VOLLEYBALL: Russell, Steele named players of the year (VIDEO, ALL-AREA TEAM)

NICEVILLE – Baker’s Laurie Steele and Niceville’s Shelby Russell are two very different volleyball players with contrasting skill sets, yet have similarities common among top-flight athletes.

Both are committed, hard working athletes that – when at their best – are peerless on the floor.

It is this reason – and some gaudy stats – that made Steele and Russell this year’s All Sports Association/Daily News volleyball Players of the Year.

Steele won the award among the small schools while Russell won among the big schools.

Steele was a force at the net and led her team to the Class A State Finals while boasting some big numbers along the way. The 6-foot senior finished with 242 kills, 123 blocks and 62 aces on the year. Steele edged out Rocky Bayou Christian’s Rachel Mosley, who also received player of the year consideration.

Naturally, nobody appreciated Steele’s play more than her coach, Tomikko Parks, a former Baker standout herself.

“Laurie has been unbelievable this year,” Parks said. “I’ve watched her grow as a player and as a leader.

“She’s works hard on and off the floor,” she added. “She wants to be the best, so she works at everything she does.”

For Steele, it’s been an exciting experience seeing her dreams become reality.

“It's a great honor because I've always dreamed of accomplishing this since I was in middle school,” Steele said.

Playing in a state championship and leading her team was certainly huge for Steele. But there is a certain level of joy that comes to any competitor for being on the winning end of a rivalry game. It was a season-sweep of arch-rival Jay that helped make last season so memorable for Steele.

 “For me personally, it's always great to beat a rival,” Steele said. “So beating Jay three times my senior year topped it off. So state was first, and beating Jay three times was second.”

Steele is fielding looks from a few schools, namely Pensacola State, West Virginia Tech and West Alabama.

Russell, a Southern Mississippi commit since the summer, is more of a hybrid player – but dominant nonetheless. Russell has the versatility to play both at the net and in the back row, and her numbers back that up. The senior finished with 176 kills, 263 digs, 26 aces and 26 blocks as her Niceville team made a regional final appearance and ended the season with a 15-6 record.

Wherever Eagles coach Jill Benson needed her, Russell performed – at a high level.

“Shelby leads the way by wanting to get it done and doing it, walking the walk and talking the talk,” Benson said. “I think she advanced big time this year as being a team player.”

Confidence has never been an issue with Russell, who once guaranteed a victory over bitter rival Mosley. Naturally, her skill set improved from a season ago with hard work and playing with her club team. But Russell’s ability to stay within herself this season is something that came with maturity and experience.

“It was kind of something I just expected from myself because last year as a junior I started, but I had really bad games,” Russell said “I wasn't level headed at all and then this year I came into my own I guess.”

Having two other seniors around her who each received player of the year consideration in Monica Johnson and Hannah Noon definitely helped alleviate pressure, and the team produced.

“People didn't really expect that much from this team this year because it's a growing team,” Russell said. “We got a new coach, lost our coach that took us to state last year.

“It was a really good experience because I did lead the team a long with a few other great seniors.”

Daily News All-Area Volleyball Team

Big schools (Class 6A)

Big School Player of the Year: Shelby Russell, Niceville

Big School Coach of the Year: Jill Benson, Niceville

First team

S – Hannah Noon, Niceville

H – Monica Johnson, Niceville

H – Katrina Lathi, FWB

H – Taylor Havens, Choctawhatchee

H – Shelby Russell, Niceville

U – Allison Freer, Navarre

Second team

S – Kelly Barrett, Navarre

H – Lindsey Breland, Choctawhatchee

H – Caroline Lathi, FWB

H – Jasmine Middleton, Crestview

H – Sara Hamilton, Crestview

U – Jennifer Bazylak, FWB

Honorable mention

Choctawhatchee: Rachel Harmon, Ariel Lindner, Robyn Van Zile, Ashley Quackenbush, Kayce Johnson.

Crestview: Brittany Pase, Michele Henderson, Molly Kitchens, Molly Woodward, Haleigh Hollinghead, Kerri York.

Fort Walton Beach: Rachael Dehlinger, Ashleigh Colvard, Megan Semmler, Alia Rhiley, Breanne Williams, Brooke Lawson.

Navarre: Kyndall Cunningham, Kelsey Belmain, Shamani Booker.

Niceville: Kimy Sarra, Kayla Carr, Erika Tuttle.

Small schools (Class A-4A)

Small School Player of the Year: Laurie Steele, Baker

Small School Coach of the Year: Tomikko Parks, Baker

First team

S – Katie Wickery, Baker

H – Laurie Steele, Baker

H – Rachel Mosley, Rocky Bayou Christian

H – Brianna Ross, Freeport

H – Allyson Huffman, Walton

U – Taylor Morgan, Baker

Second team

S – Kasey Harrison, Laurel Hill

H – Mary Kate Myrick, Freeport

H – Prophecy Spaid, Freeport

H – Sierra Contreras, Walton

H – Shalyn Bailey, Walton

U – Alex Roy, Baker

Honorable mention

Baker: Haley Wagner, Jordan Linzy, Kathryn Quigg.

Freeport: Laura Hayhurst, Kennedi Bates, Charity Head, Shadia Mitry.

Laurel Hill: Sara Schulmeister, Ashley Hatfield.

Rocky Bayou Christian: Kristen Bernheisel, Claire Gunter, Christy Allen, Elizabeth Marshall.

South Walton: Sarah McManus, Kati Trejo, Rafae Ledo-Massey, Katie Logan.

Walton: Kaydee Wilcox, Courtney Brown, Camri Thomas.