DATE: Tuesday, November 25, 1997            TAG: 9711220624

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: ALL TIDEWATER

The All-Tidewater Teams were selected by The Pilot Sports Staff in

consultation with area coaches.

SOURCE: BY BRIAN J. FRENCH, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   63 lines

THERE'S NO DODGING HIS'S BULLETS JOSH ZUIDEMA, COX, SR., HITTER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

There's no dodging Zuidema's bullets

What if bullets were the size of volleyballs? Defend a Josh Zuidema kill, and you won't have to leave it to your imagination.

Zuidema had 334 kills during the regular season for Cox, and most of them resounded with both sound and fury, leaving the poor unfortunate cast with the duty of returning his missives with a bruise and a nice view of the ceiling tiles.

There's other reasons Zuidema is the overwhelming choice for All-Tidewater player of the year; he blocks kills almost as well as he delivers them and was an on-court leader for the Falcons as they won the Eastern Region title for the second straight year.

But it's the kills that give him the most notoriety. At 6-3, Zuidema casts an imposing shadow and anchored a front line with Chris Topham and twin brother Jason Zuidema that was maybe the most imposing in the state.

Joining Zuidema on the first team:

Cam Land, First Colonial: One of two All-Tidewater first teamers from the state champion Patriots. Land was one of the leaders of a kill-happy offense, recording 146 kills and 42 blocks during the regular season. The senior stepped it up a notch in the playoffs, with 11 kills and five blocks against Monacan in the state championship match.

Preston Moneyhun, Salem: Staged a courageous comeback from an extremely rare volleyball-related aneurysm that put his career in jeopardy. The junior had 186 kills and 119 digs, leading the Sun Devils in both categories. Moneyhun also had 55 blocks and a .330 hit percentage.

Ronnie Niles, Hickory: The answer to a trivia question: Who was the first Hickory athlete to be named to any All-Tidewater first team? Niles is certainly worthy; the Hawk senior was the unanimous Southeastern District player of the year with 189 kills and a 93 percent service rate.

Jeff Alberts, Cox: Set up nearly all of Zuidema's kills this season, and managed to deliver a few himself. After sitting out last season in the wake of his transfer from Catholic, the senior set 263 assists and had 121 kills for Cox.

David Hills, First Colonial: At 5-11, he gets sorta lost in the forest they call the Patriots' roster. But Hills - whom Patriots coach Mark Lottinville labels his best all-around player - had a .315 hit percentage and 110 digs for the regular season. He also recorded 13 kills and 17 digs against Monacan in the state final.

Matt Turner, Deep Creek: Thanks in large part to Turner, the Hornets - with 13 new players and a change in coach one week before the season opener, won the Southeastern District tournament title and went to the regional tournament. Turner, a senior, had 134 kills during the regular season, 23 against Western Branch in the Southeastern final and 13 against First Colonial in the regional semifinals. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

Josh Zuidema

[Color Photos of First Team]

[Roster of Second Team]

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