Sports
Robinson Volleyball Nabs Western Conference Honors
Three Knights athletes and their coach were honored with postseason accolades.
The 2011 Robinson High volleyball team had a storybook season, going 18-11 and reaching the regional semifinals. That was the Knights' best finish since the 1978 state champion team.
Robinson was bounced by Lakewood in the semifinals back on Nov. 8, but it was not quite the end for the team.
Every year the nine coaches in the American Division of the Western Conference — which includes Steinbrenner and Plant — select first- and second-team athletes and vote on coach of the year honors.
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Three Knights athletes have earned recognition, as well as head coach Ryan Wheatley.
Katie Hogan (Sr.) - First Team
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"Katie truly deserves this honor," said Wheatley. "She is one of the most solid players I've ever met and she shows that she's a Division I player."
Hogan recently accepted an offer from Southern Methodist University to play volleyball.
Alexandria "Lexi" Gaertner (Jr.) - First Team
"Lexi should have made it her last two years, as well," said Wheatley. "She is the most potent offensive player on the team."
Gaertner will return to help the Knights make an even deeper push in 2012.
Sophie Tahiri (Sr.) - Second Team
"Sophie is the heart and soul of the team," Wheatley said. "She's been our captain for two years and gives more effort than any other player I've worked with."
Wheatley also received Coach of the Year honors after turning an 11-14-1 team into an 18-11 regional semifinal team in one season.
Wheatley credits "the girls" with the team's success this year.
"I credit them entirely; they are the ones that get out there and play, I just put them in positions and cheer them on," he said.
