Senior Sarah Bishop, left, and junior Madison Morris, along with Jacqueline Hensley and Hailey Morrison, landed on the District 25-4A All-District list. Marble Falls denied Lampasas from reaching the playoffs, but nothing could prevent the Lady Badgers from receiving recognition.

Four varsity players -- Sarah Bishop, Madison Morris, Hailey Morrison and Jacqueline Hensley -- landed on the District 25-4A All-District list after helping the Lady Badgers come within one victory from reaching the postseason.

Senior outside hitter Bishop and junior middle blocker/outside hitter Morris were each named to the district’s first team, while senior setter Hensley and sophomore middle blocker Morrison earned honorable mentions.

First-year head coach Beth Rutland was excited about the first-team selections, but after witnessing their play over the entire season, she knew they deserved the honor.

PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE “I really felt like they both belonged there,” Rutland said. “In my mind, there is no doubt.”

The players’ stats certainly support the belief.

Bishop led the Lady Badgers in kills (255) and digs (303), while serving up 48 aces.

Morris was the only player on the team to finish the season with more aces than Bishop, recording 50. Additionally, Morris delivered 217 kills, posted 83 digs and led the team in solo blocks (25) and assisted blocks (40).

“Sarah is just an all-around great player,” Rutland said. “She is a force on the floor.

“I definitely see [Morris] getting a shot at offensive MVP next year. We’ll just have to have the record to back it up.”

Lampasas posted a 12-20 record this season, including a 3-7 run through the district schedule. The Lady Badgers forced a playoff play-in match against Marble Falls after going winless in district in 2008.

Honorable mentions Hensley and Morrison were critical to the team’s turnaround campaign.

Hensley led the team in assists with 353 and was nearly perfect when serving, successfully landing 332 of 346 attempts (96 percent) with 26 aces.

“That was great for Jacqueline,” Rutland said.

Morrison -- the varsity team’s only newcomer to land on the all-district list -- was responsible for 101 kills, 31 aces, a team-high 455 service receptions, 259 digs and 33 assists on blocks. She also recorded 17 solo blocks.

“She really anchored our defense,” the coach said.

Lake Travis dominated the awards list, earning the district MVP award (Amy Neal), most valuable setter (Lani Durio), and defensive MVP (Mackenzie Mayo). The Lady Cavaliers also won half the offensive MVP award as Morgan Hendrix split the honor with Hendrickson’s Molly Ahrens.

Newcomer of the year was Hutto middle blocker Katie Rosenbusch.