KFDM COOP Posted April 1, 2009 Report Posted April 1, 2009 BH volleyball star signs with Hill College By Nick Cioci The Baytown Sun Published March 31, 2009 MONT BELVIEU — Monday afternoon, Barbers Hill’s Dyana Canon signed a letter of intent to continue her volleyball career with Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. Barbers Hill head coach John Leonard remembers getting ready to go to Santa Fe for a tri-match with only eight players. “I realized we were going to need more players for the tri-match so we called her up to varsity to bring along,†he said. “She got a chance to prove herself at that match and we never took her out after that. “I liked her fire and fight,†he said. “She just had a toughness in her that made her want to play harder and fight for playing time and sets to come her way.†Leonard said Hill College is getting a go-to hitter in Canon. “She was our strength on the backside,†he said. “She played opposite our setter and put a ton of pressure on the other teams’ blockers.†“She is a natural right side hitter, who forced other teams to stretch out their defense.†Canon is leaving Barbers Hill as the seventh-best in hitting percentage, fifth-best in hitting attempts and fourth-best in kills, picking up 636 kills in her three-year career at Barbers Hill. Alaena Chilson, head volleyball coach at Hill College, said Hill College loves Canon’s athleticism. “We love how much talent she has for volleyball and her good character,†the coach said. “She has been a great asset for Barbers Hill and her South Shore club team and gained great experience in those. She just has good fundamentals and a passion for the game. “She is a powerful hitter and very dynamic. We believe she has a lot of strength on offense as a right side and outside hitter.†Hill College plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association at the Division 1 level in the North Division of Region V against Cisco College, Temple College, Vernon College, Ranger College and North Central Texas College. The Lady Rebels went 25-14 last year and were runnerup in the North Division, falling just a game short from making it to the national tournament. Chilson said it was an unusual recruiting year for the Lady Rebels because they are returning 10 players from this year’s squad. “We only had four open spots because of all the players returning,†she said. “So we were looking for a versatile hitter with the experience and maturity to compete with the returning freshmen. We feel Dyana is capable of that.†Canon feels she can come right in and help the team when she joins them next year. “I’m a team player and not selfish,†she said. “I know how to make my own decisions and not be a follower and be a team player still and can help them with the hitting abilities I can bring. “I want to help the team go to the national tournament in the two years that I am there.â€
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