Honor Roll
Softball
Karly Fullem, Buford: Pitched three complete-game shutouts with 17 strikeouts in wins against Dacula, Oconee County and Harrison and was 2-for-3 from the plate with two doubles and two RBIs against Oconee County.
Alysha Rudnik, Buford: Went 2-for-4 with a triple and one run scored against Dacula and hit a three-run home run against Oconee County.
Lexi Overstreet, Buford: Finished the week 7-for-10 with two doubles and five RBIs.
Roxie Dalton, Flowery Branch: Had six strikeouts and only allowed one hit in a complete-game shutout win against Gilmer.
Kara Perry, Jefferson: Pitched a complete-game shutout with three strikeouts against Providence Christian.
Megan Rogers: North Hall: Struck out 10 batters in a 3-1 win over Chesatatee
Miranda Miller, West Hall: Had a six-strikeout performance in the circle in a win against Johnson and was 5-for-7 from the plate with two RBIs in wins against Johnson and Lambert.
Bailey Soucie, West Hall: Went 6-for-7 with a double, triple and four RBIs in wins against Johnson and Lambert.
Heather Herdliska, White County: Had three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs in a win against Lambert.
Morgan Jacobson, White County: Had two hits, three runs scored and two RBIs in a win against Lambert.
Volleyball
Evann Rowland, North Hall: 25 kills, 34 digs and 21 aces in seven matches
Kristen Holmes, West Hall: 25 kills in four matches
Nicolette Ashley, West Hall: 71 digs in four matches.
In the first week of the high school volleyball season, North Hall played seven matches, and in each of them junior setter Kathryn Bell stood out.
She didn’t dominate, and the Lady Trojans (3-2-2) didn’t win each of the seven. However, Bell played at a consistently high level, and that’s exactly what her coach wants her to do.
"It’s important for us (that she be consistent) because she runs our offense," said second-year North Hall coach Emi Hughes. "The team counts on her to be consistent and to lead them in that way."
Over the course of the first week of the season, Bell amassed 55 assists, 13 kills, four digs and six aces.
"I’m supposed to be the quarterback on the team," Bell said. "I’m the one talking the most and getting the girls pumped up and calming them down when I need to.
"I’m a captain on this team, so it’s my job to do what needs to be done."
For her efforts, Bell is The Times Athlete of the Week.
As a sophomore last season, Bell took on the role of setter on a senior-laden team and according to Hughes played it to near perfection.
"She pushes herself as hard as she can to be the best she can be and to make her teammates the best they can be," Hughes said. "She’s a hard worker and wants to be the very best."
That attitude can be attributed to Bell’s competitiveness but also to something her father Mark Bell tells her everytime she’s going to step on the court.
"I want to win, I think that goes without saying," Bell said. "But my dad always tells me to play each game like it’s the last game I’ll ever play.
"It’s my role to keep everyone positive and to shake the negative things off, to get sideouts and try to win every game," she added.
While having a year under her belt as the starting setter for the varsity is a key to Bell’s success so early in the season, there are other components.
According to Hughes, the past summer Bell learned the importance of being a good leader on and off the court and enhanced her volleyball IQ in the process.
"She has such a vast knowledge of the sport and that’s so uncommon in high school girls because they don’t play volleyball their whole lives like people play basketball or softball," Hughes said. "I mean, she’s great defensively, she’s great offensively, and she starts our serves.
"Her skill package is the best I’ve seen in my years playing and coaching," she added. "She’s the full deal — the real deal — which is great for us."
Bell’s drive to not only be the best, but be a complete player, is a direct result of her future goals, which include playing on the collegiate level.
In her coach’s opinion, Bell’s work ethic combined with her knowledge means the sky’s the limit.
"She has a bright future," Hughes said. "She’s the kind of athlete that the harder she works, the further she’ll go.
"I can see her going down as one of the most dominant setters in this area when her high school career is over."