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Catanach Named Miss Volleyball

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2007

TAMPA - Plant senior volleyball player Kellie Catanach thought Friday would be just a regular day at school.

That was until a teacher alerted her that she was needed in the school's auditorium during first period.

Once inside, Catanach was greeted by her parents, Linda and Chris; Plant coach Leanna Taylor; and a 10-foot inflatable cow.

Catanach was presented the 2007 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball award, given to the state's top volleyball player. Catanach, who has signed with Duke, became the first volleyball player from Plant to win the award and the fourth from Hillsborough County.

Florida Dairy Farmers announced the award Thursday, but Catanach was kept in the dark.

"It's quite an honor," Catanach said. "There are some great players on that list."

Catanach became a finalist for the award when she was voted the Dairy Farmers Class 5A Player of the Year. She led all finalists with nine first-place votes and 114 votes.

Bayshore Christian senior outside hitter Jannica Mollett, voted the 1A Player of the Year, finished with 47 votes.

Catanach ended the season with 714 assists, 130 kills, 215 digs and 62 aces while leading the Panthers to its second consecutive state title, the No. 1 ranking in the state poll and a top 25 national ranking.

"She has worked so hard," said Taylor, who finished second in total votes for the Dairy Farmers Volleyball Coach of the Year award. "She's so passionate about the sport. She's a great winner and she's so humble."

According to Taylor, Catanach is also one of two finalists for the Gatorade Florida Volleyball Player of the Year Award.

JESUIT COACH ADDS HOLY NAMES DUTIES: Bill Shaffer, who has coached Jesuit swimming for the past 12 seasons, will add coaching duties at the Academy of the Holy Names next season.

Shaffer replaces Mara Schultz, who resigned after seven seasons to spend more time with her family. Schultz led AHN to four City Relays titles and the regional title in 2005.

Jesuit and AHN have competed together in swim meets at AHN's Steinbrenner Aquatic Complex for the past several years, and Jesuit also will now practice at the facility on the AHN campus.

"It's not every day you have the opportunity to bring in a nine-time county coach of the year," Holy Names athletic director Pete Young said. "AHN will dearly miss Coach Schultz, who is truly one of the great people involved in high school athletics, but we are very excited about having Coach Shaffer become a member of the Academy community."

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