By Amanda Eggert EBS Staff Writer
BIG SKY – Two Lone Peak High School juniors and one freshman received All-Conference honors for their performance in the 2015 volleyball season.
This was the second consecutive year junior and team captain Luisa Locker was named First Team All-Conference after leading the league in digs – the defensive specialist had 289 digs in 2015.
“She is incredibly athletic and she has a great court sense,” said Lady Big Horns Head Coach Sarah Griffiths of Locker’s play. “This year she was elected captain and that’s really where I started to see her shine … She really put the team in a position to win.”
Junior Bianca Godoy, also a team captain, was fifth in the league with 148 digs and 18th overall in kills. She was named Second Team All-Conference.
“[Godoy] is an incredible all-around player. She is solid on the front row and she is solid on the back row,” Griffiths said, adding that she’s impressed by the outside hitter’s consistency. “I don’t think she ever has a bad day.”
Freshman Solae Swanson was named First Team All-Conference, racking up enough kills to be ranked third overall in the district.
“She was such a breakout player for us,” Griffiths said of Swanson. “She started the season as what we call a swing player, so she was playing both [junior varsity] and varsity, and after one game she earned a starting varsity position.
“She is a playmaker and a firecracker,” Griffiths said, adding that she holds the LPHS record for kills in a game (13). Just one other freshman in the district was named First Team All-Conference.
The Lady Big Horns made remarkable improvements in the 2015 season, as demonstrated by their regular season record of 12-4, the fifth-year program’s best to date.
“It’s validating for me as a coach to see our program grow and to see that program then be recognized and rewarded by the other coaches who see us as a force to be reckoned with in the district,” Griffiths said.
At the District 8C Tournament in late October, LPHS lost to the Gardiner Bruins, the three-time defending state champions and a team they beat in regular season play earlier in the year. The Lady Big Horns bounced back with a win against Shields Valley before losing their next match to White Sulphur Springs, ending the season at 13-6.
There were no seniors on the roster this year, which could hint at a solid showing for the Lady Big Horns in 2016.
