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Accolades Roll In For Catanach

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By NICK WILLIAMS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

TAMPA - Coming off a state championship season that catapulted the program into the upper echelon of nationally ranked teams, the Plant volleyball team had just one returning senior for the 2007-08 year.

Fortunately for Plant, that lone senior was the best volleyball player in Florida.

Senior setter Kellie Catanach, who committed to Duke as a junior, led Plant to its second consecutive Class 5A state title this past season and was later named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, Miss Volleyball by Florida Dairy Farmers and the 5A Player of the Year by Dairy Farmers. She also was selected to the 5A all-state team and was recognized by the Sports Club of Tampa Bay.

The two-time PrepVolleyball.com All-American finished her prep career with 2,772 assists, 350 kills, 225 aces, 773 digs and 195 blocks. In her final prep season, she recorded 714 assists, 130 kills, 215 digs and 62 aces.

She is The Tampa Tribune's 2008 Hillsborough County Volleyball Athlete of the Year.

It was inevitable Catanach would grow to become a volleyball star. Her father, Chris Catanach, is the longtime women's coach of the nationally recognized University of Tampa program.

"He never said, 'You have to play volleyball,'" Kellie said. "He wanted me to do what I loved."

As a child, Kellie would hang around UT's practice. Although she tried basketball, volleyball became her niche.

"I wouldn't mind that she played a different sport so I didn't have to be around volleyball all the time," Chris said during Kellie's Miss Florida ceremony. "She's played all year round since she was 10. She has born size."

At 6-foot-2, Catanach caused numerous problems for opponents.

"She figures teams out and she figures out how to win," Plant coach Leanna Taylor said. "She put her hitters in positions as far as where the other team's weaknesses are."

"As the game is progressing, setters are getting taller and taller," Catanach said. "At some schools, you have setters that are 6-foot-1 and 6-2. I know the game really well. I keep up with what's happening. Plus, being a setter, you're in control. It's a good position to lead from."

Taylor said Catanach was destined for greatness.

"She was a freshman during my first year as coach and when we lost in the state final four to Venice, when I came off the court in the final four, a man came up to me. He said, 'You have a great setter there, she's going to be special.'"

VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM

Maureen Colligan, Holy Names, Sr., Outside hitter

Danielle Erb, Plant, Jr., Outside hitter

Maddie Martin, Plant, So., Outside hitter

Jannica Mollett, Bayshore Christian, Sr., Outside hitter

Lindsay Young, Berkeley Prep, So., Middle hitter

Alexa Donini, Durant, Sr., Setter

Kellie Catanach, Plant, Sr., Setter

Christina Theofilos, Berkeley Prep, Jr., Libero

Coach of the Year: Dawn Hough, Durant

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