A standout season that saw Boyd win 16 games, including a stretch in September where the Lady Broncos didn’t lose for a month, has garnered some standouts extra hardware. Senior Audrey Durham and junior Krista Chisam were both recognized by the TSIAA over the weekend for their work leading the Lady Broncos.
Durham and Chisam were each named to the TSIAA South Division All-State team after Boyd finishing in the top three in the division. It is Durham’s first all-state honor, while Chisam was received TSIAA recognition back-to-back years (along with being named TNCAA all-state last year).
“I’m very proud of both girls winning state awards. They are both very strong players and both deserve it,” said Boyd coach Kaylee Chisam.
Durham was one of the team’s undisputed leaders and her arrival three seasons ago marked an unturn in the program. She helped guide the team to a TNCAA championship last year and fueled another impressive campaign this fall.
A cerebral sniper on the court, Durham seems to read the game a step faster than others, allowing her to be everywhere on defense. And once she’s at the net, few players can get up to the same heights for vicious spikes.
“Audrey is a team leader for us. She’s strong at the net and is just a great player overall. She has a lot of passion for the game,” said coach Chisam.
Durham finished the year with over 100 kills, 160 digs and 25 aces. She also led the team in blocks.
Krista always provided the Lady Broncos with a quiet confidence, though she kept her simmering desire to win right below the surface. Cool, calm and collected at all time, Krista was the player Boyd turned to anytime it needed to set the tone with serves or get a big point.
“Krista added a lot for the team. She is an overall great player driven to win games. She is a leader and team player with the ability to adapt to many situations, which is very important,” said coach Kaylee Chisam.
Krista racked up over four aces per game, steamrolling opponents with a hard liner she could pinpoint at any spot on the court. She was also the team’s leading setter, finishing with over 300 assists this season. Chisam’s presence should keep Boyd among the top teams in the TSIAA moving forward.
“I think (these awards) show that we are contenders. I think we are getting better and hopefully this trend will continue in the future,” said coach Kaylee Chisam.
Krista Chisam is expected back to lead as a senior next year, joining fellow Class of 2024 standouts Mia Onderka, Emma Miller and Journee Page. The Lady Broncos should also benefit from the growth of rising junior Lottie Hash, youngsters Anslee McCrary and Kealey Simpson, who were each freshmen this fall, and Raylee Vinson.
The majority of the volleyball team will be back in action this winter at JK Stanley Gymnasium on the girls basketball team. The Lady Broncos kick off their season next Thursday, Nov. 10.
