Katherine Culwell enjoyed the Thanksgiving break with a relaxing vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
2008 All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year
12-3-2008
And even then, the Highland Park senior couldn't stay away from the sport she dominates.
"I actually played a little beach volleyball with some guys from California while I was there," Culwell said.
A fitting story for one of coach Michael Dearman's most impressive athletes. Dearman watched Culwell lead Highland Park to the 4A state tournament, where it fell to Hereford in the finals.
"Katherine has been only the second player to ever start for me on varsity for four straight years. That says a lot," Dearman said. "She is a fierce competitor and has been a great presence on the court."
Culwell, a club volleyball All-American, finished with 575 kills, 454 digs, 71 aces and 39 blocks. Culwell was the District 10-4A MVP this season and finishes her high school career as a three-time district MVP.
Culwell, an Auburn signee, said she is most proud of what she was able to do to help her team.
"We were upset that we lost state, but we looked at where we were and how many good teams we beat," Culwell said. "We were really proud of ourselves, and we were thankful we got that experience."
dsayles@dallasnews.com
RECENT WINNERS
| Year | Player | School | | 2003 | J.J. Jones | Allen | | 2004 | Jourdan Norman | Hebron | | 2005 | Taylor Barnes | Arlington Martin | | 2006 | Kathryn Wilkerson | Arlington Lamar | | 2007 | Shannon Hawari | Plano West | |
| Name | School | Cl. | Pos. | Comment | | Amanda Anderson | Coll. Heritage | Sr. | MB | Arkansas signee had 778 kills | | Maddie Hanlan | Arl. Martin | Sr. | L | Named top defender in 4-5A | | Lauren Martin | Eul. Trinity | Sr. | RS | Penn-bound southpaw had 515 kills | | Andrea McQuaid | Red Oak | Jr. | OH/S | 15-4A MVP has committed to OU | | Tori Mellinger | La. Highlands | Sr. | OH | 9-5A MVP led team to 5A state semis | | Megan Murphy | Plano West | Sr. | S | Rice signee set school assists record | | Sloane Sunstrum | SL Carroll | Sr. | OH | 6-5A's top attacker headed to TCU | |
| Name | School | Cl. | Pos. | Comment | | Whitney Walls | Arl. Martin | Sr. | RS | Headed to UT-San Antonio | | Michelle Hundt | FM Marcus | Sr. | OH | MVP of competitive District 6-5A | | Natalie Puckett | Lovejoy | So. | OH | MVP of 3A state tournament | | Madie Jones | Plano West | Sr. | OH | 8-5A's top hitter going to LSU | | Hannah Peterson | Highland Park | Sr. | MB | 10-4A Blocker of the Year | | Angie Morgan | La. Highlands | Sr. | S | 1,434 assists this season | | Julie Olschwanger | Rich. Pearce | Jr. | L | All-state; 10-4A's top libero | |
MATALEE REED, LAKE HIGHLANDS, FR., MB
Notable: Reed, a starter and the only freshman on the varsity, helped Lake Highlands earn its first-ever state tournament appearance. She was the District 9-5A Newcomer of the Year.
She says: "Making state was amazing. It was one of those really cool things to experience. To do it as a freshman, that made it even cooler."
RECENT WINNERS
| Year | Player | School | | 2003 | Alaina Klarquist | Allen | | 2004 | Chelsea Ringel | Arlington Martin | | 2005 | Ashleigh McCord | Wylie | | 2006 | Sarah Bullock | Allen | | 2007 | Julie Olschwanger | Richardson Pearce | |
RYAN MITCHELL, LOVEJOY
Notable: Mitchell coached a second- year varsity program with no seniors to a 40-5 record and a 3A state championship. Fourteen of the team's 40 wins came against 4A and 5A teams.
He says: "We heard people call us a Cinderella team. This wasn't one night in the making for us. This was three years in the making."
RECENT WINNERS
| Year | Player | School | | 2003 | Mika Tepfer | McKinney North | | 2004 | Brittany Bridge | Plano West | | 2005 | Karin Keeney | Hebron | | 2006 | Kelly Gregoriew | Allen | | 2007 | Kelly Quinn | McKinney Boyd | |
