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Shultz, Garvik earn 3A WSL’s top volleyball honors

Jeff Caspersen
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Jeff Caspersen Post IndependentRoaring Fork's Landon Garvik, the 3A Western Slope League's Player of the Year, high-fives teammates at the volleyball state tournament back on Nov. 12.
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If it sounds familiar, that’s because it played out in precisely the same fashion last year.

For a second straight season, Roaring Fork’s Carrie Shultz and Landon Garvik have earned the 3A Western Slope League’s top volleyball honors.

After guiding the Rams to a 23-5 record and state tournament appearance in her third full season as head coach, Shultz is the league’s top coach for 2010. Garvik, whose powerful swing produced a team-high 421 kills, is the league’s top player.



“We’re both really honored just to be recognized by our peers,” said Shultz, whose Rams compiled a 45-8 record the past two seasons. “To have them recognize us two years in a row, it means a lot.”

Garvik, who’s headed to George Washington University to study and play volleyball next school year, is Shultz’s first player to move on to a Division I University.



“She’s headed off to a great university,” said Shultz, who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh and later served as an assistant coach at Duquesne University. “I’m very familiar with the coaches and the university. She’s going to have a wonderful career and a wonderful time.”

Garvik and Shultz weren’t the only Rams to nab all-league honors. All five of the team’s seniors were represented in some way.

Joey Clingan and Niki Burns were named to the first team and Savanna Phibbs and Ixchel Muniz landed honorable mentions.

Together, the five seniors helped Roaring Fork to its first state tournament appearance since 1990.

“I’m excited for all the kids to get recognition for all their hard work,” Shultz said, “throughout the year and for their entire careers. They were the foundation of the program since I started. They’ve worked really hard toward this goal, ever since I’ve known them. It’s nice to see it all happen for them.”

Shultz and those five seniors had plenty of help from the program’s younger players. Sophomore Megan Gianinetti is one those, and she earned an all-league honorable mention for her efforts.

Gianinetti will be part of what Shultz predicts will be a bright future for Roaring Fork volleyball.

“We are very excited about the future of the program,” she said. “Some of the younger players in the program are more excited than ever to continue the success of this year, and to make their own mark.”

Senior Kathleen Maldonado and junior Christa Currier were Coal Ridge’s representatives on the All-3A WSL first team.

The duo helped the Titans to a 10-12 overall record and fourth-place league finish in 2010.

Joining Maldonado and Currier on the all-league list were honorable mentions Rebecca Mitchell, a sophomore, and Zoe Reece, a junior.

Grand Valley seniors Jessica Bell and Karsyn Valencia were Grand Valley’s All-3A WSL picks.

Bell made the first team and Valencia was an honorable mention.

The Cardinals finished up the fall with an 8-11 record.

Adrienne Schmidt was Rifle’s sole All-3A WSL selection. The senior made the list as an honorable mention.

The Bears finished 2010 with a 1-18 record.

With senior Kenzi Caple earning a spot on the first team and senior Kiley Stevens and junior Lexie Warkentin landing honorable mentions, Glenwood Springs had plenty of representation on the All-4A Western Slope League list.

The trio helped the Demons to a 10-12 record.

Eagle Valley’s Shawn Weatherred, who guided the Devils to a 27-3 record and trip to the 4A state semifinals, was named the 4A WSL’s top coach.

Eagle Valley junior Alex Lassa and Palisade junior Audrey Steinkirchner shared Player of the Year honors.

jcaspersen@postindependent.com


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