SAND ROCK – Sand Rock senior setter Ashley Norris is the perfect example of big things coming in small packages.
Standing a shade under 5-foot-4, Norris hasn’t let her small stature be a detriment. SheĐÔĘӽ紫ý found ways to work around it, and itĐÔĘӽ紫ý paid big dividends for the Lady Wildcats.
In her four years as a varsity starter, Norris has guided Sand Rock to three Cherokee County Tournament championships, two area championships and two Elite 8 appearances. SheĐÔĘӽ紫ý second all-time in assists (4,274) at Sand Rock, to go along with 672 career digs.
This past season, Norris led the Lady Wildcats to a 35-12 record in their first year of Class 3A. She accumulated 1,104 assists, 156 digs, 35 aces and four blocks – all numbers worthy of making her the Cherokee County volleyball coaches’ selection as their All-County Most Valuable Player.
“ItĐÔĘӽ紫ý an honor to be the MVP of the county,” said Norris, who signed a scholarship with Snead State last Wednesday. “I always try to honor my parents, my coaches, my team and God. Just to be All-County is an honor, but to be MVP and noticed by every coach in the county is amazing. I’ve put so much hard work and time into this sport. To be recognized is awesome.”
The All-County honor hasn’t come without its sacrifices for Norris. After practices and matches throughout her career, sheĐÔĘӽ紫ý done a lot of extra training and conditioning on her own time just to be the best setter she can for her team.
“When people are doing their own thing on Saturday nights, I’m usually in the gym just trying to do my best to get where I am,” Norris said. “Being a short setter is hard, but itĐÔĘӽ紫ý been worth it.”
Sand Rock coach Lisa Bates said Norris has “been our rock, our foundation for the last four years.”
“SheĐÔĘӽ紫ý a great example of what hard work can get you,” Bates said. “She goes above and beyond anything we ask her to do. You can’t try any harder that she does. Any ball she could get to, she did. She never held back. It was 100-percent all the time. She really does deserve this award. Her jerseyĐÔĘӽ紫ý all torn up. SheĐÔĘӽ紫ý left a lot of skin on the floor for us going for balls. ItĐÔĘӽ紫ý good to see her get rewarded for something thatĐÔĘӽ紫ý sheĐÔĘӽ紫ý worked so hard at for so long.”
Throughout NorrisĐÔĘӽ紫ý career, sheĐÔĘӽ紫ý set several great hitters, including her cousin and new Snead State teammate Madison Smith. This season, she set another college signee in senior outside hitter Courtney Rowe, who will be attending Gadsden State next fall.
“SheĐÔĘӽ紫ý played with some really good hitters throughout her career, and I know they appreciate her,” Bates said. “I hope the younger girls will look to her for effort as an example of what effort is. ItĐÔĘӽ紫ý going to be very hard to replace her.”
Joining Norris from Sand Rock on the All-Cherokee County Volleyball Team is Rowe and senior middle hitters Maggie Lyn Lumsden and Shelley Sonaty.
Rowe delivered 418 kills, 444 digs, 76 aces, 10 blocks and eight assists for the Lady Wildcats this season. Lumsden contributed 300 kills, 247 digs, 65 blocks, 45 aces and nine assists. Sonaty finished with 203 kills, 343 digs, 53 aces, 44 blocks and nine assists.
Class 1A Elite 8 participant Spring Garden (24-23) and county tournament runner-up Cherokee County (15-14) had three selections each on the team.
Junior outside hitter Madison Sides, senior outside hitter/setter Emory Reedy and junior outside hitter Hayley Williams were selected from Spring Garden. Sides tallied 442 kills, 223 digs, 116 aces, seven assists and three blocks this season. Reedy had 147 kills, 268 digs, 165 assists and 63 aces. Williams finished with 314 digs, 66 kills, 42 aces and 27 assists.
Selected from Cherokee County was senior outside hitter Magen Dupree, sophomore middle hitter Coley Battles and senior middle hitter Jenna Locklear. Dupree led the Lady Warriors in kills. Battles led the team in blocked shots and Locklear led the team in digs.
Cedar Bluff (16-34) and Gaylesville (4-15) had a pair of selections each.
Senior middle hitter Jasmine Adams and junior outside hitter Abby Storey represent Cedar Bluff. Adams accumulated 263 kills, 180 digs, 36 blocks, 17 aces and 10 assists for the Lady Tigers this season. Storey finished with 425 digs, 259 kills, 59 aces, 18 assists and three blocked shots.
Junior middle hitter Lauren Hammett and senior setter Brittney Partridge represent the Lady Trojans. Hammett had 109 kills, 76 assists, 19 digs, 18 aces and four blocks this season. Partridge finished with 192 assists, 39 digs, 21 aces and a pair of kills.
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