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Bates said thereÐÔÊӽ紫ý no player who better exemplifies that than current junior libero Paige Norris.

“She pushes herself to be the best,â€� Bates said. “ThatÐÔÊӽ紫ý what we take a lot of pride in – girls who squeeze the orange and get as much as they can out of what they’re given. Paige gets a lot out of what sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý given.â€�

Bates said all one has to do is look at the bruises or strawberries Norris is covered with after a match to see what sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý talking about.

Norris led the Lady Wildcats (36-9) with 653 digs last season. She missed on just 14 of her 446 total serves to her teammates, which was a big reason why Sand Rock won another Cherokee County Tournament championship, another area championship, and made another trip to the Northeast Super Regional.

The Cherokee County volleyball coaches recently recognized NorrisÐÔÊӽ紫ý effort by selecting her as their All-County Most Valuable Player.

“I was very excited when Mrs. Bates told me,� Norris said. “This just motivates me to push harder for next year and help my team go farther.�

Bates said sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý glad to see Norris finally get some well-deserved recognition, and sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý glad to have her on the court for another year.

“We’re proud for her because sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý such a humble young lady. SheÐÔÊӽ紫ý very team-oriented,â€� Bates said. “ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý good to see her get recognition for a spot that doesn’t always get the glory.â€�

For Bates, it was a matter of finding a place on the court where her 5-foot-3 go-getter could play.

A couple of years ago, Bates knew Norris wasn’t quite a setter, so she tried her as a hitter. That position didn’t seem to fit NorrisÐÔÊӽ紫ý skill set either, but then Bates had an epiphany.

“We tried her at the libero spot, and it was a perfect fit,â€� she said. “Paige really took it to heart. SheÐÔÊӽ紫ý gone to camps, clinics, everything trying to get better at that position. SheÐÔÊӽ紫ý taken it and run with it, and has gotten really good at it.â€�

ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý a position Norris had reservations with at first, but now sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý come to love it.

“When Mrs. Bates first asked me to be a libero, at first I was nervous because I’d never played there, but I love being libero now,â€� Norris said. “When I dive to get a ball up after a hard hit, it just feels good. It would be so much harder to dig up all the balls I get to if I didn’t have the blockers up there. Without them, I wouldn’t have gotten this honor at all. “Every practice, we’re out here going as hard as we can, and without having someone there to remind me what we’re working for constantly and for what we strive to be, I wouldn’t be here. ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý a whole lot better to be a libero when you know you have good blockers.â€�

Norris may have good blockers surrounding her on the court, but sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý also got plenty of talent surrounding her within her own family.

Her older sister Ashley went on to play at Snead State, as did as her cousins, Madison Smith and Sabryn Chandler.

So does the younger Norris feel any pressure to follow in their footsteps?

“It just motivates me to push harder,� she said. “I’d definitely love to play at the next level. I would love to keep that tradition going.�

Joining Norris from Sand Rock on the all-county team is August Gilliland and Savannah Blackwell.

Gilliland posted 313 kills, 358 digs, 57 aces, 17 blocks and nine assists. Blackwell finished the season with 357 kills, 356 digs, 58 aces, 16 blocks and five assists.

Laura Ann Hughes, Kiana Dobbins and Hannah Cosby represent Cedar Bluff (21-23). Hughes had 406 assists, 270 digs, 59 aces and 27 kills. Dobbins delivered 120 kills, 105 digs, 18 aces, 11 blocks and five assists. Cosby contributed 164 digs, 67 kills, 52 blocks, 36 aces and three assists.

Spring Garden (14-35) had a pair of players chosen in Rachel Morris and AJ Broome. Morris managed 432 kills, 335 digs, 77 aces, 34 blocks and eight assists. Broome collected 279 assists, 264 digs, 88 kills, 52 aces and 18 blocks.

Cherokee County (17-16) also had a pair of players selected in Kari Arnold and Coley Battles. Arnold had 25 aces as a setter while Battles collected 115 kills and 54 blocks as a hitter.

Haley Bryson represents the Gaylesville Lady Trojans (2-18). She finished the season with 187 assists, 14 kills, eight digs and three assists.