Spectacularly subtle

Brittanie Augustin is a setter.

That job description: Chase down balls; form an impenetrable wall at the net; and, of course, make those kill-seeking outside hitters look good.

Doesn't sound quite so glamorous, huh?

"You don't really get all the hype," said Augustin, a senior. "I guess a lot of people don't really recognize you because you're not putting kills down or anything like that."

Area players, coaches and scouts have recognized her game, though. And for her accomplishments this season, Augustin is the 2009 Highlands Today All-Heartland Volleyball Player of the Year.

Setters don't thrive on spectacular stats. They're focused more on controlling the pace of the match, setting up their hitters, playing solid defense in the back row.

Nonetheless, Augustin put up numbers this year that served notice. She had 413 assists - 375 more than her closest teammate, Abigail Bone - and 193 digs and 55 blocks and 55 aces. In short, she led the Blue Streaks in nearly every statistical category.

Not bad for someone supposedly toiling behind the scenes.

"What I'll miss most about Britt is the confidence she brings to the court," Sebring coach Venessa Sinness said. "She's not very dominant with her voice, but just with her presence. And that's what you need from a setter."

Take out the setter, Sinness said, and the whole team collapses. It's like the volleyball version of Jenga.

"Hers will be the hardest shoes to fill," Sinness said of Augustin, who wants to play in college but isn't sure she'll be afforded that opportunity. "Next year will be a rebuilding year because our most important position will be replaced. Everybody else will be affected because she's not there."

Augustin and the Blue Streaks held aspirations of advancing to the regional tournament. But they lost in the semifinals of districts, in stunning fashion, falling to Osceola in five sets. After that loss, the girls retreated to the locker room, many hiding their faces in their jerseys.

Augustin didn't. She cried for a few minutes, then comforted her younger teammates.

"We were pretty much all one family," Augustin said. "We all meshed together really well, and didn't have a whole lot of problems."

Augustin said she'll miss the duels with Haines City, which never quite went Sebring's way. And she'll also never forget Senior Night in October, when the Blue Streaks broke the five-set curse and sent county rival Lake Placid home and heartbroken.

"I think we did really well," Augustin said. "We wish we could have gone further, but I think we're all happy with how we ended up."

THE TEAM

Sierra Weaver, senior, Lake Placid

Weaver was the unquestioned leader of the Lake Placid volleyball team, which won a district title for an unprecedented fifth straight year. She had a team-high 208 kills, 222 digs and 57 aces - while sporting a 91 percent serving rate - for the Green Dragons. Weaver, who plans to play volleyball in college, was the emotional leader for a team that graduated seven seniors from last year's squad.

Karley Freeland, senior, Sebring

Freeland was a recipient of many of Augustin's well-placed sets. She recorded 142 kills as an outside hitter for the Blue Streaks, who advanced to the semifinals of the district tournament. Freeland also was a strong server and defender, tallying 37 aces and 144 digs.

Kayla Summerfield, senior,

Lake Placid

The most vocal leader on the Lake Placid volleyball team, Summerfield had a sensational senior season. She had 60 aces, 156 kills and 327 digs for the Green Dragons, who were in need of a veteran presence. They had that in Summerfield, coach Marilyn Jones said. Summerfield was a "great all-around player," Jones said.

Jaye Whitehead, senior, Sebring

Whitehead, who threw on the white Libero jersey in every match this season, was a steady contributor for the Blue Streaks. Whitehead recorded a team-high 251 digs, and her 95 percent serve efficiency was the best on the team. She also had 23 aces, an aspect of her game that she greatly improved upon during her senior year.

Zakia Hart, junior, Avon Park

Playing on a team that was woefully short on experience, Hart was one of the pleasant surprises this year for the Red Devils. After graduating nine players from last year's squad, Hart stepped in and was a steady presence in the middle for the Red Devils, who were bounced in the district tournament by eventual champion Lake Placid. Earlier in the season, Avon Park coach Stephanie Devlin remarked how "I'm surprised she doesn't have broken ribs," after watching Hart flop and tumble and crash to the court, only to get up, smile and reposition her knee pads.

Anna West, junior, Sebring

West will be the leader for the Blue Streaks next season - but she also made her mark during her junior campaign. He set team highs for both kills (147) and blocks (105), while working on a jump serve that could be tough to handle next season. West is an explosive and intimidating presence at the net, often making opponents think twice about trying to power a kill in her direction.

HONORABLE MENTION

Abigail Bone, senior, Sebring

Bone was part of the core of senior leaders for Sebring. She had 89 kills, 21 aces and 44 assists this season.

Kylie Weber, junior, Lake Placid

The most consistent server on a strong team, Weber missed only nine serves out of 346 attempted this season. The first-year setter also posted 316 assists.

Marissa Baldwin, sophomore,

Lake Placid

In her first year at the varsity level, Baldwin exceeded expectations and played a large role in the Green Dragons' fifth consecutive district title. She led the team in aces (75) and blocks (35).

COACH OF THE YEAR

In her final season at Lake Placid, coach Marilyn Jones left a winner. In August, when she was first asked to analyze her team, she termed it a "rebuilding year." Not quite. Despite graduating seven seniors, the Green Dragons won a fifth consecutive district title. Whoever takes over the Lake Placid volleyball program has big shoes to fill.