HERALD ALL-AREA FALL SPORTS TEAMS — VOLLEYBALL: Lee County’s Moates did it all in 2009

LEESBURG — Brittany Moates had never played volleyball before her freshman year.

But when she found out Lee County

was adding the sport four years ago, the 5-foot-10 multi-sport athlete thought, “Why not? It looked really fun.”

Four years later, she’s The Herald’s Player of the Year.

“The first year, no one really knew what was gonna happen or how long the team would be around,” said Moates, a senior who is headed to Auburn next year. “But then the last three years, we’ve made it to the state playoffs and it’s an accomplishment I feel very proud of looking back.”

Especially considering she’s the lone remaining member from the original freshman group that joined the upstart program back in 2006.

While Lee County finished the year just 9-21, the Lady Trojans did reach the state playoffs for the third time in as many tries, thanks primarily to Moates, who could play every position on the floor — no matter the situation, or the circumstance.

“She did everything for us and would excel no matter where I put here,” first-year Lee County coach Sandra Boyd said. “She was like my coach on the floor and the girls really listened to her direction, which was huge for me in my first season as I tried to get acclimated and build relationships with the girls. And Brittany and I had a great one. She’s a great player.”

Moates, who shined for the Lady Trojans in almost every statistical category –posting 10 blocks, 154 digs, 105 kills, 51 aces and 11 assists — says she won’t pursue volleyball at Auburn, but certainly enjoyed the ride while it lasted in Leesburg.

“I think I’ve become a good player, but I don’t think I’m on that Division I collegiate level — and that’s OK,” she said. “Helping get this program off the ground and in the right direction was something I wanted to accomplish before I left Lee County and I think we did that.”

Moates also lamented the fact — as other area volleyball players have — that there isn’t more competition in Southwest Georgia. Only three other public schools — Randolph-Clay, Early County and Americus-Sumter –field teams, meaning nearly 80 percent of Lee’s matches this season were on the road.

“I don’t know why it hasn’t caught on more, but I wish it would because it would make (our area) a lot more competitive,” Moates said. “It’s a great sport.”