All Area volleyball players: Front row from left are Taylor Manning, Free State, Melissa Burch, Free State, Chantay Caron, Free State, Kendal Abel, Eudora High, Chrissie Jeannin, Tonganoxie High and coach Kendra Oberzan, Ottawa High. Back row from left are Kylie Shufflebarger, McLouth, Nicole Rockhold, Oskaloosa High and Tayler Tolefree, Lawrence High. The players were photographed at Abe and Jake's Landing on Dec. 10, 2008.

Taylor Manning, Sr., Free State High

The senior middle blocker led the Sunflower League in blocks and blocks per game during the 2008 season. In addition, Manning was second in the league in passer rating and fourth in the league in kill efficiency at 43 percent. She was among the team leaders in all major offensive categories.

Chantay Caron, Jr., Free State High

The junior middle blocker was third in the league in blocks per game (1.36) and third in the league in serving percentage at 95.9 percent. In addition, the lefthanded Caron was fifth in the league in kill efficiency at 42 percent.

Melissa Burch, Sr., Free State High

Burch was far and away the most dangerous weapon the Firebirds had this season. From her spot at the net — where she was third in the Sunflower League in kill efficiency at 35 percent — to her spot beyond the serving line, where she led the league in aces (101) and was third in the league in aces-per-game, Burch used her long arms and slender frame to unleash havoc on her opponents. The 101 aces broke the FSHS single-season record by 31.

Tayler Tolefree, Sr., Lawrence High

In leading the Lions to a berth in the Class 6A state tournament, Tolefree — a Kansas University signee — led the team in blocks (430) and kills (342). In addition, she added 134 digs, which was good for third on the team and was a co-captain. Along with her sensational statistics, Tolefree maintained a 4.0 Grade-Point Average and was the Hy-Vee High School Scholar Athlete of the Month for October.

Nicole Rockhold, Sr., Oskaloosa High

A three-time all-league selection, Rockhold finished the 2008 season with 377 kills, 271 digs and an 84 percent (217 of 257) success rate on her serves. Rockhold added 49 aces and 65 blocks to her stat line for the season, all while maintaining a 4.0 Grade-Point Average.

Chrissie Jeannin, Sr., Tonganoxie High

The lone setter on this year’s team, Jeannin recorded 681 assists and delivered 49 aces for the Lady Chieftains during the 2008 season. She also added 61 blocks and was named to the all-tournament team at the Rossville and Tonganoxie Invitationals.

Kendal Abel, Sr., Eudora High

The Cardinals outside hitter recorded 372 kills at a rate of nearly four kills per game. In addition, she had a .261 hitting percentage, good for tops on the team. As a blocker, Abel added 19 stuffs, and, as a server, she recorded a 92.2 serving percentage, with 24 aces in 321 attempts. Defensively, she added 462 digs to her stat total, while being named to the Tonganoxie Invitational all-tourney team and earning first-team All-Frontier League honors.

Kylie Shufflebarger, Jr., McLouth High

This year’s all-area volleyball player of the year earned the nod for an outstanding statistical season. Shufflebarger led the Bulldogs with 439 kills — good for 12 per game — and added 37 blocks, 184 digs and 68 aces. In addition, the McLouth junior had a serving percentage of 88 percent, played in the front and back row of the rotation and led the team to its best season in more than 20 years.

Kara MacFarland, Sr., Ottawa High

MacFarland joins the Journal-World all-area team for the second straight year, as she finished the season with a team-high 202 kills and a .329 hitting percentage. She averaged nearly two-and-a-half kills per game. In addition, the Cyclones’ middle blocker recorded 85 blocks and 55 assists. She earned all-Frontier League first-team honors and was named to the Mo-Kan All-Star team.

Kristen Hendricksen, Sr., Ottawa High

The senior outside hitter from the 34-5 Cyclones finished the 2008 season with an incredibly balanced stat line. Hendricksen totalled 172 kills, 260 digs and 65 aces to go along with a .235 hitting percentage and a 97.3 percent passing efficiency rating. For her play, Hendricksen earned all-Frontier League first-team honors and was named to the Mo-Kan All-Star team.

Honorable Mention: Oskaloosa – Whitney Artman, Sr., Kyra Coffman, Jr.; Ottawa – Dani Stevenson, Sr.; De Soto – Amber Laudick, Sr., Tami Crow, Jr.; Baldwin – Ramie Burkhart, Soph.; Eudora – Morgan Wiley, Fr., Mariah Webb, Sr.; Tonganoxie – Molly O’Hagan, Soph., Megan Puhr, Sr., Abby Eisman, Jr.; Lawrence – Jasmyn Turner, Jr., Lillian Schonewise, Soph., Mary Coldsnow, Soph., Hillary Wehmeyer, Sr.; Free State – Ashleigh Allam, Sr., Sierra Dickson, Sr., Danielle Augustine, Sr.; Seabury Academy – Bria Phipps, Sr.