Stephenson, Eastes share Player of Year honors
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The 2012 All-Hancock County Volleyball Team (with grade/position):
Frannie Stephenson (12/OH), Eastern Hancock
Jordian Eastes (12/S), Eastern Hancock
Hannah Best (11/L), Eastern Hancock
Alex Colclazier (12/L), Greenfield-Central
Rachel Irbe (9/OH), Greenfield-Central
Megan Bradley (10/S), Greenfield-Central
Mary Grace Ertel (9/OH), Mt. Vernon
Jamie Morris (12/OH), New Palestine
Honorable mention: Missy Bedell, Tori Bednarksi, Lauren Harmon (EH); Jordan Bunch, Caitey Sosnowski (GC); Ellie Balbach, Lexi Reasor (MV); Katie Morris, MacKenze Qualkinbush, Megan Hawley (NP)
Players of the Year: Frannie Stephenson, Jordian Eastes (EH)
They were together only one season. But, oh, what a season it was.
Frannie Stephenson and Jordian Eastes combined to lead the Eastern Hancock volleyball team to unprecedented heights this fall.
With Stephenson, a senior outside hitter, and Eastes, the Royals’ senior setter, breaking a handful of program records for kills and assists, respectively, Eastern Hancock won its first sectional title since 1984 and first ever regional title.
The Eastes-Stephenson pass-and-smash was simply too powerful for its postseason foes: the unranked Royals won 12 straight tournament games before falling to Providence 3-1 at the semistate. Providence went on to a 3-1 loss to Wapahani in the Class 2A State Finals.
Stephenson, a transfer student, joined the Royals’ lineup 10 days into the season. Soon after, with Stephenson commanding the net and Eastes directing the offense, EH put together a 14-match win streak on the way to a school-record 28 victories.
Lasting just a few magical months, the seniors’ partnership was fleeting; but their championship legacy will never fade.
Coach of the Year: Mike Eastes (EH)
Final team results:
Eastern Hancock, 28-10, sectional and regional champions
Greenfield-Central, 24-12, Hancock County Tourney champions
Mt. Vernon, 8-26, Hancock County Tourney runner-up
New Palestine, 15-19
