Volleyball: Wink beats Kermit to win own event

WINK The 11th annual Best in the West Classic championship trophy is not leaving town this year.

Wink won its own tournament Saturday by holding off Winkler County rival Kermit 25-17, 25-23, 25-23 in the championship match.

Senior hitter Trinity Walker, who was named the tournament's MVP, recorded 16 kills in the championship match for Wink. Senior libero Jasmine Solis was named the tournament's outstanding defensive player.

Sophomore hitter-setter Lyndi Shackelford, who had 14 assists and six kills in the final, also was an all-tournament selection for Wink.

"It was way fun," said senior setter Allison Garcia, who had 16 assists in the championship match. "We really played together as a team and started working and doing everything we could for each other. This is really getting us started, and we're going to have a great year."

Wink (9-0) beat Buena Vista; Jal, N.M.; and Midland Christian en route to the final, while Kermit toppled Grandfalls-Royalty, Snyder and Greenwood.

Kermit (7-1) got 12 kills in the championship match from senior Brittany Heiser, who was named the tournament's outstanding hitter.

Kermit's Ashley Montoya was named the tournament's outstanding setter after dishing out 24 assists in the final. Kermit's Kaeyce Bedell (10 kills in the final) and Lauren Nutt (6 kills in the final) also were named to the all-tournament team.

"Our defense is spectacular and our offense is still coming along, but it's getting better," Kermit coach Irma Hernandez said. "It's still the beginning of the season. We're going to get better every game, and we'll learn from every game. That's why we do this."

Wink, a Region I-1A semifinalist last season, will find out how good it is next weekend against larger schools at the Nita Vannoy Invitational in San Angelo. Winning its own event certainly was a step in the right direction, though.

"I just think that we're really a team," Wink coach Peggy Hill said. "Everybody can do something, and they're all stepping it up and playing together and no one cares who gets the credit. I could put anybody in and feel pretty comfortable with it."