CHILLICOTHE — Through every twist and turn on this season's journey, Unioto's Kinzli Batson has been there to lead her teammates to their eventual destination.
On Wednesday morning, she was rewarded for her steady hand.
Batson was named the Scioto Valley Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first Sherman to earn that honor since 2017.
The junior posted 55 kills, 43 aces, 37 blocks, 189 digs and 749 assists — including the 1,000th of her career — to lead Unioto to a 12-2 record in league play.
Adena's Kimmy Dalton also earned individual honors, being named the SVC's Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.
In 76 sets, Dalton has collected 469 digs while handling 416 serve receptions. She enters postseason play with a career total of 1,520 digs.
The league's Coach of the Year honors went to Unioto's Gavin Patterson. In his second year with the program, Patterson guided his Shermans to a 17-6 overall mark.
Joining Batson and Dalton with first-team all-league honors is Unioto's Charlotte Dennis and Kori Grubbs, Adena's Jacey Jones and Allie Bossert, Huntington's Brailee Hauswirth, Kinzee Mills and Kenley Smith, Piketon's Ryanne Moore, Addy Blakeman and Aubrey Heath, Southeastern's Kylee Dunn, Macy Stanley and Jade Turner, Westfall's Jill Butcher and Joni Synder, and Zane Trace's Karlee Snavely and Lydia Jarrell.
Second-team honors were earned by Unioto's Averi Adkins and Kiley Puckett, Adena's Karissa Jones and Kortney Sowers, Huntington's Braelynn Fultz and Natalee Leist, Paint Valley's Mayah Collier and Bryanna Winterod, Piketon's Saydi Childers and Hadyn Daniels, Southeastern's Calley Stauffer and Macy Strausbaugh, Westfall's Makenzie Cook and Kendall Moehl, and Zane Trace's Kerrigan Hill and Paityn Newman.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Unioto's Kinzli Batson, Adena's Kimmy Dalton named SVC POYs