This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Setters sometimes are overshadowed by the hitters who put the ball away, but Snow Canyon setter Ciara Parker has earned her share of glory.
For the second season in a row Parker has been named The Tribune's 4A MVP, but the junior isn't too concerned with the awards.
"It's pretty cool and it's an honor because I know how many good players there are in the 4A" classification, Parker said.
"As I've gained experience I've grown in the sense that I'm more mature and want to help make my team successful by playing hard every chance I get and be the very best teammate I can, regardless of whether anyone notices or not."
While Parker has earned her spot as one of the top setters in the state, averaging more than 20 assists a game, not everyone is convinced that its because of her own hard work, but rather because her mom, Alaina Parker, is head coach of the five-time Snow Canyon champions.
"There will be people that blog that she is only the MVP because she is the coach's daughter and people diminish what she does on the court," Alaina Parker said.
"I tell them to watch her play and then tell me she doesn't deserve what she gets. Watch her and you'll see the caliber of player she is."
Parker's statistics make their own case as the setter dished out 823 assists over the past season and served 22 aces in the four-game state tournament alone.
While Parker loves setting her hitters up for the kill and serving balls no one can return, her favorite thing about volleyball is digging.
"My favorite thing is when the other team just crushes the ball and you get a dig and steal their thunder," Parker said. "It's the best feeling to take their kill away." See the All-State Volleyball teams here: http://bit.ly/gj8TmG