Kingco Conference Volleyball Capsules

BELLEVUE

-- HEAD COACH - Steve Trachy, 12th year. -- 1990 - 11-0, KingCo Conference champs (Sea-King District champs, ninth in state). -- TOP RETURNEES - MH Danielle Kohl (sr., 5-11), OH Kari Vervynck (jr., 5-9), S Carly Vynne (jr., 5-7), OH Traci Leonard (jr., 5-7), OH Becca Hoffman (sr., 5-9), D/S Seiko Hiramine (sr., 5-5), S Jennifer Hillman (so., 5-6), OH Katie Guernsey (jr., 5-9). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - S Kelcey Grimm (sr., 5-7), MH Leslie Derrig (so., 6-0). -- OUTLOOK - Defending league champs lost four starters, but everyone else returns from varsity, including first-team all-KingCo pick Kohl. Should be another playoff year for Bellevue, but Wolverines must improve by end of season to return to state.

BOTHELL

-- HEAD COACH - Russ Kerwin, second year. -- 1990 - 6-5, tied fifth (seventh after tiebreaker). -- TOP RETURNEES - MH Erika Dow (sr., 5-8), OH Melinda Oberg (sr., 5-8), OH Erin Kramer (sr., 5-8), MH Stacy Johanson (jr., 5-10). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - OH Tracy Swearingen (jr., 5-4), S Molly McCardle (jr., 5-6). -- OUTLOOK - Cougars return four players with starting experience, including first-team all-KingCo Dow and honorable mention Oberg. Experience make Bothell strong contender for district berth.

INGLEMOOR

-- HEAD COACH - John Roper, first year. -- 1990 - 6-5, tied fifth (fifth after tiebreaker). -- TOP RETURNEES - OH Susie Miller (sr., 5-8), S/D Tami Duong (jr., 5-3), S/WH Teara O'Haver (jr., 5-7). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - MB Brittany Baskin (jr., 5-10), MB Kelly Kaiser (jr., 5-7), MB/WH Cori Alexander (so., 5-9), D Nicole Lamba (sr., 5-4), D Theresa Monica (sr., 5-4), OH Jennifer Watters (jr., 5-7), S/WH Tami Bizjak (jr., 5-8), MB/OH Cara Dingle (sr., 5-9), S/D Shawna Clark (jr., 5-6). -- OUTLOOK - Strong skills and consistent early-season play make Inglemoor strong contender for playoff berth. Could surprise at district level.

INTERLAKE

-- HEAD COACH - Kim Hunt, fifth year. -- 1990 - 3-8, ninth place. -- TOP RETURNEES - MH Valerie Jones (sr., 6-0), S Heidi Molton (jr., 5-9), S Beth Iwamoto (jr., 5-6), OH Nancy Blackwood (jr., 5-9). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - OH Au Diep (so., 5-7), MH Ginger Bonnell (so., 5-11). -- OUTLOOK - Enough experience back for perennial just-miss Saints to break into playoffs. Will be one of several teams fighting for last two spots. Hunt says team attitude better this year - won't settle for close loss.

ISSAQUAH

-- HEAD COACH - Pat Hatmaker, sixth year. -- 1990 - 0-11, 12th place. -- TOP RETURNEES - S Adana Verschueren (jr., 5-6), OH Shelby Lampman (jr., 5-7), MH Melissa Evans (sr., 5-9), OH Randee Young (jr., 5-5), WH Heather Martin (jr., 6-0), S Sarah Rankin (sr., 5-7), Oh Stephanie Hollinsworth (sr., 5-7). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - MH Joy Kline (so., 6-0), S Bridgette Stoffey (so., 5-6), MH Danyel Chapel (jr., 6-0), WH Kristen Kimball (jr., 5-8), OH Tracy Arnold (sr., 5-4). -- OUTLOOK - Indians are team most likely to improve in KingCo. Has talent to climb out of league cellar.

JUANITA

-- HEAD COACH - Vicky Chappell, second year. -- 1990 - 1-10, 11th place. -- TOP RETURNEES - OH Arwen Daly (jr., 5-8), S Kirsten Chandler (sr., 5-2), D/OH Michelle Dorcas (sr., 5-6), MB/D Connie Recob (sr., 5-7), S/D Kelsie McConville (jr., 5-5), OH Jennifer Richter (sr., 5-7). -- TOP RETURNEES - MH Tami Storseth (sr., 5-10). -- OUTLOOK - Daly might be best outside hitter in KingCo, and volleyball newcomer Storseth is one of Eastside's best high school athletes. Rebels look like playoff team.

LAKE WASHINGTON

-- HEAD COACH - Marcene McGowan, first year. -- 1990 - 2-9, 10th. -- TOP RETURNEES - MH Brooke Schwartz (sr., 5-9), S Kerri Hook (jr., 5-5), OH Melissa Soules (jr., 5-9), OH Jeni Cormey (jr., 5-11), OH Nicole Goldsmith (sr., 5-7), OH Megan0Myers (sr., 5-9). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - MH Ashley Johnston (jr., 5-8), OH Danielle Marshall (sr., 5-6), OH Katie Anderson (sr., 5-7), S Val Zook (sr., 5-3), OH Megan Morrison (so., 5-11). -- OUTLOOK - Kangaroos return honorable mention all-leaguer in Schwartz and have enough talent and experience around her to put together winning season. Might be surprise of league. Definite district contender.

MERCER ISLAND

-- HEAD COACH - Herb Stimpson, 10th year. -- 1990 - 10-1, second place (second in Sea-King District, qualified for state). -- TOP RETURNEES - MH Courtney Longstreth (sr., 6-2), OH Lisa McInnis (jr., 5-5), OH Susan Liechty (sr., 5-6), S Holli Griffiths (sr., 5-6), OH Casey Gellerman (sr. 5-10). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - MH Christine Loury (jr., 5-9). -- OUTLOOK - Griffiths is returning from second-team all-league season. Islanders look strong again, should finish among league's top three and should return to state.

NEWPORT

-- HEAD COACH - Gayle Sikes, third year. -- 1990 - 4-7, eighth place. -- TOP RETURNEES - No returning varsity players. -- TOP NEWCOMERS - MB/OH Liz Stephens (sr., 5-10), S/DS Sandei Kang (sr. 5-2), OH/DS Liz Consalvi (sr., 5-7), MB/OH Julie Rees (jr., 5-8), MB/OH Karesa Zerby (jr., 5-10), S Keri Ramstedt (jr.., 5-4), OH/S Nicole Mittelstrass (jr., 5-9), MB/OH Liese Zerby (so., 5-10), OH/SS/DS Farrah Fabien (fr., 5-6). -- OUTLOOK - Knights lost entire varsity that finished out of playoffs last season. They start rebuilding with Stephens, who sat out last year with fractured vertabrae. Enough talent to win some games but not playoff spot.

REDMOND

-- HEAD COACH - Kara Peterson, second place. -- 1990 - 6-5, tied fifth (sixth after tiebreaker). -- TOP RETURNEES - OH Heather Tarr (jr., 5-9), MB Tami Sharp (sr., 5-8), OH/S Erin Rogers (sr., 5-8), OH Kathy Mattson (jr. 5-10), OH/S Stephanie Picchena (sr., 5-9), OH Erica Smith (jr., 5-9). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - OH Sara Gaugl (so., 5-6), MB Gina Sampson (sr., 6-2), DS Rachelle Richardson (sr., 5-5). -- OUTLOOK - Mustangs return four starters from district qualifier: Tarr, Mattson, Rogers, Sharp. Already winners of Mariner tournament Sept. 14, 'Stangs look like contender for league title.

SAMMAMISH

-- HEAD COACH - Reg Court, eighth year. -- 1990 - 9-2, third (seventh in state). -- TOP RETURNEES - MH Wendy Weise (sr., 5-10), OH Judy Staudt (sr., 5-8), O-MH Amy Love (sr., 5-10), S Kali Peterson (jr., 5-7), D Kenda Druxman (sr., 5-6), OH/D Jenni Sheen (sr., 5-7). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - S Debi Butler (so., 5-4), BC Paulette Morgan (sr., 5-3), S Amy Phillips (jr., 5-5), OH Ursula Straussmueller (sr., 185 cm). -- OUTLOOK - Weise, a first-team all-KingCo pick as a junior, returns to lead the conference favorite. German transfer Straussmueller adds depth to state contender.

WOODINVILLE

-- HEAD COACH - Keith Dalluge, first year. -- 1990 - 8-3, fourth place (qualified for state). -- TOP RETURNEES - S Jenna Caspers (sr., 5-7), MH Darla Bergeson (sr., 5-10), OH Meggan Cadigan (jr., 5-9), MH Sarena Woodruff (sr., 5-9), S/OH Angie Stanton (sr., 5-7), OH Patti Solaski (sr., 5-7). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - OH Andie Callis (sr., 5-8), OH Monica Swanson (so., 5-7). -- OUTLOOK - Falcons own most impressive preseason record in KingCo, 7-0, and are most likely candidates to challenge Sammamish. Cadigan was all-KingCo honorable mention as sophomore. Enough talent returns for return to state.