Clayton News Daily

Photo by Brian Paglia / Woodland High School’s Pam Konken is the All-Southern Crescent Volleyball Player of the Year.

STOCKBRIDGE — Woodland senior Pam Konken comes from an athletic family. Her father, John, played basketball, football and track in high school. Her mother, LeAnn, played basketball and volleyball. Her older sister, Hillary, played volleyball for the Lady Wolfpack.

But even they can’t handle Konken’s constant need for action. Badminton. Soccer. Anything that gets her outside and doing something competitive.

“They get annoyed,” Konken said.

So did Woodland’s opponents this season. Konken was active all over the court, displaying an all-around game that led to 323 kills, 331 digs, 120 aces, 27 blocks and now Clayton News Daily and Henry Daily Herald All-Southern Crescent Volleyball Player of the Year honors.

Konken helped Woodland reel off a 28-game winning streak to start the season, win the Lady Wolfpack’s first area championship and reach the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Woodland finished the season 39-4, and Konken finshed the season as the only player from Henry County selected All-State by the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association.

“I was really pleased with our season,” Konken said. “It was awesome. We came together and everybody played really hard.”

Konken only started playing volleyball in seventh grade. Until then, she was devoted to basketball. But somewhere between watching her sister play and attending a volleyball camp, Konken got hooked.

“I just wanted to try something new,” she said. “I saw Hillary play and thought maybe I could do it too.”

Though Konken started as a freshman, her confidence didn’t flourish until the following club volleyball season.

Now, she has a high school career that includes 1,045 kills and the program’s best season.