Mid-Columbia Girls Volleyball Preview

Here is a look around the 2011 Mid-Columbia girls high school volleyball season. Standings are through Wednesday, Sept. 21:

CBBN 4A

Chiawana 5-0

Richland 4-0

Wenatchee 3-1

Walla Walla 1-2

Moses Lake 1-3

Davis 0-4

Eisenhower 0-4

2010 regular-season champions: Richland

2010 district tournament champions: Richland

2010 regional tournament champions: Mead

2010 state tournament: Richland and Wenatchee both qualified and went 0-2

Returning all-league

First team: Kirsten Clemans, sr., Wenatchee, setter; Lauren Joseph, sr., Richland, setter; Audrey Ketcham, sr., Wenatchee, outside hitter; Sadie Sparks, sr., Chiawana, middle blocker

Second team: Michaela George, sr., Wenatchee, middle blocker; Shanita Hill, sr., Chiawana, outside hitter; Hannah Leiber, sr., Wenatchee, outside hitter; Charlene Manning, sr., Richland, middle blocker; Jamie Steach, jr., Chiawana, setter

Honorable mention: Tianna Cummings, sr., Walla Walla, libero

Notes: The Bombers have a lot returning, but are without top hitter Chelsey Bettinson who is at Washington State. ... Chiawana has a chance to knock Richland off the top spot, as the Riverhawks have some upperclassmen this year. Led by Sparks, the Riverhawks are off to a hot start, including two tough five-set wins against Walla Walla and Wenatchee. ... The Panthers have a lot back from their first state-qualifying team and expect to contend for the title. ... Walla Walla doesn't have a lot back but has played well at times in the early going and could contend if things break right.

CBBN 3A

West Valley 5-0

Hanford 4-1

Kamiakin 3-2

Kennewick 2-2

Southridge 2-2

Pasco 2-3

Eastmont 1-4

Sunnyside 0-5

2010 regular-season champions: West Valley

2010 district tournament champions: West Valley

2010 regional tournament champions: West Valley

2010 state tournament: West Valley, Kennewick both advanced to state. Kennewick lost in the consolation semifinals after winnings its first-round match. West Valley took third place.

Returning all-league

First team: Sarah Joffs, sr., West Valley, middle blocker; Julia Nathe, jr., West Valley, setter

Second team: Morgan McDowell, sr., West Valley, outside hitter; Meghan McIntyre, sr., Kennewick, outside hitter; Isabella Midili, sr., Southridge, outside hitter

Honorable mention: Suzi Davison, sr., Hanford, setter; Nikki Eldred, jr., Hanford, middle blocker; Sierra Linke, jr., Pasco, outside hitter; Linnea Phillips, sr., West Valley, defensive specialist

Notes: It feels a bit like everyone is playing for second place, as the Rams return eight players from last season's state third-place team. ... West Valley has only dropped two sets in its first five league matches. ... Kennewick and Hanford figure to be the teams most likely to contend with the Rams, as the Lions are coming off the program's first state berth. Despite a new coach in Julie Maciboba, the Lions have been strong in the early going. ... The Falcons won a five-set thriller Tuesday against the Suns. Hanford has a new coach in McKenzie Garberg, who led Kiona-Benton to a Class 2A state title in 2002 as a player. ... Southridge should be right on the heels of Kennewick and Hanford, a year after letting a state berth slip through its fingertips. ... Kamiakin has had to reload after graduating nearly all of its top players, while Pasco has shown flashes of strong play in the early going this season.