Gwinnett Daily Post

Katherine Ahlswede

School: Collins Hill

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

• Named second-team All-County as a sophomore and first-team All-County as a junior by the Daily Post

• Finished last season with 792 assists, 89 service aces, 69 kills and 179 digs

• Named to Daily Post’s preseason Super Six last season

• Broke her own Collins Hill single-season school record for assist a year ago

• Named Scholar Athlete by the county’s coaches last season

• Will serve as the Eagles’ co-captain for the second straight season

Favorite athlete:Misty May

Favorite Music Artist: Brad Paisley

Favorite food: Sushi

Favorite position on the court: Setter

Coach Scarlett Straughan’s comment: “Katherine is such a special young lady. It has been a tremendous joy to watch her mature and develop into not just an awesome player, but a dynamic individual. Her strength and perseverence make her a ferocious competitor both on and off the court.”

Deidra (Dede) Bohannon

School: GAC

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

• Transfer from Newnan High School

• Selected first-team All-Coweta County by the Newnan Times-Herald as a middle hitter the last two seasons

• Selected first-team All-Area by the Area 4-AAAAA coaches both years

• Verbally committed to play college volleyball at Georgia State

Favorite athlete: Dwyane Wade

Favorite Music Artist: Monica

Favorite food: Fried chicken

Favorite position on the court: Outside hitter

Coach Kristy Shelton’s comment: “Dede is a special player and a special young lady. It’s not often hou get the opportunity to coach an athlete of her caliber. She hits with incredible power and is also a great defender an server. From the moment she stepped on the court with our girls, it seemed like she had always been a part of this team. Her introduction to GAC volleyball has been seamless.”

Kim Brody

School: Mill Creek

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

• Named second-team All-County by the Daily post and first-team All-County by the county coaches last season

• Being recruited by Augusta State, Limestone College and the University of Montevallo

Favorite athlete: Misty May

Favorite music artists: Keith Urban, Brantly Gilbert and Taylor Swift

Favorite food: Pizza

Favorite position to play on the court: Outside hitter

Coach Brian Williamson’s comment: “Kim as a great player to coach. She works hard on the court and is very tough on herself. She strives and flourishes in the big games. She loves to play volleyball and when she is not practicing at Mill Creek, she can be found frequenting one of the numerous sand courts around our school looking for a good game of volleyball. She brings great leadership to our team.”

Catherine Chason

School: GAC

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

• First-team All-County selection by the Daily Post the last two seasons

• Named preseason Super Six by the Daily Post last season

• Switched back to her natural position of libero late last season after playing setter the rest of her high school career

• Has 563 digs and 125 service aces over the last two seasons

• Honors with A-5 club over the last three summers include MVP of the 2009 Beast of the Southeast tournament, being named to Prep Volleyball’s ‘Defensive Dandies’ and being named to the 2011 Under Armour watch list for Georgia

• Verbally committed to play college volleyball at UT-Chattanooga

Favorite athlete: Misty May

Favorite movie: “Just Friends”

Favoritre music group: Cute Is What We Aim For

Favorite food: Mashed potatoes

Favorite position on the court: Libero

Coach Kristy Shelton’s comment: “Our team has taken on her personality. She’s so humble and the team is humble.They feed off her encouragement. Our theme this season is ‘Fierce, but focused,’ and she really helps us stay focused.”

Alex Panks

School: North Gwinnett

Class: Senior

Noteworthy:

• Named second-team All-County as a sophomore and first-team All-County as a junior by the Daily Post

• Named to Daily Post’s preseason Super Six last season

• Was among Gwinnett’s leaders with 807 assists a year ago, and added 129 service aces, 211 digs and 97 kills

• Being recruited by Eckerd College, West Georgia and North Alabama

Favorite athlete: Tim Tebow

Favorite movie: “Anchorman”

Favorite music group: Rascal Flatts

Favorite food: Caesar salad

Favorite position to play on the court: Libero or setter

Coach Vanessa Henry’s comment: “She will be called on as the team’s No. 1 setter. She’s always been a smaret player, and she’s using that to her advantage. Her consistency in setting is getting better. She’s learned to set the way each (individual) hitter likes to be set. It’s hard to find that in the high school game.”

Kristina Stinson

School: North Gwinnett

Class: Junior

Noteworthy:

• Named second-team All-County by the Daily Post last season

• Had 271 kills with 117 service aces and 49 blocks a year ago

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan

Favorite music group: Rascal Flatts

Favorite food: Peaches

Favorite position to play on the court: Middle or outside hitter

Coach Vanessa Henry’s comment: “She’s been one of the hardest-working players during the offseason. She will be called on to play more than one role. She’s become so quick and more aggressive even as her skills have improved.”