Down to business
Thu. December 22, 2011 at 1:12 p.m. | By Powell Latimer | StarNews Staff Writer
Hoggard High School volleyball player Jamie Jarrell stands in the Hoggard gym on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011. Jarell is the 2011 StarNews player of the year. (Photo by Matt Born)
When Hoggard and Green Hope took the floor for the Class 4A high school volleyball East regional final on Nov. 1, Jamie Jarrell lined up opposite Christina Vucich.
Vucich stood 6-foot-4, with 500 kills on the season and a volleyball scholarship to Duke. Jarrell stood 5-foot-7 and wasn't even sure if she wanted to play in college.
Jarrell rose to the challenge, spiking a team-high 14 kills as Hoggard edged Green Hope 3-2 and earned a spot in the state final.
"That game was probably my favorite," Jarrell said later.
No match this year was more illustrative of Jarrell's leadership for the Vikings. Despite her stature, Jarrell routinely out-hit taller, more dominant players in 2011. She led Hoggard to a conference championship and a postseason run to the title match.
Her versatility was evident – she complemented her team-high 228 kills with 162 digs while playing on the back row.
But Jarrell's intensity became the driving force for the Vikings, and led her to the honor of being the StarNews All-Area player of the year.
Jarrell's teammates called her "princess." But, as Hoggard coach Ron Strickland said after the season, "Princess cracks a whip."
Hoggard became known for its ridiculous antics in the most heated moments – the team sang show tunes in the middle of close games and routinely flicked each other during critical timeouts – but Jarrell was the player who would corral teammates into the task at hand.
"She's the little mother hen that stamps her foot and makes everybody behave," Strickland said.
Jarrell also tended to end up with the Vikings' most crucial plays. Her best performances came against conference rivals Rose and Ashley and in the playoffs. Against Green Hope, she scored points to put the Vikings ahead for good in each of the final two games.
"Our team was so young; I was kind of the oldest one," Jarrell said. "I just felt like all the pressure was on me. But I hate losing, that's how I've always been."
Her hatred of losing drove her to new levels as a senior. Jarrell and Hoggard felt their team was strong in 2010, and the Vikings' third-round playoff loss to Jack Britt stung. Jarrell, in particular, took it hard.
"I still can't even talk about it," Jarrell said. "I was mad that we lost last year, we can't do that again."
To ensure that it didn't, Jarrell worked on both her understanding of Hoggard's quick attack and her defensive capabilities. She routinely played on the back line as a senior, and her versatility was critical to keeping Hoggard's attack lethal at all times.
"She's one of the ones who drove herself to become a very solid passer and defensive player which allows her to stay in," Strickland said.
Jarrell's dedication earned the trust of her coach, and fostered respect – and a little fear – in her teammates. Both Jarrell and Strickland laugh about the time an injured Jarrell was asked to coach the JV practice during her junior year. When players started goofing off, Jarrell emphatically laid down the law.
"It did not go well," Strickland chuckled.
Jarrell was able to channel that intensity to the rest of her teammates this season, and kept the Vikings on task.
With great results.
"As a senior it was like, ‘Guys, I will kill you if I have to, but I'd much rather you do the work and join me,'" Strickland said. "She's just a phenomenal kid; very near and dear to our heart."
Powell Latimer: 343-2261
On Twitter: @StarNewsVarsity
All-Area Volleyball
First team
OH: Jaime Jarrell, Sr., Hoggard (Player of the Year)
Led Hoggard with 228 kills for the season and 30 aces. Also registered 162 digs. Mideastern Conference player of the year.
L: Kellie Esinhart, Sr., Hoggard
127 serve receives, 279 digs. Emotional leader for Vikings.
OH: Jasmine Jackson, Sr., West Brunswick
Led area with 333 kills and 124 blocks.
OH: Cayla Sherrill, Sr., Wilmington Christian
Led Patriots with 325 kills to pace WCA's return to NCCSA state final.
MB: Carlie Smith, Jr., Topsail
Led Topsail in kills (242), aces (59) and blocks (75). East Central player of the year.
MB: Cassidy Stephenson, So., Hoggard
149 kills, 35 aces and led the Vikings with 53 total blocks.
S: Ellen Tootoo, Jr., Hoggard
486 assists for Hoggard, as well as 33 aces and 42 kills.
Coach of the Year: Ron Strickland, Hoggard.
Second Team
OH: Kara Crumpler, Sr., Topsail
L: Crystal Harrell, Sr., Ashley
MB: Lauren Pietrzykowski, Sr, Ashley.
MB: Montgomery Register, Jr., Hoggard
OH: Brandi Thomas, Jr., Ashley
S: Madison Walker, Sr. South Brunswick
S: Alex Wickel, Jr., West Brunswick
Honorable Mention
Ashley: Felicity Havens. Hoggard: Alyssa Campagna, Alyssa Zupan, Shelly Saito. Laney: Anna Faddoul. Topsail: Angie Poage, Jordan Barnes, Blair Lawrence. North Brunswick: Meagan Spivey. West Brunswick: Alyssa Chappell, Mary Morgan Inions. New Hanover: Julia Anne Beall. Wilmington Christian Academy: Courtney Mullinax,
All-Conference
Mideastern Conference
First Team: Kellie Esinhart, Hoggard; Anna Faddoul, Laney; Kelly Gottry, Laney; Crystal Harrell, Ashley; Jamie Jarrell, Hoggard; Callie McDonald, Rose; Sabrina Minney, New Bern; Kada Mumford, New Hanover; Lauren Pietrzykowski, Ashley; Audrey Robinson, Rose; Caitlin Solter, New Bern; Emily Steele, Rose; Cassidy Stephenson, Hoggard; Olivia Stewart, New Bern; Brandi Thomas, Ashley; Ellen Tootoo, Hoggard; Shanta Williams, New Hanover.
Second Team: Julia Anne Beall, New Hanover; Jillian Born, Laney; Alyssa Campagna, Hoggard; Addison Garrigus, Ashley; Mary Grace Lee, New Bern; Hailey Lindell, New Bern; Emery McGee, Ashley; Mary Phillips, Rose; Montgomery Register, Hoggard.
Player of the Year: Jamie Jarrell, Hoggard. Coach of the Year: Ron Strickland, Hoggard. Team sportsmanship award: New Bern.
East Central Conference
Clinton–Taylor Brazell. Croatan–Karly Stevens, Gemma Mayfield. East Duplin–Carson Williams, Makayla Byrd, Taylor McGowan. Northside–Ashley Phillips. Richlands–Jocelyn Painter. South Lenoir–Morgan Outlaw, Tayler Sandlin. Swansboro–Madeleine Hobbs, Sarah Cooper. Topsail–Carlie Smith, Morgan Shackleford, Angie Poage, Jordan Barnes.
Player of the Year: Carlie Smith, Topsail. Coach of the Year: Elizabeth Turner, East Duplin.
Waccamaw Conference
First Team: Zhane Johnson (EB), Kayla Elkins (EB), Meagan Spivey (NB), Kelsey Saunders (NB), Madison Walker (SB), Brooke Herr (SB), Mackenzie Jones (SB), Haven Jones (SC), Taylor Gore (SC), Chelsey Long (SC), Abbey Walters (W. Bladen), Jasmine Jackson (W. Brunswick), Mary Morgan Inions (W. Brunswick), Samantha McCumbee (W)
Second Team: Melissa Macon (EB), Meredith Aukamp (EB), Daija White (NB), Allison Burton (NB), Heather Henson (SB), Kacy O'Connor (SB). Kelsi Kazmierczak (SB), Brandi Wilson (SC), Hayley Lee (SC), Kerra Shirley (SC), Kaitlyn Sykes (W. Bladen), Alex Wick;e (W. Brunswick), Alyssa Chappell (W. Brunswick), Kayla Inman (W).