Coupeville Sports

Coupeville senior Ashley Menges (left) and junior Lucy Sandahl both captured Most Inspirational awards at Tuesday’s volleyball banquet. (Ema Smith photo)

Maya Toomey-Stout is a rare athlete.

“The Gazelle,” among her many, many skills, has the ability to generate an often eye-popping amount of power on the volleyball court, all while coming back down to Earth.

Hitters usually generate their court-exploding spikes moving forward, leaping into the fray, their power surging out in front.

And Toomey-Stout lashes like a wild woman when she explodes from deep on the court, propelling herself towards the net like an avenging angel.

But she also can do what most can not, which is to elevate in the air to a ridiculous height, hang there for an eternity, and then reach over her head, snagging a wayward volleyball.

When she does, Toomey-Stout rarely flicks or stabs at the ball, but instead whips her hand in a loop, generating almost as much power – and as many put-aways – when she’s seemingly helpless, as when she’s clearly attacking.

That rare ability to be a sniper in any and all circumstances has netted “The Gazelle” the shrieks of die-hard fans, as well as big props from coaches near and far.

Toomey-Stout, a junior, was a First-Team All-Conference pick this season, and Tuesday she bounded away with the varsity MVP award.

Closing out his third season at the helm of the Wolves, CHS coach Cory Whitmore (with an assist from JV guru Chris Smith) doled out awards and letters as their squads enjoyed a final banquet.

All-Conference:

Emma Smith (1st Team)
Scout Smith (2nd Team)
Maya Toomey-Stout (1st Team)

Varsity team awards:

MVP — Maya Toomey-Stout
Most Inspirational — Ashley Menges
Most Improved — Zoe Trujillo
Spirit of a Wolf — Emma Mathusek

JV team awards:

MVP — Raven Vick
Most Inspirational — Lucy Sandahl
Most Improved — Izzy Wells

Varsity letter winners:

Hannah Davidson
Emma Mathusek
Ashley Menges
Chelsea Prescott
Emma Smith
Scout Smith
Maya Toomey-Stout

Participation certificates:

Noelle Daigneault
Anya Leavell
Ivy Leedy
Jaimee Masters
Abby Meyers
Abby Mulholland
Lucy Sandahl
Zoe Trujillo
Kylie Van Velkinburgh
Raven Vick
Willow Vick
Maddie Vondrak
Izzy Wells
Eryn Wood