Ashley Stathas was named Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year for her first season as head women's volleyball coach at Greenwood, S.C.-based Lander University in 2012.

Morris Community High School senior Kendall Korte can see why. Korte says that Stathas was a big reason she opted to commit to Lander, where she will receive a scholarship covering most of her expenses and be a member of the volleyball team. Korte signed a national letter of intent in November.

"She's mostly the reason I wanted to go there," Korte said. "She came to Morris and visited me. When she showed up to practice, that was so cool. She's young and she's new and she's fun, I thought. When I went there and visited, it was a done deal. She graduated from there, and she's back trying to make it better. Hopefully I can help her."