Bear Sets Up Success

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Volleyball

Most Valuable Player

Daniel Samarin

Buchanan, senior

Back for a third stint on the All-City team, the senior setter guided the Bears back to the Central Section title game (Buchanan lost to Bullard) and a No. 19 national ranking (Student

Sports.com). For his part, the three-year letterwinner, who also swam during the spring season, was the Tri-River Athletic Conference and Buchanan Most Valuable Player. This season, Samarin, a two-time All-City water polo selection, tallied 1,042 assists, 72 digs, 49 kills and 41 blocks for Buchanan (29-8).

Rookie of the Year

Jacob Schmidt

Clovis West, sophomore

The middle blocker gave a glimpse of what's to come as the 6-foot-5 sophomore recorded 112 kills (.362 hitting percentage), 26 blocks and 24 aces. Schmidt, whose playing time increased as the season wore on, was named the Most Improved Player for the No. 37 Golden Eagles (StudentSports.com).

Coach of the Year

Daren Torbet

Clovis East

In his first season at Clovis East, Torbet had the team headed in the right direction. After a rough 2007 (13-20), which included a last-place league finish (1-9), Clovis East climbed to 18-11. The Timberwolves were fourth in the TRAC (4-6) and advanced to the Valley quarterfinals.

The Rest of the Team

Taylor Dildine

Buchanan, senior

The 6-5 outside hitter led the Bears with 348 kills (.258 hitting percentage) and 38 aces. Armed with a potent serve, he rewrote the school record book for career aces. In four seasons, he delivered 109 service aces, nearly doubling the previous mark of 55 (Jake Wiens, 2003 graduate).

John Hargreaves

Clovis, senior

Moving from the middle didn't slow this two-time All-City honoree and 2006 Rookie of the Year. Hargreaves thrived outside, amassing 410 kills to go with 45 blocks, 155 digs and 43 aces. Voted first-team All-TRAC, he was named the Cougars' Most Outstanding Player.

Steven Meikle

Clovis, senior

The Cougars' Most Valuable Player garnered his second straight berth on the All-City squad. The outside hitter racked up 323 kills (.301 hitting percentage), 157 digs and 43 blocks as Clovis High (28-12) advanced to the Central Section semifinals. He added 55 service aces.

Ryan Sankey

Clovis West, senior

The first-team All-TRAC pick has been a constant force for the Eagles the past two seasons. The Clovis West co-MVP scored a return trip to the All-City squad after a season that mirrored his 2007 effort of 320 kills and 296 digs. This time around, Sankey totaled 346 kills and 294 digs. He also had 75 blocks and 26 aces.

Stephen Shillito

Buchanan, junior

It was more of the same for last season's All-City Rookie of the Year. The 6-2 middle blocker, the team's Most Versatile Player and an All-TRAC first-teamer, had 250 kills and 68 blocks. A playoff performer, he put down almost half of his kill attempts in the postseason (.456).

Charlie Taylor

Clovis West, senior

The team Co-MVP plowed through opposing frontlines with a team-high 416 kills (.418 hitting percentage) as the Eagles (26-9, 9-1) shared the TRAC title with Buchanan. The 6-4 Taylor had 33 aces, and he amassed 173 digs and 55 blocks. He was an all-league first-teamer.

Cody Wender

Clovis East, junior

The outside hitter, one of two juniors on this year's All-City roster, led the Timberwolves in kills (418 with a .354 hitting percentage) and blocks (49). Wender, an all-league first-teamer, registered 207 digs and 30 aces. He was selected the team's Offensive Player of the Year.