Lady Vikes volleyball players receive all-state honors

Charlo Lady Vikings volleyball player Caitlin Cox has received recognition that will puts her in a rare atmosphere among the rest of the players in Class C volleyball she competes with.

Cox was named to the MHSA Class C All-State team after being one of the catalysts on her team that allowed the Lady Vikings to earn a No. 1 seed headed into the Class C Districts.

Putting into perspective Cox’s achievement, she is Lady Vikings coach Janelle Pruitt’s first-ever player to receive all-state recognition in her volleyball career.

“I was ecstatic and proud of all of her effort that she has put in throughout the season,” Pruitt said. “It really paid off for her in that way and to get named to the All-State team as a junior is even more rare because there are so many great players in the conference and the state. I was really proud of all the ways that she has put in and all of her accomplishments this season.”

In the last two seasons, the Lady Vikings volleyball team has accomplished a great deal behind the young nucleus of their team.

Last season, Charlo qualified for the Western-C Divisional and this year they were the No. 1 seeded team headed into Districts. They fell just short of advancing to Divisionals for the second consecutive season.

“She meant a lot to me and the team as a team leader, a team captain on the floor and her attitude was really unmatched throughout the whole conference,” Pruitt said. “I know throughout the season she was just super focused and worked extremely hard. She was very coachable, and open to suggestions, improvements and changes in her form. She was always very receptive to that and she was just a great asset to the team.”

Pruitt attributes a lot of the team’s success to Cox and other key players including Bella Hawk, Tyrah Hammond, Teaira Truman, Allie Delaney and Destiny Manual.

Pruitt said she felt there is a significant difference between those that receive All-State and regular volleyball players. Pruitt said she felt it is the way they conduct themselves at practice, during matches and how they act on and off the court.

“The players that receive all-state recognition pretty universally have qualities like great attitude, great leadership, they are coachable and receptive to different ideas and their sportsmanship is top-notch,” Pruitt said. “Caitlin displayed these qualities on the court and off the court. Obviously, all the players that we played in our conference recognized that she had these qualities.”

Cox’s achievements this season gives her a better opportunity to play volleyball at the collegiate level, something Pruitt stated she wants to do.

“That is something that is she is looking to do and she wants to go on and play at the college level,” Pruitt said. “We’ve gone through and sent out some films. We’ve made some contacts with local coaches and universities. We are hoping that she gets multiple opportunities to play in college.”

Pruitt said she felt Cox elevated her level of play during the Western 14-C District Tournament.

“She just played incredibly in the District Tournament,” Pruitt said. “She really worked on her hitting and she was such a great hitter in the backcourt that her defense was overlooked. Throughout the season nothing got by her. She is just an all-around player and she brought that to Districts. She took care of the court and looked out for her teammates.”

Cox will join a Lady Vikings squad that will look to make an impact in 2018. With several players boasting experience in the postseason, she and her teammates will have high expectations in both conference play and by their coach headed into 2018.

“I have very high expectations for this team next year and everyone is excited (about next year),” Pruitt said. “They are doing camps, open gyms and involved with different things in the off season and I am really excited for next year as well.”

The Lady Vikings will try to qualify for the Divisionals next year and if they make it will be the second time in three years they have qualified for the Divisionals. The Charlo volleyball team will be very senior-heavy next seaon with returning players that already have a number of years of playoff experienced as they prepare to head into the 2018 volleyball season.