BUFFALO – Two members of the Altoona-Midway High School volleyball squad were selected for honors when the 2024 All-Three Rivers League team was announced this week
.Emmalynn Pupanek, a senior, and Sandra Morales, a freshman, were tabbed to represent the Lady Jets on the All-TRL list for the recently completed fall season.
Morales was named second-team All-TRL in her first year of varsity competition, while Pupanek was designated honorable mention all-conference for the second straight year
.Selections are made annually by the Three Rivers League volleyball coaches.
“Emmalynn and Sandra are both very deserving of this recognition,” said AMHS head coach Michelle Stackhouse. “Emmalynn has worked hard the past four years. She has great court awareness and is a true team player.
“Sandra has natural athletic ability, but she also puts in the extra work it takes to be successful,” Stackhouse added.
Morales burst on the league scene as a freshman and made an immediate impact for the Lady Jets.
Morales pounded out 135 kills for Altoona-Midway on the season, along with 34 blocks, 173 good serves, 67 aces, 380 sets and 702 passes.
“Sandra has a great all-around game,” Stackhouse said. “She was the middle hitter and blocker, and also a setter for two full rotations. She can do pretty-much everything. I am looking forward to having her be a leader and key member of this team in the future.
”Pupanek, a repeat choice on the All-TRL honorable mention list, is also a two-time allleague designee in basketball.
The Lady Jets senior played middle hitter and middle row back for AMHS. Pupanek led the squad in blocks with 54 and passes with 842, while also compiling 125 kills, 153 good serves, and 33 aces.
“Emmalynn was our number one blocker on the front row and our main passer on the back row,” Stackhouse noted. “She also received honorable mention last year and I’m happy she was again recognized, although I felt she deserved at least second-team honors. We will definitely miss her in the years to come.”
Southeast High School placed three players on the All-TRL first team, Teagan Warner, Braelyn Sutton, and Eliz White; while St. Paul (Jorja Harris and Ava Dent) and Oswego (Jasmine Espeseth and Kodi Trimble) landed two each. Destiny Hagen of Northeast rounded out the first team.
Joining Morales on the all-TRL second team were: Charlee Gideon and Natalie Wells of Southeast; Erin Doubledee of Northeast; Autumn Neblett of Oswego; Macy Schoenberger of Uniontown; and Lila Michael of St. Paul.
In addition to Pupanek, honorable mention honors went to Savannah Bond and Kaylea Caton of Chetopa, and Madison Foster of Oswego.