TEAM CAPSULES
KingCo 4A volleyball forecast
Predicted order of finish based on survey of league coaches. Coaches voted on finish in both divisions, with five points awarded for a first-place vote, four for second, etc. First-place votes in parentheses. Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Not all coaches participated.
Mountain Division Pts
1. Woodinville (6) 30
2. Redmond (1) 23 1/2
3. Lake Washington 17 1/2
4. Franklin 15 1/2
5. Roosevelt 14 1/2
Lake Division Pts
1. Bothell (7) 35
2. Eastlake 26
3. Juanita 18
4. Inglemoor 17
5. Garfield 10
Lake Division
Bothell Cougars
Coach - Russ Kerwin, 11th season.
1999 record - 12-1 in league, 2-1 in league tournament, 0-3 in state tournament.
Returning starters - MH/B Katy Naes, Sr.; OH Afshaun Hadi, Sr.; MH/B Jill Maag, Sr.; S Deana Bellin, Sr.
Impact newcomers - DS Gina Lopez, Sr.; OH Kelly Norwalk, Sr.; OH Annie Zubvic Jr.; S Melanie Quermit, So.; OH Jessica Holloway, So.
Outlook - Naes (6-0) and Maag (5-11) make an intimidating tandem, two of the league's best in the middle. Naes was a league leader in blocks as a junior and was a first-team All-KingCo 4A selection. Bellin, a senior captain who has the challenge of choreographing the offense, is in her first season as Cougar setter. Lopez is a defensive whiz. Kerwin said she will be a treat to watch.
Eastlake Wolves
Coach - Carol Hinrichs, sixth season.
1999 record - 5-7 league, 0-2 in league tournament.
Returning starters - MB Edytte Key, Sr.; MB/RS Stefany Brand, Sr.; S Liz Elliott, Jr.
Other returners - S/OH Lisa Peterson, Sr.; RS/DS Shana Thirtyacre, Sr.; OH/DS Laura Williams, Sr.
Impact newcomers - MB/RS Lessa Farnsworth, Jr.; OH Katie Bell, Jr.; OH Stephanie Ortolf, Jr.
Outlook - Wolves return six players from last season's team, and the strength will be the middle behind Key, a second-team All-KingCo 4A selection at middle blocker as a junior. Key is flanked by Brand in one of league's strongest up-front tandems. Elliott will set them up on offense.
Inglemoor Vikings
Coach - Keith Dalluge, first season.
1999 record - 9-4 league, 1-2 in league tournament.
Top returners - S Emily Clark, Sr.; OH Gina Zanolli, Sr.
Impact newcomers - S/H Carly Erickson, Sr.; DS Andi Baxter, Sr.; OH Molly Schleich, Sr.; DS Ashley Fullmer, Sr.; OH Krista Shrader, Sr.; MH/B Stephanie Dapper, Jr.; OH Heather Anderson, Jr.; M/OH Kendal Formo, So.; OH Sarah Allen, So.; OH Carin Trygg, So.
Outlook - Last year, Vikings had twin towers with Egan Metcalf and Jenni Linden - first-team all-league selections who graduated. Clark is the top returner, a second-team selection last season. Dalluge said it will take time for his team to get to know each other, but he expects the Vikings to surprise the rest of the conference.
Juanita Rebels
Coach - Mike Gaffaney, second season.
1999 record - 4-7 league, did not qualify for league tournament.
Returning starters - DS Esther Chae, Sr.; OH Jessica Force, Jr.; OH Jenny Green, Jr.; S Tiffany Jacobsen, Jr.
Other returners - OH Courtney Clapp, Jr.
Impact newcomers - OH Lindsay Flowers, So.; MH Elissa Wildenborg, So.; OH Mallory Redner, So.; OH Sally Smith, Jr.; OH Angela Hiatt, Jr.
Outlook - Varsity team is young, as Chae is the only senior, but the Rebels have size, with an average height of 5 feet 10 and three players taller than 6-0. Gaffaney said the team's strength is all-around athleticism. At a school that has never had a strong volleyball tradition, Gaffaney hopes this season can be a cornerstone in the foundation of a successful program.
Franklin Quakers
Coach - Nessa Misivila, second season.
1999 record - 2-11, did not qualify for league tournament.
Returning starters - OH Nicole Taylor, Sr.; S Latissha Siva, Jr.; OH Lei Lale, Sr.; OH Janet Wong, Sr.; OH Carolyn Sakoda, Sr.; OH Sepora Ulugalu, Jr.
Outlook - All starters have been playing club volleyball, and Taylor is a returning second-team All-KingCo 4A selection. Misivila said, "I think we'll be pretty good." Franklin took Eastlake to five games the first time the teams played last year.
Mountain Division
Garfield Bulldogs
Coach - Leslie Hamann, first season.
1999 record - 0-12 in league, did not qualify for league tournament.
Returning starters - Lauren Hamann, Sr.; Elizabeth Daruthayan, Sr.; Tiernan Madorno, Jr.; Laura Washington, So.
Other returners - April Rankins, Sr.
Impact newcomers - Katie Stalker, Sr.; Diane Ung, Sr.; Afi Tengue, Sr.; Theresa Chong, Sr.; Lauren Hudson, Fr.
Outlook - Bulldogs almost became first Seattle City school to beat an Eastside opponent in a league match last season. They led Juanita two games to one, and held a 7-1 lead in the fourth game, but an injury to Alyssa Arnason derailed the upset bid. This season, Garfield is aiming for its first league win over an Eastside opponent as Hamann, Daruthayan and Madorno are all returners who earned honorable-mention status last season. Four Bulldogs play club volleyball. Coach Hamann was on UCLA title team and her brother, Craig Buck, won two Olympic gold medals.
Lake Washington Kangs
Coach - Slava Popovsky, seventh season.
1999 record - 9-4 in league, 0-2 in league tournament.
Returning starters - S Heather Anderson, Sr. (5-4); DS Michelle Omalev, Jr. (5-4).
Impact newcomers - OH Julie Vance, Jr.; OH Erika Krievins, Jr.; S Haley Woods, So.; OH Kia Hooper, So.; OH Margaux LeSourd, So.; OH Katerina Kristalinski, Jr.
Outlook - Anderson is playing her third-season of varsity, one of only two returning players. Omalev sets an example with her hustle, and she is one of the team's better passers. Vance and Krievins are 5-9 outside hitters, and Hooper is one of the top newcomers, a 5-11 sophomore who also plays basketball. Woods is an up-and-coming player.
Redmond Mustangs
Coach - Ross Johnson, 10th season.
1999 record - 8-5 in league, 2-2 in league tournament.
Returning starters - MH Michell Mitchell, Sr.; OH Tiffany Daily, Sr.; DS Brandi Gordon, Sr.
Other returners - OH Kelsey Radthe, Jr.; DS Cheryl Bean, Sr.
Key newcomers - OH Stephanie Newcomb, So.; MH Kristie Peterson, Jr.; OH Alicia Adams, Jr.; S Allison Sovey, Jr.; S Sarah Radoll, Jr.; MH Katie Henderson, So.; OP Julie Yarno, Jr.
Outlook - Mustangs almost returned to state last season, but lost to Bothell in a winner-to-state match at league tournament. The Mustangs will be small this season, but will be defensively solid. Daily was league-leader in digs last season, and Gordon is a three-sport letter winner who is a great all-around athlete.
Roosevelt Roughriders
Coach - Susan Hogben, second season.
1999 record - 1-12 in league, did not qualify for league tournament.
Returning starters - OH Brooke Rogers, Sr.; WH Ashley Young, Sr.; M Marissa Nichols, Jr.; DS Heather Hokama, Sr.
Other returners - S Morgan Chase, Jr.; OH Caitlin MacLaurin, Jr.; S/OH Laine Middaugh, Jr.
Impact newcomers - M Evie Kruse, Jr.; OH Amanda Lasnik, Jr.; M Marcy Waldman, Jr.
Outlook - Signs point to a more positive season as Rogers and Young were both honorable mention All-KingCo 4A, and last year's JV team went 9-4. The 'Riders are probably deepest of the three city teams, and they hope to replicate the KingCo 4A success their school has had in soccer and girls basketball.
Woodinville Falcons
Coach - Chris Pratt, ninth season.
1999 record - 13-0 in league, 2-0 in league tournament, 1-2 in state tournament.
Returning starters - M Gina Hutter, Sr.; OH Anna Jenkins, Sr.; OH Tina Brennan, Sr.; M Karen Griego, Sr.; RS Kathleen Monda, Sr.
Other returners - S Lisa Acomb, Sr.; DS Kim Hoffman, Sr.; OH Jenn Wokich, Jr.; OH Fallan Swafford, Sr.; DS Noelani Donlin, Sr.
Impact newcomers - OH Danielle DeKraker, Jr.; OH Whitney Hogle, So.; RS Cammie Wright, Sr.
Outlook - Falcons were 15-0 against KingCo 4A opponents last season, the first volleyball team in school history to go undefeated in the league. This season, Woodinville is the league favorite as Hutter, Jenkins and Brennan are returning first-team All-KingCo 4A players. Hutter led the league in blocks; Jenkins was No. 2 in the league in kills; Brennan was No. 4 in kills. This season the question isn't who will set those big hitters up. Ann Miller graduated, which leaves open a role that Monda, Brennan or Acomb could fill.