By TIM GAYLE

When Saint James coach Karen Lee is analyzing Carson Ann Crow, she doesn’t spend time talking about the way the junior can improve her game. She’s already a well-rounded player who works continuously on her game.

“This is the only sport she plays, so she puts all her extra time and energy into this game,” Lee said. “She plays club ball and has really tried to perfect her skills. She plays all the way around – she’s effective on her outside hitting, she’s an effective server, she’s solid on defense. She had the most digs on our team. Just effective all the way around.”

Capital City Conference coaches agreed, naming Crow as the Montgomery Independent’s Capital City Conference Player of the Year for 2017. Crow was one of three first-team selections from a year ago that were named first team in 2017, along with Montgomery Academy’s Caroline Kirkham and Trinity’s Lucy Williams.

Montgomery Academy’s Morgan Karst, Saint James’ Emily Poundstone and Alabama Christian’s Gracie Shaddix made the first team this year after earning honorable mention a year ago.

Crow had 468 kills, 22 blocks, 39 assists, 45 aces and 408 digs this season, a slight improvement from a year ago when she had 43 aces, 445 kills, 12 blocks and 356 digs.

More importantly, Crow was a catalyst on helping the Trojans earn the Class 4A state championship and earned most valuable player honors on that team as well. While Lee, the Capital City Conference Coach of the Year, and her Trojans would have been a success without Crow, there’s no doubt the do-it-all junior was the difference in bringing home a state championship.

“She is very instrumental all the way around the court,” Lee said. “She fills a position on the front court that we couldn’t do without her. She had a little over 1,300 attempts in her attacks, so we rely on her a lot on hitting. I put her in the back row to start our serve-receive because I know she’s going to do the job of getting us into our offense. She quickly rotates to the front but she starts in the back because her defense is so solid as far as serve-receive. She is someone I would not want to play without.”

Crow was joined on the all-CCC team by teammates Emily Olsey and Emily Poundstone. Montgomery Academy, which reached the 3A state finals before losing a heartbreaker to Bayside Academy, placed three players on the first team as well. Joining Kirkham were Morgan Karst and Ann Lucas Herrick.

Gracie Shaddix of Alabama Christian and Lucy Williams of Trinity rounded out the first team.

ALL CAPITAL CITY CONFERENCE

(Selected by coaches)

Carson Ann Crow, OH, Jr., Saint James

Ann Lucas Herrick, L, Sr., Montgomery Academy

Morgan Karst, S, Sr., Montgomery Academy

Caroline Kirkham, OH, Sr., Montgomery Academy

Emily Olsey, S-MB, Jr., Saint James

Emily Poundstone, S, Jr., Saint James

Gracie Shaddix, OH, Jr., Alabama Christian

Lucy Williams, OH, Jr., Trinity Presbyterian

HONORABLE MENTION: Joy Bishop, MH, Sr., Trinity Presbyterian; Ansley Dean, MB, So., Catholic; Natalie Faulkner, S, Sr., Alabama Christian; LizAnne Livings, OH, Jr., Saint James; Victoria Riley, MH, Sr., Montgomery Academy; Carli Schofield, MB, Sr., Alabama Christian; Annie Skoneki, OH, Sr., Saint James; Mary Emily Taylor, S, Sr., Trinity Presbyterian; Melody Taylor, S, Jr., Catholic; Drue Walker, L, Jr., Trinity Presbyterian; Bailey Williams, MH, Jr., Saint James

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Carson Ann Crow, Saint James

COACH OF THE YEAR:  Karen Lee, Saint James