Coronado sets pace for volleyball honors

At 5 feet 10 inches, Coronado's Bryan Arana isn't the stereotypical volleyball player.

But when Southeast League coaches picked their Most Valuable Player, the senior outside hitter received the most votes to pace the Cougars' 10 all-league honorees.

"My parents always told me that a player's only as good as his team," Arana said, "and I definitely owe my team for it."

Coronado's Hunter Chaney, Chris Andrulis and Bryan Glenn also were awarded first-team honors, and Matt Johnson was voted Coach of the Year.

The Cougars (20-2) had an undefeated regular season before suffering two postseason losses, including a 3-2 defeat to Shadow Ridge in the state title match.

"I wanted to win the match, but I felt there were a lot of opportunities to learn and get better," Johnson said. "Those are 15-, 16-, 17-year-old kids out there, and losing is not the end of the world.

"I tell them to look for the learning experiences -- and not just in volleyball but for their personalities. Hopefully they learn some lessons."

Silverado's Casey Hadland, Rusty Santiago and Brian Theophil and Basic's Jordan Pils rounded out the all-league first team.

Las Vegas' Braeden Wilson was named Northeast MVP, and Rancho's Allegra Derzon took Coach of the Year honors.

Southwest MVP went to Bonanza's Jason Bedford, and Linda Silver of Clark was voted Coach of the Year.

Shadow Ridge's Jake Shea claimed Northwest MVP honors, and Centennial's Scott Nelson was named Coach of the Year.

■ KARAS HONORED -- Arbor View girls soccer standout McKenzie Karas was named Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year.

Karas, a sophomore, had 10 goals and four assists this season to lead the Aggies (18-1-1) to the Class 4A Southern Nevada championship.

■ LEAGUE AWARDS -- In Class 1A Southern League softball, coaches voted Henderson International sophomore pitcher Lee Harrison the Player of the Year.

In 1A Southern League baseball, Henderson International's Mike Ostrowski was voted Coach of the Year.

■ RECENT DECISIONS -- Andrew Salazar, a senior at Advanced Technologies Academy, signed to play men's soccer at Air Force.

Del Sol boys basketball player Jeff Coon signed with Mesa (Ariz.) College, and Arbor View girls soccer player Bianca Norman signed with Tyler (Texas) College.

Football seniors to make recent commitments include Legacy running back Deshae Edwards (City College of San Francisco), Bishop Gorman lineman Tim Gulley (Lewis & Clark College, Ore.), Centennial running back JaVanh Sanders (Wittenberg University, Ohio) and Western linebacker Dante Warren (Eastern Arizona College).