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Sports
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Written by Gene Morris
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Wednesday, 18 November 2009 08:00 |
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Paola High School volleyball coach Michelle Abshire was named the Kansas small class coach of the year by the Greater Kansas City Volleyball Coaches Association.
Abshire led the Paola Panthers to a 28-15 record this season, capturing the Frontier League tournament title, the Class 4A substate championship and the program’s third state tournament appearance in four years. 
“It is an honor,” Abshire said of the award. “It says a lot about our program.
“We have had a lot of great girls go through our program, going to state in three of the last four years,” she said.
While the award is coach of the year, it really should say program of the year, Abshire said.
“I feel like this award is for our program and all of the great girls we have had play for us,” Abshire said.
Abshire has led the program to more than 90 wins in the last three seasons alone, winning 28 matches this season after back-to-back 30-win seasons.
No one works any harder or spends more time on the game than coach Abshire, said Paola senior setter Allison Wood.
“She is definitely deserving,” Wood said. “She is a very successful volleyball coach and has worked very hard for this.”
Coach Abshire has sacrificed a lot of her time for the sport and the program has benefited greatly from her dedication, Wood said.
Abshire’s overall record is 339-180 in 14 seasons as head coach of the Panthers for an average season mark of 24-13.
Paola Panther volleyball has left its mark on the Frontier League, state and now on the college ranks as well.
During Abshire’s tenure as coach, the Panthers have made four state appearances. Paola won substate titles to advance to the state tournament in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2009.
The Panther volleyball banner will add a new year this season for league titles, winning the program’s fourth Frontier League title under coach Abshire. Paola won league in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009.
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