High school volleyball: Buckeye's Kamiah Gibson and Black River's Sydney Simonson named coaches association players of the year

AKRON — Buckeye setter Kamiah Gibson, Black River outside hitter Sydney Simonson and Pirates coach Courtney Dieter took home top honors from the local chapter of the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association. Gibson was named the district player of the year in Division II, fellow senior Simonson was selected as player of the year in D-III and Dieter was chosen as the D-III coach of the year. OHSVCA District 3 consists of all schools in Medina, Summit, Lorain and Portage Counties. The voting process was conducted by president Linnea Wolf of Cloverleaf. West Virginia recruit Gibson dished out 609 assists, completing her four-year career with the second-highest total in county history at 2,087. The 6-footer also posted 141 kills, 209 digs, 65 blocks and 35 aces in leading the Bucks to their first district final since 2010. Gibson amassed a school postseason-record 54 assists, eight kills and seven rejections — an unprecedented stat line by a county player — in rallying Buckeye from a two-set deficit to beat Keystone in the district semifinals. Her 54 helpers against the Wildcats were a career best. "Kamiah played with her whole heart on the court all season long," Buckeye coach Kara Joyce said. "She also brought the team together off the court, organizing so many unique activities that helped the girls bond into a cohesive group. "I don't think any of us will forget her coming to practice wearing an entire Santa costume, but that's how committed Kamiah was to her team." Simonson fired a career-high 386 kills, including a school-record tying 28 against Columbia on Oct. 1 in powering Black River to the district semis for the first time in 21 years. She also made 330 digs, becoming the sixth county athlete with back-to-back 250-kill/250-dig seasons. The four-year letterwinner broke the Pirates' career mark for kills in the district semifinals against Rittman, finishing ninth in county history with 883. Danielle Jenkins previously held the school record with 863. "Sydney has worked hard to become a dominant, six-position outside hitter," Dieter said. "She was key, not only to our quick offensive attack, but also our defense. This, along with leading Black River to back-to-back, 15-plus win seasons and the second-best record in school history are why she was more than deserving of being the District Player of the Year." Dieter piloted the Pirates to an 18-7 season, highlighted by a six-match winning streak that was their longest in the rally-scoring era and went 4-1 in five-setters. The Black River graduate posted the school's first back-to-back 15-win campaigns, and pushed its 2020 squad into second place on the Pirates' season victory list by sweeping the Indians on Oct. 24. "There is truly no better feeling than what we've accomplished the last two seasons, and I can't think of a better person to have led us than Coach," Black River junior Nicole Beard said. "She inspires me to be a better player and never settle for less. "I've been fortunate to have her as my coach for three years, and can tell you she is very dedicated, hard-working, devoted and so much more with everything for our volleyball program." Highland outside hitter Alayna Tessena, who topped the county with 406 kills, finished third in the D-I player of the year voting behind Nordonia outside hitter Joy Banks and Avon outside hitter Emily Gardner — both seniors. The sophomore, who was the only underclassman on the first team, was the driving force behind the Hornets' 21-4 record, Suburban League American Conference championship and postseason run that ended in the district final. Wadsworth outside hitter/setter Becca Dunkle also was a first-team honoree, while Brunswick libero Emerson Futchko and Medina outside hitter Kira Holland were second-team selections. Outside hitter Beard was fifth in the D-III player of the year balloting, while Black River libero Ashley Kalman joined her on the first team. Pirates setter Abbie Graves was a second-team choice. Receiving honorable mention status were Wadsworth middle hitter Taylor Sabol, Highland outside hitter Julia Shaw, Brunswick setter Mia Beckler, Medina setter/outside hitter Makenzie Schellenberger and Hornets libero Grace Smith (D-I) and Buckeye outside hitter Sydney Bell, Bucks middle hitter Autumn Meyer and Cloverleaf setter Lexi Clingan (D-II). Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on Twitter. All-district teamsDivision I First team — Joy Banks (Nordonia), Emily Gardner (Avon), Alayna Tessena (Highland), Abby Monn (Elyria), Laken Voss (Amherst Steele), Becca Dunkle (Wadsworth), Brooke Ramlow (Hudson), Mya Sopata (Nordonia). Coach of the Year — Tim Vasko (Nordonia) Division II First team — Kamiah Gibson (Buckeye), Dakota Drenth (Revere), Carly Wightman (Coventry), Anna Freeman (Revere), Kara Zaucha (Akron Hoban), Kristin DeWitt (Firelands), Riley Hohman (Copley), Taylor Whitney (Keystone). Coach of the Year — Breanna Caslow (Coventry) Division III First team — Sydney Simonson (Black River), Ally Glass (Rootstown), Jenna Kurtz (Rootstown), Jenna Rothman (Brookside), Nicole Beard (Black River), Leah Musall (Brookside), Ashley Kalman (Black River), Elana Faldowski (Crestwood), Madeline Shirkey (Garfield). Coach of the Year — Courtney Dieter (Black River)