Loyd Cook Photo Hillary Shaffer (2) was named District 20AAA's Most Valuable Player by district coaches for 2009. The success of a 32- win season will bring with it much deserved recognition.

For the Brownsboro Bearettes volleyball team, it showed in the players honored for their play during the 2009 season that finished with a co-championship in District 20AAA and a trip to the playoffs.

Brownsboro (32-7 on the season) saw the team take two of the five "superlative " honors, plus place two on the firstteam and two on the second team All-District list, released this week by Bearettes head coach Becky Daughtry.

Junior Hillary Shaffer was named as District 20AAA's Most Valuable Player, while senior Shelbi Holt was tapped as the district's Defensive Player of the Year.

"I think it's an honor for them," Daughtry said of the Bearettes duo. "It really solidifies why our record was what it was. To have two of the five `superlatives' awards, it's a pretty good deal."

Loyd Cook Photo Shelbi Holt (12, far left) was named District 20AAA's Defensive Player of the year for 2009. Amye Scarborough and Chelsea Chambers were named to the first team on the All-District list, while Abby Hernandez and Catie Collins were named to the second team.

Also, five Bearettes were honored with a selection to another exclusive list - the District 20AAA All-Academic team.

Scarborough, Chambers, Holt and Shaffer, along with Alex Conway, are members of that 2009 list.

Daughtry said those selected to the All-Academic list have to have a 90 grade point average or higher.

The naming of members to both honors teams capped an exceptional season for the Bearettes.

It also marks the last time this particular group in this particular sport, volleyball, will be together after a long time working together as a unit.

Of the nine members of the Bearettes varsity volleyball team, all but Shaffer are seniors and will be graduating at the end of this school year.

Their departure leaves their coach with mixed emotions.

"Bittersweet? Yeah, that's correct," Daughtry said. "It was a great group of girls I've had for four years.

"They're all like my own kiddos. It's hard to lose that many at one time."