Brie SmithVolleyball

Alconbury, England

Last week: Smith, a junior outside hitter, propelled the defending European Division IV champion Dragons to a straight-sets victory over visiting Menwith Hill by posting 38 service points on Saturday, according to her coach, Emily Dreiling.

“We were missing two starters,” Dreiling said. “Brie (the only junior on Alconbury’s near-senior team) stepped in and did the job.”

The points Alconbury scored on Smith’s serves represented more than half of the 75 points it registered on Saturday. Considering that many of those 75 points also came off opposition serves, Smith’s feat stands even taller.

“It takes a lot of concentration and a lot of consistency,” to serve that well, Dreiling said, adding that under the rally-point scoring now used in volleyball, serving has become more important than ever. “If you consistently miss your serve, you’re not helping your team.”

Danny EdwardsCross country

Ramstein, Germany

Last week: Edwards, a senior who is the defending European champion, continued to leave the field behind Saturday, setting a course record of 15 minutes, 25 seconds over the 5,000-meter SHAPE layout. It was Edwards’ second sub-16-minute victory in his three triumphs this season.

Ramstein coach Steve Meadows cited Edwards’ hard work and focus for his fast times this season. Plus a kicker.

“Danny has a secret weapon that is not so secret anymore, and that is a strong boys team that helps push him every day in practice,” Meadows wrote in an e-mail. “They work together and push each other at every workout. It’s like the sixth man in basketball.”

Edwards leads a Ramstein squad that could go considerably deeper than six, should that become necessary.

“Danny is one of the team captains,” Meadows wrote, “and wants to lead Ramstein to a sixth Division I championship.”

— Selected by Stars and Stripes staff

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