VOLLEYBALL MVPS LED THEIR TEAMS TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

      Nashika Stokes already has the ability to `sky.' Next up for the Provo High senior is learning to fly.

      Stokes, Spanish Fork's Jodi Sheen, Delta's Sheryl Curtis and Rich's Teresa McArthur have been named the Deseret News Most Valuable Players in their respective classifications for the recently completed high school volleyball season. The MVPs head the 1992 Deseret News all-state volleyball teams.Stokes' hitting ability and 29-inch vertical leap led the Bulldogs to their first volleyball state championship since 1984. Stokes will now take her considerable volleyball talent to Texas A&M, where she has been offered a full-ride scholarship.

      "I've always really wanted to be a pilot," said Stokes, who led the Bulldogs to an undefeated season. Stokes plans to attain her goal of becoming a pilot by joining the Air Force ROTC at Texas A&M.

      Stokes moved to Provo from the Washington D.C. area prior to her junior year of high school. She made an immediate impact on the Bulldog volleyball team, helping it win the consolation bracket state championship as a junior before leading the team to this year's dream season. Stokes had 15 kills in the state title match against American Fork and 18 in a semifinal win over Taylorsville.

      "(Stokes) is just an exceptional player, but she's worked hard to get to where she is," said Provo coach Wendy Bills.

      Stokes was joined by Provo setter Jennie Nielson as a first-team all-state selection, while teammate Sara Saluone earned second-team honors.

      Sheen, at just 5-4, wasn't a dominating hitter for Spanish Fork. But Sheen's perfect passes as the Dons' setter helped to make her teammates' hits better.

      "It's said that if you have a great hitting team with an average setter, you have an average hitting team," Spanish Fork coach Wendy Weaver said. "We had a great hitting team because we had a great setter."

      Sheen, a three-year starter, finished the year with 1,008 assists. Joining Sheen as all-staters from Spanish Fork were Helen Hjorth and Tennille Bingham on the first team and Jennifer Hjorth on the second team.