What makes a team great?

Talent. Hard work. Unselfishness. All these things are necessary components of a champion.

But it was the hard times that tested the character of The Tribune's volleyball MVPs and all-state selections: Candace Richins, Davis (5A); Macky Treanor, Salem Hills (4A); Ciara Parker, Snow Canyon (3A); Megan Bean, Richfield (2A); and Courtney Lambarn, Rich (1A).

It was the challenges and obstacles that made these players capable of great things. Losses, injuries, the weight of expectations — when these complications made success seem that much further away, these athletes responded with determination and will. Many of them played their best volleyball when it seemed the odds were stacked against them.

The hardships did not define them. The defining legacy of these athletes is: they overcame.

Class 5A first team

MVP • Outside hitter, Candace Richins, Sr., Davis

Outside hitter • Camille Walker, Jr., Davis

Outside hitter • Sam Staker, Sr., Taylorsville

Outside hitter • Eliza Katoa, Soph., Layton

Outside hitter • McKenzie Willey, Jr., Lone Peak

Middle blocker • Bree Bailey, Jr., Lehi

Outside hitter • Kaylie Kamalu, Jr., Davis

Libero • Mckell Staheli, Sr., Pleasant Grove

Middle blocker • Lauren Stringham, Sr., Davis

Libero • Sarah Pelaez, Jr., Fremont

Setter • Shelby Sorenson, Sr., Lehi

Class 5A second team

Outside hitter • Allora Tanner, Northridge

Middle blocker • Hailee Rupp, Jr., Lehi

Outside hitter • Preslee Patton, Sr., Fremont

Outside hitter • Mikayla Dunford, Sr., Lehi

Outside hitter • Emily Mendenhall, Sr., Brighton

Setter • Elizabeth Goodrich, Sr., Northridge

Outside hitter • Challie Mitchell, Sr., Alta

Outside hitter • Melissa Fuchs, Jr., Pleasant Grove

Libero • Mackie Mullane, Sr., Lone Peak

Outside hitter • Nakisha Wilden, Jr., Bingham

Class 4A first team

MVP • Outside hitter, Macky Treanor, Jr., Salem Hills

Outside hitter • Jessie Jorgenson, Soph., Timpview

Outside hitter • Nicol Powell, Sr., Skyline

Outside hitter • Desiree Bradshaw, Sr., Olympus

Setter • Taylor Christensen, Jr., Salem Hills

Libero • Kati Jamison, Sr., Timpview

Outside hitter • Ayame Kuratsu, Jr., Timpview

Setter • Megan Huddleston, Jr., Timpview

Outside hitter • Madi Packard, Sr., Bountiful

Outside hitter • Sommer Reeder, Sr., Box Elder

Libero • Brindee Herrick, Jr., Bountiful

Class 4A second team

Setter • Allison Ewing, Sr., Box Elder

Outside hitter • Alyse Horton, Sr., Murray

Outside hitter • Cloe Hirst, Jr., Woods Cross

Setter • Elsie Noorda, Sr., Skyline

Outside hitter • Maddie Day, Jr., Sky View

Middle blocker • Emily Moore, Sr., Mountain Crest

Libero • Courtney Rada, Sr., Skyline

Outside hitter • Kylee Bendtschneider, Sr., Maple Mountain

Outside hitter • Monea Moe, Sr., Orem

Right side • Mykel Lefler, Sr., Olympus

Class 3A first team

MVP • Setter, Ciara Parker, Sr., Snow Canyon

Middle blocker • Bailey Farris, Sr., Morgan

Setter • Ashley Gallen, Sr., Morgan

Right side • Rachel Enloe, Sr., Juan Diego

Middle blocker • Kennedy Springer, Jr., Delta

Outside hitter • Jenna Bradfield, Sr., Delta

Setter • Jessika Long, Jr., Juan Diego

Middle blocker • Leah Heger, Sr., Snow Canyon

Setter • Brittany Hardesty, Sr., Desert Hills

Outside hitter • Bailee Kendall, Sr., NS

Outside hitter • Alexx Thornton, Jr., Desert Hills

Class 3A second team

Outside hitter • Cassidee Lish, Jr., Morgan

Outside hitter • Natalie Swann, Jr., Snow Canyon

Outside hitter • Regan Briesacher, Jr., Judge Memorial

Outside hitter • Hannah Allred, Sr., Stansbury

Middle blocker • Amanda Freestone, Sr., Carbon

Libero • Jaesee Dye, Sr., Morgan

Outside hitter • Makayla Theurer, Sr., Spanish Fork

Middle blocker • Courtney Nagore, Sr., Juan Diego

Outside hitter • Shania Hurst, Soph., Hurricane

Setter • Erika Alvey, Jr., Stansbury

Class 2A first team

MVP • Middle blocker, Megan Bean, Jr., Richfield

Setter • Taylor Phelps, Jr., Enterprise

Outside hitter • Riley Lyman, Fr., Enterprise

Outside hitter • Chandler Rosenberg, Waterford

Middle blocker • Teal Palmer, Sr., San Juan

Outside hitter • Sammi Beck, Jr., Richfield

Outside hitter • Sloane Roundy, Jr., Richfield

Libero • Elaine Epperson, Soph., Rowland Hall

Setter • Simone Shumway, Sr., San Juan

Outside hitter • BreAnn Buckner, Sr., S. Summit

Outside hitter • Samantha Nicholes, Sr., N. Summit

Class 2A second team

Outside hitter • Nikita Nelson, Jr., Grand

Setter • Taylor Hren, Sr., Grand

Outside hitter • Brooke Lyman, Jr., San Juan

Outside hitter • Marisa Eng, Soph., Rowland Hall

Middle blocker • Hadlie Llewelynn, Sr., S. Summit

Setter • Sierra Kane, Sr., Waterford

Setter • Jaleigh Wheeler, Sr., Richfield

Outside hitter • Erica Richins, Jr., N. Summit

Middle blocker • Macail Wood, Soph., Beaver

Class 1A first team

MVP • Outside hitter, Courtney Lambarn, Sr., Rich

Middle blocker • Britt Sederholm, Soph., St. Joe

Middle blocker • Swayzi Slade, Sr., Monticello

Outside hitter • Martha Beh, Sr., Monticello

Outside hitter • Melina Bachtar, Sr., Layton Christian

Setter • Cassidy McKee, Sr., Rich

Opposite hitter • Robin Randall, Sr., Monticello

Setter • Natashia Barney, Sr., Panguitch

Libero • Maddy White, Fr., St. Joe

Setter • Carly Holman, Sr., Panguitch

Outside hitter • Chelsie Sylvester, Sr., Piute

Class 1A second team

Middle blocker • Elysse Chappell-Dobly, Sr., Diamond Ranch

Libero • Jami Gregory, Sr., Rich

Middle blocker • Shantaya Strebel, Sr., Tabiona

Outside hitter • Katelyn Parkin, Jr., Panguitch

Setter • Devin Dalton, Jr., Monticello

Outside hitter • Lynzee Wallentine, Jr., Rich

Middle blocker • Haley Robins, Sr., Wayne

Setter • Emmie Oliver, Sr., St. Joe

Outside hitter • Lindsey Phillips, Jr., Escalante

Middle blocker • Zakiya Harris, Soph., Layton Christian All-State softball MVPs and teams (pdf) » http://bit.ly/rQ44Fz