Ward County Volleyball Programs Dominate All-Permian Basin Team
    By Randy Hogan, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, December 27, 2005

The Monahans and Grandfalls-Royalty volleyball programs were honored once again, placing 8 selections on the All-Permian Basin Volleyball Team between the two Ward County schools.

Brittany Hughes and Candace Swarb were selected as superlatives, joining Monahans volleyball Coach Patty Dominguez.

Hughes was named the Most Valuable Player, Swarb earned the title of Outstanding Setter, and Dominguez was honored as the Coach of the Year.

Catherine Cutbirth was named to the team as a middle blocker - outside hitter.  Alison Miller and Bailey Marcum were recognized as honorable mention selections.

In addition, Kristy Kester and Amanda Martinez from Grandfalls-Royalty were included as honorable mention selections.

The team, which was released Tuesday, was compiled by the Odessa American sports editor Chris Gove.

Nominations were made by the Odessa American staff and area high school coaches.

Dominguez received the Coach of the Year Honor for leading the Lady Loboes to their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance.

MHS, the defending Class 3A state champion in 2004, overwhelming a schedule loaded with 4A and 5A teams in route to a 42-4 record this past season.

The Lady Loboes finished 2005 as the silver medalists and was ranked number on the entire season.

Dominguez was also named the District 3-3A Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season.

Hughes, a senior middle blocker, added the MVP award to her massive collection of post season honors.

She was recently named as the Texas Small School Player of the Year and as Honorable Mention Outstanding  Hitter by LoneStarVolleyball.Com.

The Texas Sports Writers Association also named Hughes as first team All-State selection.

In addition, Hughes was selected to the Texas Girls Coaches Association West All-Star volleyball team, the TGCA Class 3A First Team All-State team, and the Academic All-State team.

She was also named to the Class 3A All-Tournament team at the 2005 State Finals in San Marcos in November and was presented with the first-ever Region I-3A MVP award at the Regional tournament in Lubbock.

The San Angelo Standard Times named Hughes as their All-West Texas MVP, and the District 3-3A coaches voted her the District MVP for the third consecutive season.

Candace Swarb, a senior setter, was named as Outstanding Setter by the OA.  She was recently tabbed as a First Team All-State selection by the TSWA.

In addition, Swarb received a First Team selection on the TGCA All-State team, as well as Academic All-State for her hard work and dedication as student-athlete.  She also received unanimous All-District Outstanding Setter honors by District 3-3A coaches.

At the State Finals tournament in San Marcos, Swarb was selected to the Class 3A All-Tournament team.

Swarb was also selected to the Region I-3A All-Tournament team in Lubbock.

Catherine Cutbirth, a junior, was selected to the APB team as a middle blocker-outside hitter.

She was also recognized as a TSWA All-State Honorable Mention selection.

In addition, Cutbirth was named to the Class 3A All-Tournament team at the State Finals in San Marcos, and a First Team All-District selection by District 3-3A coaches.

Alison Miller, a senior middle blocker-outside hitter, was named to the All-Permian Basin team as an Honorable Mention selection.

Miller was also selected to the TSWA All-State team, and the Region I-3A All-Tournament team.  She was voted as the District 3-3A Outstanding Hitter by district coaches.

Bailey Marcum, a sophomore at MHS, was named Honorable Mention on the All-Permian Basin team.  She received an All-State Honorable Mention selection by the TSWA.

Marcum also was named to the Region I-3A All-Tournament team at the Region tournament in Lubbock, and was selected as Second Team All-District by District 3-3A coaches.

Kristy Kester, a senior at Grandfalls-Royalty, received Honorable Mention recognition on the All-Permian Basin Team.

Kester's power also earned her Co-Outstanding Hitter honors in a touch District 3-1A this past season.  She demoralized opposing defenses, leading the Cowgirls to an outstanding season under first-year coach Karen Trent.

Amanda Martinez, a senior at GRHS, was also named Honorable Mention on the APB team.

Martinez was the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in District 3-1A joining Kester on the Superlative honor list by district coaches.

The All-Texas Team will be announced in the coming weeks, and don't be surprised to see Ward County represented once again.

Keyed by Melissa Ramirez, Senior