Schlechte, Kistner Gain H&R Honors

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg's Megan Schlechte was named the Decatur Herald & Review Area Volleyball Player of the Year.

Schlechte helped the Hatchets to a second place finish at the Class 1A State Tournament this past season. She entered state tournament play with the second highest kill total at 490 among all players in all classes and she set the single match kill record with 29 in the semifinal match against Durand.

The junior finished with 525 kills, 323 digs and 51 aces all while suffering through a foot injury during the season.

Other members of the First Team were Abby Frohning, a senior at Newton. Frohning played as both a hitter and setter. .She had 366 kills, 280 assists and 206 digs this season.

Windsor/Stew-Stras' Mackenzi Tabbert, a junior. She switched from outside hitter to setter and had 907 assists. Tabbert set a Class 1A State Tournament record with 48 assists in a game.

Clay City's Paige Spitzner, a senior, was a middle blocker where she had 112 solo blocks and a 4.4 blocks per match. She finished with 145 kills and 45 aces.

Other members were Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond's Madison Brown, a senior, Pana's Shayna Stremming, a senior and Peyton Jackson, a senior from Taylorville.

Second Team members were Effingham's Chloe Martin, a senior middle. She was the Hearts captain and led the team in kills with 146 and blocks with 67.

Marci Mills, a senior from Effingham St. Anthony. She was the Bulldogs kill leader with 202 and dig leader with 326.

Macy Michels, a senior middle from Teutopolis, had 254 kills. She was a 93 percent accurate server with 42 aces.

Other Second Team members were Taryn Sams, a senior from Central A&M, Allie Dunn, a junior from Central A&M, Madison Filkin, a senior from Clinton and Lauren Russell, a junior from Shelbyville.

Third Team members were Kelsi Geltz, a sophomore from Newton, Tuscola's Natalie Bates, Mount Pulaski's Abigail Fitzpatrick, Shelbyville's Elizabeth Bowyer, Pana's Brenna Dameris, Mattoon's Ashlyn MacDonald and Shelbyville's Mallorie  Mason.

Area Honorable Mention were Blair Banning (Neoga), Kasey Bean (Windsor/Stew-Stras), Jolene Bueker (Teutopolis), Madison Carson (St. Elmo/Brownstown), Carson Cole (Windsor/Stew-Stras), Carsyn Fearday (Effingham), Maria Gentry (Windsor/Stew-Stras), Sydney Gibson (St. Anthony), Savannah Grimes (Teutopolis), Katie Grimsley (Altamont), Claire Guyon (Cumberland), Mikayla Haddock (Windsor/Stew-Stras), Mary Hill (Neoga), Rebecca Kuhns (Altamont), Tinley Mette (Altamont), Marlee Noel (St. Elmo/Brownstown), Meg Richards (St. Anthony), Calla Roney (Windsor/Stew-Stras), Brooke Rugne (Altamont), Allison Schnepper (Clay City), Hannah Will (St. Anthony) and Lauren Wojcik (Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City).

Named Coach of the Year was Newton High School's Jill Kistner.

Kistner led the Eagles to a third place finish at the Class 2A State Tournament. The Eagles finished with a 32-8 record.

Kistner has coached the Eagles since 2013.