The 2011 Lawrence Journal-World All-Area volleyball team, from left: Katy Davis, Free State; Maggie Bones, Ottawa; Caitlin Broadwell, Lawrence; Charlotte Burch, Seabury; Kristin Patton, Wellsville; Becca Maasen, De Soto; coach Lindsay Hothan, De Soto; Shelby Holmes, Free State; Jenny Whitledge, Tonganoxie; Danielle Dowdy, De Soto.

First Team

• Maggie Bones, Ottawa senior outside hitter — team-best 306 kills and 557 digs for the Cyclones, who finished third at the Class 4A state tournament.

• Caitlin Broadwell, Lawrence sophomore middle blocker — emerged as LHS leader midway through season and finished with 143 kills.

• Charlotte Burch, Seabury Academy senior outside hitter — captain led team with 162 digs, 63 aces and 25 solo blocks.

• Danielle Dowdy, De Soto senior setter — 1,080 assists, 218 digs and 41 aces for 35-8 Wildcats.

• Katy Davis, Free State junior setter — led Firebirds with 432 assists and selected to All-Sunflower League first team.

• Shelby Holmes, Free State junior outside hitter — an All-Sunflower League first-teamer with 282 kills and 53 solo blocks.

• Becca Maasen, De Soto senior middle hitter — team-leading 532 kills, 400 digs, 20 solo blocks and 75 assist blocks for DHS.

• Sarah McDermott, Veritas Christian junior setter/hitter — versatile Eagle had 187 kills, 104 assists and 75 blocks.

• Kristin Patton, Wellsville senior outside hitter — 314 kills, .237 kill efficiency and 79 aces for a 3A state-tournament team.

• Jenny Whitledge, Tonganoxie junior outside hitter — All-Kaw Valley League first-teamer totaled 391 kills, 382 digs, 80 aces and 70 blocks.

Player of the year

De Soto senior

Becca Maasen

A Mo.-Kan. all-star voted “Miss Offense” by her teammates each of the past two seasons, Maasen was a huge weapon for DHS as it went 35-8 before getting eliminated by eventual Class 4A state champion St. James Academy, winner of the past four state titles, in a sub-state championship match. Maasen has signed to play volleyball at Washburn University.

Coach of the year

Lindsay Hothan, De Soto

Not many teams had an answer for Hothan’s Wildcats this fall. DHS won 81 percent of its matches and advanced through the first two rounds of sub-state before getting eliminated by perennial powerhouse St. James. Hothan credited All-Area first-teamers Maasen and Dowdy as being two of the best athletes she has ever coached.

Honorable mention

(alphabetic, by school)

Kaysha Green, Jordan Hoffman, Morgan Lober, Baldwin; Annie Beck, Madison Maring, Allie Webb, Eudora; Zoe Reed, Kailey Wingert, Lawrence; Jaime Birzer, Alexis Roecker, Ottawa; Kelsey Kasson, Sierra Morgison, Perry-Lecompton; Alexa Gaumer, Courtney Hoag, Seabury Academy; Megan Hummelgaard, Brooklyn Kerbaugh, Tonganoxie; Abi Bartlow, Teri Huslig, Veritas Christian; Ashley Sparks, Wellsville.

* A previous version of this story stated that Broadwell was Lawrence High’s team leader in kills. In fact, Monica Howard led the team with 229 kills.