West Liberty-Salem senior standout Alex Burton reached a major career milestone with 1,000 kills this fall, and in the process earned a big individual honor.
Burton was recently named honorable mention all-Ohio by the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association as an outside hitter and defensive specialist.
“This shows me that I am capable of way more than I give myself credit for,” said Burton. “It proves that you can still be a powerful player without being 6-4.”
Burton finished with 1,059 kills for her career. She led the Ohio Heritage Conference in kills this season with 398. She also has 889 career digs after recording 289 this season.
“There are a lot of girls playing high school volleyball in Division III,” said WL-Salem head coach Annie Kauffman. “She knows this is an honor to be considered among the best.
“It’s also quite an honor for our program. We have talked all season about setting our expectations high. We have worked hard the last four seasons to be on top the Ohio Heritage Conference and a making a tournament run. Developing players who are gaining attention across the state is definitely an honor for our program.”
Burton’s season was cut short when she suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Tigers’ tournament opener. While she was unable to finish off her senior campaign on the court, she left a big impact on the program.
“I can’t say enough about her work ethic and determination,” said Kauffman. “This kid loves the game of volleyball. She set a goal in the preseason to reach 1,000 kills and she did that. She is gritty and mentally tough. Those are good qualities of a volleyball player. You have to have a short term memory.
“Alex is also determined to make those around her better. She knew she needed her team to perform in order for her to reach her goals. She is the type of player that makes those around her step up to her level of play. She is a team player and wants the team to win.”