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Five Bucs gain all-conference honors

By Staff | Dec 9, 2012

The South Central Conference announced four Buc volleyball players as All-Conference players and one honorable mention, pictured above, left to right, Krista Hassing, Monica Krieger, Audrey McDonald, Whitney Pirsig and Janessa Jahnke.

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneer volleyball team fell just short of having a perfect conference record this season.

The hot season is what led to the recent announcement of the South Central All-Conference players, which included five Bucs players.

Seniors Krista Hassing, Janessa Jahnke, Monica Krieger and Whitney Pirsig were named All-Conference players. Audrey McDonald, a junior, was an honorable mention.

Krista Hassing

Hassing, the 5-foot-11 middle hitter, led the Bucs in kills this season, racking up a total of 206.

Coach Donna Nawrocki notes that Hassing is a tremendous athlete who has the ability to quickly judge a ball.

“That gives her the ability to hit over many opponents’ blocks,” the coach adds.

Hassing had 139 serve attempts resulting in 17 aces and 72 points. She also had 52 blocks and 98 digs.

“Krista is a long-limbed athletic player who made it difficult for most teams on the net,” Nawrocki says. “She is a great player and student on and off the court.”

Janessa Jahnke

Jahnke, a BEA senior, served as a middle hitter for the Bucs, but was an all-around asset for the team, according to coach Nawrocki.

“She is a strong and athletic girl who played with intensity and power,” she says. “Janessa was a workhorse for us.”

Jahnke had 132 kills, 125 digs and 26 blocks. She also had 94 service attempts which produced seven aces and 55 points.

“Janessa is passionate about the game and continued to get stronger each time she set foot on the court,” Nawrocki says. “She adds energy and excitement, and always had a never quit attitude.”

Monica Krieger

Krieger was a setter for the Bucs this year. The 5-foot-7 senior worked hard before the season began to improve her skills on the court and it showed.

“She improved her quickness to the ball so that she could put up the best set possible for her teammates,” Nawrocki says.

She had an impressive 296 set assists and 72 digs this season.

But, Krieger was an asset at the service line as well. She had 182 serve attempts, accounting for 22 aces and 110 points.

“Monica is a great player with a great attitude,” the Bucs coach adds. “She is a smart player overall.”

Whitney Pirsig

Pirsig was listed on the roster as a middle hitter but found that she could lend a hand in other positions on the court, as well.

“Whitney was mostly used as a right side hitter and blocker,” Nawrocki says. “But, she could make adjustments for our team depending on the need.”

Pirsig had 132 serve attempts with 23 aces and 76 points. She also had 24 kills, 15 blocks and 65 digs.

She gave us consistency and hustle,” the coach adds. “She communicated well with Monica (Krieger) on our right side defense.”

Audrey McDonald

McDonald was listed as honorable mention but played a big role on the court for the Bucs this year.

“Audrey’s biggest strength was at the service line and her passing,” Nawrocki says.

McDonald had 183 serve attempts, which produced 13 aces. The junior also racked up an impressive 112 points at the service line this season.

In addition to her stats at the service line, McDonald had 22 kills and 72 digs.

“Audrey’s consistent passing kept our offense going,” Nawrocki says. “She continues to get stronger and the team will look to her for leadership next year.”

The four All-Conference players are seniors, which means the Bucs will lose them to graduation this spring.

“They will definitely be missed, as well as the other seniors on the team,”?the coach says. “There will be many spots to fill next year.”

The Bucs had an overall record of 21-10 and a SCC record of 9-1.