Locally: Kennadie Clute earns big honors in Frontier Conference volleyball
From staff and news services
Kennadie Clute, a Lewis-Clark State junior outside hitter from Mt. Spokane, collected a couple of special awards when the Frontier Conference passed out postseason volleyball honors last week.
Clute was a co-Player of the Year and the Frontier Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Montana State, where she played her first two years, as well as a first-team all-conference selection. Playing in every set for the Warriors, Clute led the team with 415 kills and added 257 digs, second on the team, as well as 28 aces and 58 total blocks (15 solo) while compiling a .285 attack percentage.
Tori Bertsch of Rocky Mountain, a senior from Post Falls, was named the Frontier Setter of the Year after compiling 1,297 assists, a 9.83 per-set average. She also earned first-team honors.
Area athletes selected to the second team were Paige Montomery, a junior outside hitter at Carroll College from Mead, and Lewis-Clark State senior libero Russia Robinson, a transfer from North Idaho College after her sophomore season.
Natalie Kassa, a Carroll junior defensive specialist from Mead, and Mikayla Ness, Montana Western senior outside/right-side hitter from Central Valley, received Champions of Character awards that go to individuals who best exemplify the five core character values of the NAIA – respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
College scene
Nine athletes with area ties earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-academic honors for the fall.
Volleyball: Erin Little (Colville), Central Washington, senior, 3.81 grade-point average, accounting major; Ashley Jibby (Post Falls), Concordia, sr., 3.22, psychology; Taylor Sonnenberg (Moses Lake), Concordia, junior, 3.47, business administration.
Men’s soccer: Joe Scott (Cheney), Montana State Billings, sophomore, 3.33, political science; Austin Thomas (Lewiston), Northwest Nazarene, jr., 3.57, mass communications (a repeater); Derrick Gonzales (Moses Lake), St. Martin’s, jr., 3.39, business.
Women’s soccer: Martha Heaps (Mead), Concordia, so., 3.28, biology; Hannan Smith (Gonzaga Prep), Concordia, sr., 3.61, psychology; Laura Seymour (University), NW Nazarene, sr., 3.38, pre-physical therapy.
High school scene
Led by Northwest Christian, which collected honors in two sports, six area schools were recognized by the Washington Interscholastic Activites Association, Dairy Farmers of Washington and Les Schwab Tires as academic state champions for the fall sports season.
Northwest Christian had top marks in 2B football with a 3.46 grade-point average and 2B boys soccer with a 3.65.
Other area state champions: Pullman, 2A boys cross country, 3.77; St. George’s, 2B boys cross country, 3.767; Almira/Coulee-Hartline, 1B football, 3.542; Davenport, 2B volleyball, 3.757; and Oakesdale, 1B volleyball, 3.927, the highest GPA among all classification winners in the sport.
Letters of intent
Baseball: Justin Dolezal, Mead, pitcher, Western Oregon. Washington State signers – Cody Anderson, LHP, Marysville, Washington/Bellevue CC; A.J. Block, LHP, Newport (Bellevue); Peter Hutzal, INF, Calgary, Alberta; Cory Meyer, C, Pocatello/Spokane Falls CC; Dillon Plew, INF, Kennewick; Joe Rosenstein, RHP, Arvada, Colorado/Seina-Lamar CC; James Rudkin, 1B, Plano, Texas /McLennan JC; James Sinatro, INF, Skyline of Sammamish, Washington.
Cross country/track and field: Brittany Aquino, East Valley, Washington State.
Men’s golf: Gonzaga – Chris Mogg, Skyline of Sammamish; Nick Nolan, Bellingham. Washington State – Daniel Kolar, Sydney, Australia; Nicklaus Chiam, Singapore.
Women’s basketball: Hannah Burland, East Valley, guard, Lewis-Clark State.
Women’s golf: Gonzaga – Jessica Mangrobang, Chula Vista, California; Nina Novilla, Torrance, California.
Volleyball: Gonzaga – Katelyn Oppio, middle blocker, Reno, Nevada; Payton Mack, middle blocker, Fremont, California; Jenna Kuehn, setter, Eugene.
Wrestling: Trey Meyer, East Valley, 152 pounds, Iowa State.