Steamboat Springs High School volleyball players huddle for a timeout in the match against Weld Central on Saturday, Nov. 3, during the Class 4A regional playoffs at Ponderosa High School. Head coach Wendy Hall has been named coach of the year for the Class 4A Western Slope League conference for the third year in a row.

Editor’s note: A previous version of the story said that Hayden volleyball player Joey Deckler received all-conference honors, but she actually received honorable mention in the Class 1A/2A Western Slope League conference. In addition, Steamboat Springs cross country runners Maggi Congdon received all-conference honors while Winter Boese was honorable mention. 

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — In a fall season full of ups and downs, the best athletes of Routt County earned conference and state honors.

The Steamboat Springs High School volleyball team found success, topping Routt County, with not only all-conference honors, but also boasting the Class 4A Western Slope League’s coach of the year, Wendy Hall, and co-player of the year, senior Anna Allsberry.

The Sailors earned second overall in the Western Slope League and a regional berth in Parker, where the team fell to Ponderosa High School and defeated Weld Central, just short of the state tournament.

It’s the third time in four years and 11th time since her coaching career started in 1989 that Hall has earned the Western Slope League’s coach of the year honor.

“I was surprised by it, and for sure, it’s heartwarming to know what your fellow coaches think of you and how they see me in a leadership role in our league since I’ve been doing this for so long,” Hall said. “I felt like the Palisade coach did more with less; player for player they didn’t match our talent this year.”

Allsberry sees it differently but admittedly, with a little bias.

“She 150 percent deserved that,” Allsberry said. “She invests everything into every player she has and has full faith in them — wants them to succeed — but aside from volleyball, she wants us to be good people. That’s one of the philosophies in our program.”

Allsberry’s honors piled up after being named to second team all-state. She was one of 18 players in the state handpicked by 60 coaches in the Colorado Coaches Girls Sports Association to play in the all-state game on Sunday, Nov. 18, at Arvada High School. She joined Palisade senior Alexandra MacAskill and Battle Mountain senior Lillian Benway as one of three players from the Western Slope to earn the trip.

“Her performance this season spoke for herself,” Hall said of Allsberry. “No. 6 in all of 4A in number of kills, dead even in league with Alexandra (MacAskill) and  hitting percentages were up in the top 10. Numbers speak volumes, but when you watch her play, you can tell she’s a special athlete. She’s a big jumper, and she has amazing body control at the net.”

The No.1 player in every league is automatically selected, but Allsberry, who was second on the list, had her case made by Wendy MacAskill, Palisade’s head coach, since Hall said coaches don’t vote or speak up for their own players.

“It was amazing because I got to play with people that are really like-minded with similar goals that wanted to play in college also,” Allsberry said. “I got to play with Alex (MacAskill) from Palisade and Lily (Benway) from Battle Mountain, and it was really fun to be on the same team and to not be against them.”

Allsberry said that none of her success would’ve been possible without her team, which initiates each ball to help her deliver the perfect hit.

To reach Leah Vann, call 970-871-4253, email lvann@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @LVann_Sports.