Ladies end season with honors

Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Editor
  
The Lady Dogies ended their season at the state tournament for the first time since 2014. It took a team effort to achieve that milestone, however three Lady Dogies ended the season with All-Conference honors for the 2021 season, and one with Honorable Mention to the All-Conference team.
Jaylen Ostenson, Tiernan Stanton and Hunter McFarland got the nod from the 3A East coaches for the team, while Shelby Tidyman garnered enough interest for an honorable mention.
As a three-time recipient of All-Conference honors, Ostenson put up the numbers which made her deserving of the acclamation. As an all-around, versatile player, she ended the season with an impressive 96% serving accuracy, was 19th in the state in kills with 289, put up 23 blocks and had 318 set assists and 324 digs.
“Jaylen always shows up ready to work, and brings a lot to our program,” said head coach Keeley Anderson. “She always has a positive and mentally strong attitude, and works to help the team turn things around when we’re down, and she has great court sense.”
Stanton — or ‘Big Red’ as she has come to be known — ended the season leading the Lady Dogies in kills and blocks. At the state level, she was 17th in 3A with 298 kills and 10th in blocks with 80 for the season. In addition, she served up 40 aces and had 120 digs.
“Tiernan brings a lot of intimidation with her height and she backs that up at the net. She also has a pretty formidable swing which almost always guarantees a kill when she gets good contact on the ball,” Anderson said. “I felt like this season we were really able to see what Tiernan is capable of, and I can’t wait to see what she brings to the court next year.”
As outside hitter and setter, McFarland played opposite Ostenson and also put up impressive numbers on the season, finishing the year leading her team in assists and digs. She was deadly behind the service line, ending the season eighth in the state with 60 aces, and as setter for Stanton and Ostenson, was 16th in the state with 487 assists. She also racked up 159 kills and 363 digs.
“Hunter was a team captain and really is the glue to our team. She always gives 110% and works to make herself and her teammates better,” Anderson said. “She plays with her heart and doesn’t let up even when things aren’t going our way. Her assist count ranks right up there with players who run a 5-1 and only have one setter getting the stats.”
Tidyman earned an honorable mention by finishing the season ranked 18th in the state in ace serves with 50, and she accumulated 90 kills, 40 blocks, 219 digs and 356 serve receives on the season. 
“Shelby just missed out on earning a spot on the All-Conference team by a hair,” Anderson stated. “She is a hard worker who leaves everything on the court, and is a huge asset to our team.”
Each of these Lady Dogies will be returning to the court next year for one more season.