Dear editor:

I would like to offer a clarification concerning the county volleyball tournament Most Valuable Player award.

Each year, the tournament location is rotated to a different school so that each school is given the opportunity to host the tournament. Each year, the head coach of each school participating receives an all-tournament ballot. Each head coach in the county receives one MVP vote in which they can vote for any player in the tournament whom they feel deserves MVP. It does not always go to the winning team. It goes to the player that gets the most votes.

I have been coaching volleyball in this county for nine years, and the coaches in this county selected this format. I get one vote just like every other coach in this county, and in years past, have voted for other players from other teams for all-tournament and MVP that were not from Jemison because they deserved it, not because they won the tournament. Last year I did not even vote for a Jemison player for all-tournament teams. Thorsby beat us in the first round of the tournament, and I gave all of my tournament picks to coach Ginger Williams because her girls deserved it more than my own players.

My player, Lauren Crosby, had an outstanding county tournament this year and played with a lot of heart and determination. She received more votes than any other player in the county for county MVP. She must have impressed other coaches besides me. Congratulations Lauren Crosby.

Let us not forget that the most coveted award in college football, the Heisman Trophy, was not awarded to a player from the national championship team Alabama, it was awarded to the most outstanding player in college football, from Baylor. I know it is not on the same level, but it is the same concept.

Leighsa Robinson, Jemison varsity volleyball coach