Gibson, Gutierrez headline Stephenville selections to 6-4A all-district team

Bees-Godley 14 — Nine members of the 2014 district runner up, bi-district champion and area champion Stephenville volleyball team are recognized on the 6-4A all-district team, released Monday. || Photo by RUSSELL HUFFMAN

Some athletes peak at the right time. Morgan Gibson is just such an athlete.

A little known role player in past seasons for Stephenville, Gibson exploded this season, earning District 6-4A Offensive Player of the Year honors in a vote of the league’s head coaches. The all-district team was released Monday after district champ Abilene Wylie was eliminated from the playoffs at the 4A Region I tournament over the weekend.

Senior outside hitter Morgan Gibson is the 6-4A Offensive Player of the Year. || Photo by RUSSELL HUFFMAN

“She stood out, all the coaches remembered her,” said Stephenville head coach Fran Metzger of Gibson’s honor. “She really came a long way, and when she’s on, she hits a great ball.”

Gibson finished her career with perhaps her finest performance, racking up 11 kills with no errors against reigning state champ and top-ranked Decatur. The Honeybees were defeated by Decatur in the regional quarterfinals, and the defending champs went on to win the regional to earn another state berth.

Stephenville senior libero Lauren Gutierrez was named 6-4A Defensive Player of the Year. The district runner-up, bi-district champion and area champion Honeybees also had four first-team all-district selections.

Senior libero Lauren Gutierrez is the 6-4A Defensive Player of the Year. || Photo by RUSSELL HUFFMAN

Junior outside hitters Mikayla Hobbs and Kaleigh Conger are each first-team selections, along with senior setters Cameron Cardenas and Kelcee Jones. Making the second team from Stephenville is sophomore middle blocker Nicona Stilwell, while honorable-mention picks include outside hitters Chelsea Gillespie and Kerstin Fredrickson.