hidden Valley), Jocelyn Kellinger (Cave Spring), Morgan Shannon (Cave Spring), Taylor Baumann (Cave Spring), Emily Quesinberry (Christiansburg), Sam Klostermann (Hidden Valley), Kim McDow (Hidden Valley), Emily Richardson (Salem), and Lauren Cusimano (Blacksburg).

Teammate Marlena Morrison was given River Ridge honorable mention. Morrison finished her junior season as one of the Cougars most prolific offensive weapons on the front line.

Joining her on the honorable mention list are Cave Spring’s Piper Hagan and Rebekah Henderson, Hidden Valley’s Liz Burke and Lottie Meadows, Blacksburg’s Lacey McMahan and Kaitlyn Ayares, Christiansburg’s Sara Martin and Katelyn Kast, and Salem’s Katie Helvey.

Also awarded at the tournament were the River Ridge District Player of the Year, which went to Sam Ringer of Hidden Valley, and Coach of the Year, which was given to Tamalyn Tanis of RRD regular season champion Cave Spring.

(11-11-09)