By Jim Richards
The SMCC volleyball provided a season's worth of excitement last season and the offseason already has fans looking forward to next fall. South Mountain volleyball coach Pat Mooney announced the names of his first five signees for the 2008-09 season.
They are Michele Anderson from Horizon, Madison Orton from Ironwood, Samantha King from Gilbert, Kayley Mundell from Pinnacle, and Charlea Hillman from Mountain Pointe.
Anderson, a 5-foot-6-inch libero, returned to Horizon after missing her junior season to have a baby, led Horizon to the Class 5A Division II quarterfinal round and was named as a 2007 All State Honorable Mention selection as well as a First Team All 5A Pima-II Region selection. Hillman, a 5-10 middle-hitter, was a member of a Pride team that reached the 5A-I state title game only to fall to Xavier Prep. She was named to the 5A Central-I Region's second team.
King, a 5-8 middle-blocker, is a product Joe Hesse's powerful Gilbert High program that reached the 5A-I state semifinal round last season, but was beaten by Hillman's Mountain Pointe squad. She's also well known for her work off the court as she's involved in the Anti-Defamation League and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Orton, a 5-7 opposite-hitter, also comes from a winning program. She was last year's team captain on the 5A-II state champion Ironwood squad. Orton was named the team's Most Valuable Player after setting school records for digs in a match (43) and digs in a season (471). She also led the team in aces and digs.
Mundell, a 5-9 outside-hitter, was Pinnacle's MVP last season and was named the school's Female Athlete of the Year after a senior season in which she became the school's all-time leader in kills.
Charlea Hillman—5’10 middle hitter State Finalist-Mountain Pointe, 2nd team all region most improved played.
Mooney turned SMCC into a contender in just two seasons at the helm. The Cougars posted a 22-19 overall record and went 9-9 in the ACCAC and reached the Region I Div.II playoff tournament, completely turning around a one-win season in 2006.