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Sandies Defeat Canyon
Tuesday Night
Play midland high and midland Lee Saturday
Thank you
11-A Shift Station 11
(Eugen Lofgren, Jack Bell, Jeff Carlile, Dory Mogelinski, Chris Taylor)
SANDIES WIN TWO TO OPEN SEASON
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2009 Post Season Awards and Recognition
Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame - 2009 C.L. Duniven, Jr. Super Team Award
2009 Amarillo Globe-News Super Team Award
2009 LoneStarVolleyball.com Team of the Year
Presented to the
4-Time State Champion Amarillo High Lady Sandie Volleyball Team
2009 LoneStarVolleyball Outstanding Libero/Defensive Specialist
Eden Williams
This wasn't as tough as the hitter or setter decisions. The state has some outstanding defensive specialists, but ultimately little Eden Williams stood tall.
In fact, as the Amarillo Sandies have proven year after year, if you are creating the foundation for a state championship team there is no better place to start than Libero. Williams follows in the sneakersteps of Halie David and Brittany Bullard as the third Amarillo player to win this award in the past four seasons. It is no coincidence that during that time the Sandies have been the state's dominate program.
And as is always the case at Amarillo, Williams is where it all started for the four-time state champs. Williams' bullet passes, often off vicious shots from opponents, were key to launching Amarillo's fast-paced offense. Of course no other team in the state plays defense like Amarillo. The Sandies' ability to keep balls in play, whether with a diving save, flying into the bleachers or even getting a foot under a sure kill is legendary. And in 2009, more often than not, it was Williams in the middle of it all, frustrating opponents the most.
She finished with 828 digs to break her own school record and had only 29 reception errors as well as 34 aces.
In a much-deserved nod to her impact, Eden put together perfect bookends of honors. She was name MVP of the Duncanville Tournament of Champions the opening week of the season and was also named MVP of the 5A State Tournament to close the year. No other Libero has ever been so recognized.
"Normally winning a state championship you can point out incredible kill stats, or the impenetrable block that was so unbeatable," said coach Jan Barker of her 2009 champions. "Not for us. It was ball control and court smarts."
There is no better way to describe Eden Williams. And is there any better way to wrap up this year's presentation of LoneStarVolleyball's High School award winners.
Other LoneStarVolleyball Player Recognition
Micah Nolan - Outstanding Hitter - Finalist
Sheridan Burgess - Outstanding Hitter - Honorable Mention
Madelyn Robinett - Outstanding Hitter - Honorable Mention
Danielle Barker - Outstanding Setter - Finalist
Josalynn Wise - Outstanding Setter - Honorable Mention
2009 LoneStarVolleyball Coach of The Year
Jan Barker
As is the case every year, this was a category filled with a number of worthy candidates:
There are others we considered, but ultimately this was not a difficult decision.
After Amarillo won a record third straight state title in 2008, there was little reason to think the Sandies could make it four in a row. Gone were Player of the Year Torri Campbell and state tournament MVP Aryn Bohannon. Back was a squad of solid players but no true super stars as in years past. In addition, the Sandies lacked the dominating size of the previous three championship teams.
No problem. There they were on the opening weekend of the season, knocking off Westlake in five to win the Duncanville Tournament of Champions. And there they were on the final night of the season, again knocking off Westlake in five, to win a fourth straight 5A title. The biggest constant among those four teams, of course, is Jan Barker, whose teams are a joy to watch. You can always count on Barker's teams to feature a ferocious offensive attack, smooth, smart setting and the best overall back court play of any team in Texas, starting at libero where the Sandies ALWAYS have one of the state's best.
Still, even Barker admits she was a little surprised with a fourth straight title.
"This was certainly the biggest surprise of the last four years," she said. "Normally winning a state championship you can point out incredible kill stats, or the impenetrable block that was so unbeatable. Not for us. It was ball control and court smarts – finding a way to win a point when you didn’t think it would happen, and the belief in themselves and their teammates. Every match in the playoffs could have been the end for us. We came up against a lot of teams that had the personnel to beat us if we weren't playing our game. And we certainly had moments when things could go either way – like in the finals with Westlake. But the girls always played to win, not to not lose. They didn’t tighten up and weren't afraid to go for it."
That is the perfect description of a Barker coached team, and for that she is once again our Texas High School Coach of the Year.
2009 LoneStarVolleyball Team of The Year
Amarillo Sandies
Once again, this one is really no surprise, although there were some excellent candidates among the private and public schools.
Amarillo, which is once again the Team of the Year in Texas. Despite losing 2008 Player of the Year Torri Campbell and 2008 State Tournament MVP Aryn Bohannon, the Sandies won a fourth straight 5A championship.
Unlike previoius teams, that featured size to go with power and drop-dead defense, this was a small team by Amarillo standards. But that didn't matter. The Sandies featured a ferocious attack with Micah Nolan, Sheridan Burgess, Madelyn Robinett, Michelle Russell, Caitlin Wallace and Neely Borger leading the charge. They had two terrific setters in Danielle Barker and Josalynn Wise. And, of course, the defense led by Eden Williams and Emily Klein dug opponents' most ferocious attackers, chased down balls fearlessly and passed bullets like . . . well, like Amarillo.
They sent out an alert from the very start that they would once again be a team to be dealt with then they opened the season by winning the Duncanville Tournament of Champions. Still, as coach Jan Barker said when it was all over, it ain't easy being a Sandie.
"It was a tough road this year," said Barker. "The girls had to play through the knowledge that everyone was going to give them their best. But then again, that's pretty much all these girls know. The pressure was there for them to continue the success we have had these past few years, and they handled it with class and determination."
"They always played their game and didn’t let outside factors get in their heads, like the score when we were down, the crowd, or the taller more powerful teams across the net," added Barker. "They always took risks at pivotal moments in games because they knew to win the big ones you had to go get it, no one was going to give it away."
And for that, they are our 2009 Texas High School Team of the Year.
Individual Honors
Jan Barker
Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Co-Coach of the Year
District 2-5A Coach of the Year
Amarillo Globe News Co-Coach of the Year
2009 LoneStarVolleyball.com Coach of the Year
Eden Williams Micah Nolan
Under Armour All America Team TGCA All State Team
TGCA All State Team State Tournment All Tournament Team
State Tournament MVP District 2-5A 1st Team All District
Academic All District Academic All District
District 2-5A Defensive Player of the Year AHS Volleyball - Most Valuable Player
First Team Amarillo Globe-New Super Team First Team Amarillo Globe-News Super Team
TGCA Senior All-Star Team TGCA Academic All State
LoneStarVolleyball Outstanding Libero LoneStarVolleyball Outstanding Hitter - Finalist
Sheridan Burgess Neely Borger
District 2-5A Player of the Year District 2-5A 1st Team All District
TGCA Academic All State TGCA Academic All State
Academic All District Academic All District
Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Sports Honorable Mention Amarillo Globe-News Super Team Committee Sports Achievement Award
First Team Amarillo Globe-News Super Team
LoneStarVolleyball Outstanding Hitter - Honorable Mention
Caitlin Wallace Danielle Barker
District 2-5A 1st Team All District District 2-5A 1st Team All District
TGCA Academic All State TGCA Academic All State
Academic All District Academic All District
Honorable Mention Amarillo Globe-News Super Team
AHS Coaches 110% Award
LoneStarVolleyball Outstanding Setter - Finalist
Madelyn Robinett Josalynn Wise
District 2-5A Honorable Mention District 2-5A Honorable Mention
TGCA Academic All State TGCA Academic All State
Academic All District Academic All District
State Tournament All Tournament Team Honorable Mention Amarillo Globe-News Super Team
Second Team Amarillo Globe-News Super Team LoneStarVolleyball Outstanding Setter - Honorable Mention
LoneStarVolleyball Outstanding Hitter - Honorable Mention AHS ACE Award
AHS Coaches 110% Award AHS Coaches 110% Award
Emily Klein Sarah Erhart
TGCA Academic All State AHS Coaches Spirit Award
Academic All District
District 2-5A Honorable Mention
AHS Spirit Award
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2009 Playoff Brackets - (See 5A Final Brackets)
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Amazing! Amarillo does it Again
Written by Special for LoneStarVolleyball.com
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The 2009 volleyball season ended the way it began, with the Amarillo Sandies and the Westlake Chapparrals locked in another of their legendary struggles on Saturday night. And as was the case back in August, it was Amarillo making the big plays when it counted to outlast Westlake 19-25, 25-20, 28-26, 23-25, 16-14 to win an amazing fourth straight 5A state championship.
This one was an almost identical replay of their match tree months earlier, on the opening weekend of the season, when Amarillo outlasted Westlake 17-15 in the fifth set to win the Duncanville Tournament of Champions.
"It's incredible. I'm speechless. My mind is blown right now," said Madison Robinett, who had 14 kills, including the winning blast off the Westlake block that launched yet another state championship celebration on the Amarillo sideline.
"I'm so excited I honestly can't explain the feeling," said Eden Williams, the relentless Amarillo libero who finished with 25 digs -- many of them beyond spectacular -- and was named the MVP, just as she was three months earlier in Duncanville. "We thrive on pressure."
That they do, and there was plenty of pressure on both teams.
This was the third straight year that Amarillo and Westlake had met in the state finals and from the start it was obvious that the Chaps did not want to leave San Marcos with silver medals for the third straight season.
Sara Shaw, who finished with a match high 23 kills, was on fire as Westlake rolled to a 25-19 win in set one that really wasn't even that close.
But losing a set means nothing the Amarillo, and the Sandies responded in typical Amarillo fashion as Micah Nolan, Sheridan Burgess and Caitlin Wallace all came up with big plays to even the match 25-20.
Then it got interesting.
Set three was a defensive showpiece, with both teams making spectacular saves and trading points. Each team had two set points but it was Robinett delivering the kills that put Amarillo up 2-1 in the match with a 28-26 win.
Set four was more of the same. Ella Praisner, Paige Caridi and Shaw led Westlake to leads of 21-17 and 23-20. But the Sandies stormed back behind the explosive outbursts of the high-flying Nolan, who led Amarillo with 17 kills and would be the go-to player for most of the fifth set. A Nolan ace tied it at 23, but a tip and a blast by Shaw gave Westlake the win, forcing a fifth set.
And like the rest of the match, it was a classic. The fifth set was tied at 6,7,8,9,10,11,12 and 13 when a stuff by Westlake gave the Chaps state championship point.
Amarillo called time out and when play resumed, Westlake shockingly served into the net and it was tied at 14. On the next play, the Chaps were called in the net. Suddenly Amarillo had state championship point. And the Sandies don't let those get away. The set went to Robinett and she ripped into it, driving it off the block to give Amarillo yet another state title.
"Honestly, I was really just thinking 'get the ball over," Robinett said. "I just wanted to end the play. I feel so great right now I don't even know what to say."
Neither did Amarillo coach Jan Barker.
"I'm really kind of speechless. I don't know what to say," said Barker. "To pull out a win against a team like that is incredible. It was going back and forth and back and forth. It was just a one-point ball game for a long time and then we got down. And when they served for state championship point and served into the net, we were able to take advantage of that. We never got down."
For Westlake coach Al Bennett, there was no consolation in losing to Amarillo in five for the third November in a row and finishing second in the state.
"This is not a good loss," he said. "It's not one where you sit back and say we're just glad to be here.
"We didn't come here to win a silver medal," he continued. "It's very disappointing to go home without the gold, but it is what it is. A play here or a play there and it goes the other way and we're the ones celebrating.
"We made the plays at the end of game four," he added. "We just didn't make it in game five. We played our guts our and we battled. We talked about when you come into volleyball you learn at the beginning that you have to make plays at the end to win and we didn't make the plays. They did. They get one swing for the match and they win."
For Barker and the Sandies, who are now tied for the third most state titles in history with eight, it is the continuation of an amazing four-year run. The Sandies have 10 seniors on their roster who have never finished a season without a state title.
"We all wanted this so bad," said MVP Williams. "The last thing I said on the court was, 'seniors, leave it all out here.' And we did."
You Can Believe It - 4 in a Row!!!
The AHS Lady Sandies Make History Again!
Pure Celebration!
Hoisting the Championship Trophy
4 in a Row!
2009 State Champion AHS Lady Sandies
2009 State Champion AHS Lady Sandie Seniors
Eden Williams, Tournament MVP
All-Tournament Team
Micah Nolan Madelyn Robinett
Lady Sandies Grab 4th Straight Title
Ricky Treon - Amarillo Globe News - November 22, 2009
SAN MARCOS - Apparently, lightning can strike the same spot more than once. The Amarillo High Lady Sandies won their fourth consecutive state championship Saturday night, beating Austin Westlake, 19-25, 25-20, 28-26, 23-25, 16-14, at Texas State's Strahan Coliseum in front of 3,468 fans.
Not only did Amarillo High (48-3) win their fourth in a row, the Lady Sandies won their third championship match in a row against Austin Westlake (39-7), with the last two being five-game thrillers.
"To be able to pull out a match like that, against a team like that, is incredible," AHS coach Jan Barker said. "The 2000s have been a great decade for us."
Amarillo High's volleyball team has five state championships in the 10 years. (See Full Story)
Lady Sandies March On
AHS to face Westlake for 5A crown again
Ricky Treon, Amarillo Globe News, November 21, 2009
SAN MARCOS - Amarillo High's state semifinal Friday ended like the previous three - with a win.
The Lady Sandies slipped a bit in the third game of their 25-22, 25-15, 18-25, 25-13 victory against Georgetown, but AHS (47-3) looked every bit the part of three-time defending Class 5A champions against the Lady Eagles (39-10). (See full Story.)
| 5A semifinal: Amarillo heading back to the finals |
| Written by Special to LoneStarVolleyball.com | |
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Friday, 20 November 2009 |
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Amarillo took care of business in game four 25-13 against Georgetown and will be after a fourth straight 5A state title Saturday. It was the usual suspects doing the damage in the 25-22, 25-15, 18-25, 25-13 win for the deep and talented Sandies. After having little trouble with the Eagles in the first two sets, the Sandies had an uncharacteristic lapse in set three but recovered to earn another trip to the state finals. "I thought we went in and played with a lot of experience," said Amarillo coach Jan Barker. "You could tell we had been here before." Sheridan Burgess led the Sandies with 12 kills and Madelyn Robinett added 11 while Micah Nolan chipped in nine and Michelle Russell had 8. "We don't have just one hitter," said Barker. "We have a lot of girls who can put the ball on the floor. The key is the pass to give the setters a lot of options on the set." Those setters, Danielle Barker and Josalynn Wise, each had 20 assists as they spread the attack and had Georgetown running all night. Georgetown, making its first state tournament appearance, was obviously not intimidated facing the three-time defending champs and came out fighting from the start "I wasn't really nervous," said Georgetown's Lauren Loerch, who finished with 10 kills. "I was more excited." At 18-18, however, the Sandies put together a 4-0 run then coasted home with the 25-22 win. "We spent the first game trying to figure out what they were doing because we had only seen them on film," said Barker. "We figured it out in the second game." Amarillo exploded in set two, jumping to a 10-1 lead that they turned into a 25-15 win to take a 2-0 lead. But Georgetown wasn't ready to call it a season. With Loerch and Shelbi Goode pacing the attack as they have all season, Georgetown fought off elimination by taking set three 25-18. "We've been in situations where we were down 0-2 before," said Brittany Steele, who had 18 digs. "So we knew we could fight back." "Passing errors," said Amarillo libero Eden Williams, who had 20 digs to lead the defense. "That was the problem. We struggled with our passing." "And hitting errors," added Burgess. "We struggled hitting, too." Whatever the problem, Amarillo took care of business in game four 25-13 to earn the right to play for a fourth straight state title. "I knew we would come back, I was confident," said Danielle Barker, who has now made it to the state finals in all four years of her high school career. "It's a lot of pressure because people are sick of seeing us here and everyone is always gunning for us." For the Eagles of Georgetown, losing in the state tournament was a bittersweet way to end the season. "Maybe we came in a little complacent," said Goode., who led the Eagles with 12 kills. "We had accomplished something no other Georgetown team had accomplished by getting here so maybe we were a little complacent." But Georgetown coach Jenny Richardson knows the Eagles had another obstacle to overcome, too. "Mentally we had that great big giant (Amarillo) standing there in front of us and we just couldn't get over it," said the coach. "We were the little guy and Amarillo is the great big jolly green giant. We knew what they would do and they did it. They are good and they are experienced and it showed."
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Seven Lady Sandies to play at college level Web posted, Tuesday November 17, 2009.
By Ricky Treon, Amarillo Globe News
Seven Amarillo High volleyball seniors announced their college plans to more than 100 parents, friends and fans Monday night at the AHS commons during the NCAA early signing period. (See Full Story)
AHS storms to state again State-bound ;
Web posted November 15, 2009, by Ricky Treon, Amarillo Globe News
ABILENE - The Amarillo High Lady Sandies will return to the UIL state volleyball tourney for a fourth straight season. Amarillo High used strong communication to find open shots in its sweep of the Flower Mound Marcus Lady Marauders on Saturday in the Region I-5A championship match at Kimbrell Arena on the McMurry University campus. (See Full Story)
AHS Lady Sandies
2009 Region I Champions
4th Consecutive Year!
AHS Sandie Seniors and Senior Moms
AHS advances to final; Tascosa ousted
Lady Sandies overcome deficit in each of three close games
The Amarillo High Lady Sandies and Tascosa Lady Rebels will be focused on different things heading into their Region I-5A semifinals against the top two seeds from District 6-5A today at Kimbrell Arena in Abilene.
District 2-5A champion Amarillo High has reached the region semifinals every year this decade and has gone on to win the 5A state title an unprecedented three consecutive seasons.
So as the No. 2 Lady Sandies (44-3) face No. 8 Lewisville Hebron (36-10) at 6 p.m., AHS coach Jan Barker said the key to advancing to the state tournament in San Marcos lies in the psyche of the players. (See Full Story).
Amarillo High advances to regional - Web posted Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The Amarillo High volleyball team is headed to where it's been this time every year for most of the last two decades.
The three-time defending state champion Lady Sandies returned to the Region I-5A tournament for the 18th straight year by coach Jan Barker's estimation with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-21 sweep of Arlington Lamar in a regional quarterfinal match on Tuesday night in Vernon. Amarillo High (44-3) will return to the regional tournament on Friday against either Hebron or Coppell, and if AHS wins two matches, they'll be in the state tournament again. (See Full Story).
Region I Quarterfinals Champions
Amarillo High Lady Sandies
Region I Quarterfinals Champions
2009 Area Champion AHS Lady Sandies
AHS, Tascosa roll along
City's 5A teams advance to regional quarterfinals
The Amarillo High Lady Sandies and Tascosa Lady Rebels advanced to the Region I-5A volleyball quarterfinals with wins Friday against Metroplex teams.
Amarillo High (43-3) swept Mansfield Summit at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, while Tasocsa (24-9) got past North Crowley in four games at Vernon High School.
The three-time defending Class 5A state champion Lady Sandies were tested in the opening game of their 27-25, 25-17, 25-16 victory. They had a 16-10 lead before Summit, which finished 24-12, climbed back into it.
"Their outside hitter was hitting over our block, and we didn't adjust well," AHS coach Jan Barker said. "But then our defense started picking it up, and we were able to pull through."
AHS controlled the last three games and was able to spread the ball around and play its quick-set offense, which has helped the Lady Sandies to their best performances of the season.
"We played well as a team," Barker said. "I'm very encouraged by the way we played tonight. We've been working a lot on ball control, and we had our best ball control tonight in about a month.
"We were able to get it to a lot of people, and that's when we're at our best."
Senior outside hitter Micah Nolan led the Lady Sandies in kills with 14 while contributing nine digs. Senior outside hitter Madelyn Robinett had eight kills and an ace.
"Micah had a great match," Barker said. "Micah and Madelyn were both putting the ball down in key times throughout the match."
AHS will face Arlington Lamar in the regional quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Vernon High School. (See Full Story)
2009 Bi-District Champion AHS Lady Sandies
Amarillo High, Tascosa advance with victories Amarillo Globe News posted November 4, 2009
Lady Sandies Beat Hanks: Amarillo High suffered a rare game loss to open the match against Hanks, but in the final three games the Lady Sandies showed why they're defending state champions by winning three straight to dispatch the Lady Knights.
It might have been the long bus ride or adapting to playoff intensity, but AHS coach Jan Barker said her team didn't seem entirely ready to play.
"The girls were playing kind of tight," Barker said. "There was the excitement of starting the playoffs and they were kind of jittery. I think we made about 12 unforced errors."
Whatever the case, that seemed to wake up Amarillo High, and the last three games were far more typical of what people have come to expect from the Lady Sandies in the postseason.
"We turned it around and started playing with a lot more confidence," Barker said. "We started playing tougher volleyball. It looked more like the Sandies I know."
Madelyn Robinett led AHS with 15 kills while Sheridan Burgess had eight kills and four blocks.
Amarillo High will play Mansfield Summit in the area round Friday at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, tentatively set for 6:30 p.m.
Amarillo High def. El Paso Hanks 22-25, 25-12, 25-21, 25-13
Amarillo - Kills: Madelyn Robinett 15, Sheridan Burgess 8. Blocks: Neely Borger 5, Burgess 4, Caitlin Wallace 4. Digs: Eden Williams 26, Micah Nolan 13. Assists: Danielle Barker 24, Josalynn Wise 18. Aces: Robinett 3, Wise 2.
Records: Amarillo High 42-3, Hanks 27-10.
Training Ground: AHS seniors make college plans - Amarillo Globe News by Ricky Treon - posted Tuesday November 3, 2009 Amarillo High seniors Danielle Barker and Emily Klein have been playing volleyball together for as long as they can remember. And as the duo begins its final playoff run together, Barker and Klein have the comfort of knowing they won't be going separate ways after the final whistle. (See full Story)
800 Career Victories: Barker reaches milestone in Lady Sandies' rout.
Amarillo High volleyball coach Jan Barker notched a milestone victory Saturday afternoon.
Barker's Lady Sandies dominated Odessa Permian in typical fashion, rolling to a 25-10, 25-11, 25-7 victory, Barker's 800th at AHS. Three-time defending Class 5A state champion AHS (32-3, 9-0 District 2-5A) has won 47 straight in district play.
Jan Barker Posts Her 800th Career Win!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Amarillo High vs Odessa Permian
Passion for volleyball kept career on track
AHS coach Barker on brink of 800th win
When Jan Barker began her storied tenure as a 26-year-old at Amarillo High, she didn't think coaching volleyball was her future. Read full story.
2009 AHS Varsity Team
2009 AHS Junior Varsity Team
2009 AHS Freshmen Team
2009 AHS Sandie Volleyball Players
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LoneStarVolleyball.com
2009 - 2010 All Texas Team
Honorable Mention: Micah Nolan, Eden Williams
Special Recognition: Danielle Barker, Neely Borger, Sheridan Burgess, Emily Klein, Madelyn Robinett
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PEARLAND ALLEN
"NIKE CLASSIC" "TEXAS OPEN"
TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT
Eden Williams Sheridan Burgess
All Tournament Team All Tournament Team
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AHS Volleyball Team Wins Duncanville
Tournament of Champions!
Lady Sandie Volleyball Team
Back Row: Coach Jan Barker, Hollie Hawkins, Madelyn Robinett, Sarah Erhart, Caitlin Wallace, Sarah Puckett
Middle Row: Neely Borger, Carlie Foust, Sheridan Burgess, Josalynn Wise
Front Row: Danielle Barker, Emily Klein, Micah Nolan, Eden Williams
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2008
AHS Volleyball Recieves Headliner of the Year Award
As the start of the 2008 volleyball season neared, nobody at Amarillo High knew what to expect from its storied program. A year earlier, the Lady Sandies had made history as the first Class 5A team since 1984 to win consecutive state titles.
AHS coach Jan Barker graduated eight seniors from that team, and had just two players - seniors Torri
