VOLLEYBALL NOTES - SEPTEMBER 25, 2008

If the 2007 season was a dream come true for Hanford coach Hugh Harris, then the 2008 campaign is his rude awakening.

The Falcons got on a roll at the right time last fall, winning the 3A state championship at Toyota Center, then sent four players off to four-year schools -- all-state MVP Brittany Quick (Montana), Kristin Barott (Rocky Mountain), Chantal Petkus (Evergreen State) and Janelle King (Oregon Tech).

Only three players are back from that team this season -- OH Jordan Bird and a pair of JV callups for the postseason, OH Hollie Lindgren and defensive specialist Molly Hopkins.

Two other players off last year's titlists (Stacey Stanhope and McKenzie Snow) decided not to turn out this fall, electing instead to concentrate on their primary sports. They informed Harris early of their decision, giving him plenty of time to ready his band of youngsters for the CBBN grind.

"I and the coaching staff understood that we were going to pay our dues this year," said Harris, whose team is 0-4 going into tonight's match at Wenatchee, having won only 1 of 13 sets. "The good thing is we have been improving every match, but we're still learning how to close out a set and limit our mistakes."

Bird, who leads the team at 2.5 kills per set and 3.2 digs, figured to be the rock upon whom the Falcons could lean in the early going.

Harris has been pleased with the progress of players such as Lindgren and libero Arielle Dreher, both juniors.

"Hollie missed a lot of the summer with a sore arm, but she's been hitting the ball hard for us and has stepped it up on defense," Harris said. "And Ariel has adapted to the libero position and has picked up her passing for us."

Harris also knows that while his team has taken its lumps against its 4A sisters, the Falcons need only to win against either West Valley or Sunnyside to qualify for the 3A regional tournament, from which two teams likely head to state.

"That's the saving grace for us. At the end of the year, we'll go compete against other 3A teams," he said. "Our chances will improve, and we'll have been seasoned by league play."

Of course, at regionals, the Falcons will likely meet up with either top-ranked East Valley (Spokane) or No. 4 Shadle Park. That can be a nightmare for any team.

VOLLEYBALL NOTES - SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Here are the Columbia Basin Big Nine (CBBN) league previews for the 2008 Mid-Columbia girls volleyball season.

2007 Champions:

4A: Eisenhower (Regular Season) and Richland (Districts)
3A: Hanford (State Champions) and Kamiakin (Regular season and Districts)

Returning All-Leaguers:

4A First Team: Hitters -- Tori Fisher, jr., Eisenhower; Katie Gauglitz, sr., Richland; Danika Harris, sr., Pasco. Setter -- Daria Winckler, sr., Davis. Second team: Hitters -- Madison Baxter, sr., Walla Walla; Alyssa Schultz, jr., Davis. Setter -- Rachel Todorovich, sr., Walla Walla. Libero -- Jenna Dohman, sr., Richland. Honorable mention: Hitters -- Karis Gamache, jr., Pasco; Mariah Picard, sr., Wenatchee; Shelby Gonzales, sr., Moses Lake. Setter -- Kelsey Dix, sr., Eisenhower. Libero -- Hailey Lanning, sr., Pasco.

3A First Team: Hitters -- Marcy Hjellum, sr., Kamiakin; Elizabeth Clark, sr., Southridge; Elise Jepsen, sr., Kamiakin. Second team: Hitters -- Heather Worley, jr., Southridge. Libero -- Sarah Girard, sr., Kamiakin. Honorable mention: Hitters -- Molly Mayer, sr., Eastmont; Chelsea Bourque, jr., Southridge; Kelsey Julian, soph., Kennewick; Jordan Bird, jr., Hanford. Setters -- Molly Mayer, sr., Eastmont; Shelby Swanson, sr., Kamiakin. Liberos --Carlye Johnson, sr., Southridge; Kylie Rail, sr., Kennewick.

Outlook:

In the 3As, defending State champion Hanford graduated a ton of talent and will lean on Jordan Bird to get them through early in the year. Sunnyside has a new coach in Mikal Aberle and returns seven players from last year's regional qualifiers. West Valley-Yakima and new coach Katie Orgill, a former standout at Davis, has an experienced group featuring five seniors, led by Taylor Herrick (5-6, OH), Jenessa Reid (5-7, OH), and Erin Richardson (6-2, MH). Others Orgill is counting on are Lexi Filliol (Jr., 5-2, libero) and Rachel Hanses (So., 5-10, MH). Sunnyside also has a new coach, Mikael Aberle, the daughter of veteran Selah coach Kay Aberle. Leading the Grizzlies will be a trio of seniors, Janelle Mendoza (5-6, setter), Molly Dollan (5-10, MH), and Megan Tyler (5-8, RSH).

In the 4As, Coach Mary Opitz may not want to hear it, but her Kamiakin team is the favorite to win a third straight league title. The only question mark for the Braves is at middle hitter, where they must replace Emily Jepsen (now starting at WWU) and Bonnie Gregory, but Opitz thinks senior Carly Strecker and sophomore Kassy Larson are up to the task. There is a potential logjam of teams vying for the No. 2 spot behind the Braves. Eisenhower is always a team to watch and boasts one of the league's top hitters in Fisher. Southridge returns a bevy of talent along the front line and an underrated setter in sophomore Andrea Smith. Pasco always is competitive under coach Jim Steach. Richland graduated Lindsey Wodrich (now at Seattle Pacific) but returns Gauglitz and has added sophomore MB Chelsey Bettinson. Kennewick graduated all-league OH Shalane Scott but otherwise has nine players with varsity experience back. Walla Walla is moving Todorovich back to middle hitter to join Baxter in making a formidable front line. Moses Lake will struggle to grab one of the final district berths.