TEAM CAPSULES
Evergreeen Wolverines
Coach - Burt Pride, sixth year (didn't coach the past four seasons).
1999 record - 5-9 (sixth in Seamount), 6-10 overall.
Returning players - DS Nasim Ghorbani, 5-3, Sr.; S Sahar Ghorbani, 5-5, Jr.; MH Sara Pitzel, 5-9, Sr.; MH Kristen Eken, 5-9, Sr.; DS Erin Hunter, 5-4, Sr.; OH Jaime McWade, 5-4, Sr.; MB Genevieve Gibson, 5-9, Sr.
Key newcomers - MH Tyra Cleaver, 5-7, So.; S Ruby Silva 5-5, Jr. (transfer); MH Samantha Goscinski, 5-6, So.
Outlook - Pride returns as coach after four years away from program. He has a 56-30 record in five seasons. He is pleased with attitude and hustle of his team, especially on defense. It will be tough for Wolverines to finish in top half of league with limited size and lack of put-away hitters.
Hazen Highlanders
Coach - Marv Yost, 17th year.
1999 record - 6-8 (fifth), 7-8 overall, fifth in Seamount tournament, 0-3 at Sea-King District tournament.
Returning player - MB Alyssa Cook, 5-7, Sr.
Key newcomers - OH Kate Chambers, 5-7, Sr.; S Aubrey Jorren, 5-4, Sr.; S Sarah Oberender, 5-8, Jr.; OH Rachael Mickelsen, 5-6, Jr.; OH Macaul Martin, 5-6, So.; MB Janell Gong, 5-8, Jr.; DS Stefanie Blackburn, 5-0, Sr.; MB Stephanie Russian, 5-7, Jr.; DS Krista Hancock, 5-3, Jr.
Outlook - With loss of all six starters and nine seniors from last year's middle-of-the pack team, Highlanders will be challenged to regroup quickly and come together as a team at varsity level. Many of the girls have played together on the JV team the past two seasons. Hazen lost Jill Cronauer, an all-Seamount first-team player, and second-teamer Lisa Crater to graduation.
Highline Pirates
Coach - Mike Todd, sixth year.
1999 record - 12-2 (second), 1-2 in pool play at Sea-King District.
Returning players - MH Lacey Walter, 5-10, Sr.; S Amanda Mason, 5-4, Sr.; OH Margaret Hagen, 5-8, Sr.
Key newcomers - S Roxanne Senirajjangkul, 5-2, Sr; MH/OH Molly Hornbuckle, 5-10, So.; MH Siri Wuotila, 5-10, Fr.; DS Stephanie Chacharon, 5-5, Jr.; DS Lisa Bedell, 5-3, Jr.; OH Erica Nomura, 5-7, Jr.
Outlook - With Lacey Walter, a second-team all-Seamount player, and Amanada Mason, an honorable-mention setter, returning, Pirates have two key ingredients for a successful season. Mix in some inexperienced players with those standouts, and there's some doubt about Highline knocking Kennedy and Mount Rainier out of the top two spots.
Kennedy Lancers
Coach - Tom Muckerheide, 16th year.
1999 record - 14-0 (first), won Seamount tournament, 25-10 overall, seventh with 2-3 record at Sea-King District.
Returning players - OH Jackie Codiga, 5-11, Sr.; OH Beth Griffin, 6-0, Sr.; S/OH Renee Moran, 5-7, Sr.; MB Andrea Marcek, 5-8, Sr.; OH Corrina Lewis, 5-7, Sr.; MB Michelle Aurelio, 6-0, Jr.; S Nikki Porter, 5-7, Jr.; OH Christina Hengtgen, 5-9, Jr.
Key newcomers - MB Jennifer Patnode, 5-11, So.; OH Jordan Eckman, 5-8, So.
Outlook - As usual, Kennedy is the team to beat with only inexperience at setter as a possible obstacle. Injuries hurt Lancers at district last season, with Seamount MVP Jackie Codiga going out with an injured left ankle during league tournament. Muckerheide runs one of the state's top programs, with a 362-96 record in 15 years and a 141-4 mark against Seamount teams in the past 11 seasons.
Lindbergh Eagles
Coach - Rafael Munoz, 10th year.
1999 record - 8-6 (fourth), third in Seamount tournament, 10-6 overall, 1-2 in pool play at Sea-King District.
Returning players - S Angie Jensen, 5-9, Jr.; MB Melissa Rutherford, 5-9, Jr.; OH Shannon Johnson, 5-7, Sr.; OH Rhemy Delfin, 5-8, So.
Key newcomers - S Tam Dau, 5-3, So.; MB Stephanie Morris, 5-9, So.
Outlook - With four starters back, Eagles can maintain their position near top of standings. "I expect us to stay in the top four, like last year," Munoz said. "We've got some good natural athletes and some talent. And we have some speed, so our defense is going to be our key. It's going to take a collective effort for us to do well."
Mount Rainier Rams
Coach - Julie Melver, second year.
1999 record - 10-4 (third), second at Seamount tournament, 17-9 overall, qualified for Sea-King District.
Returning players - OH/OP Jennica Lind, 5-10, Sr.; OH Mischa Boyer, 5-4, Sr.; OH/OP Juli Rinehart, 5-4, Sr.; MB/OP Sara Monahan, 5-7, Jr.; S Emily Melver, 5-10, So.; OH Jamie Anderson, 6-0, So.; MB Emily Hawkins, 5-10, Sr.; MB Ashley Varnell, 5-10, Jr.; OH Annie Peritore, 5-7, Jr.; MB Lindsay Viall, 6-0, Jr.; MB Samantha Pete, 5-11, So.
Key newcomers Outlook - In Emily Melver, daughter of the head coach, Rams likely have the Seamount's best setter, and that will go a long way toward challenging for a top-three finish. With Anderson, Lind and Boyer hitting, Mount Rainier could attain another high finish. Replacing defense in the middle is a big key to challenging perennial power Kennedy for first place.
Renton Indians
Coach - Bob Stewart, fourth year.
1999 record - 1-13 (eighth; lost tiebreaker for seventh to Tyee), 2-20 overall.
Returning players - S Amanda Blanchard, 5-9, Sr.; S Lauren Burns, 5-5, Sr.; OH Kaethie Saephanh, 5-4, So.; MB Regina Rios, 5-5, Jr.; MB Cheryl Dickerson, 5-9, Sr.; OH Bernadette Macalino, 5-4, Jr.
Key newcomers - OH/S Antoinette Williams, 5-7, So.; OH Thao Pham, 5-2, Jr.
Outlook - Indians have two league victories in past 11 years, so winning more than one match would be a step forward. "Our hope is to be a competitive team," Stewart said. "Last year, we had some sparks. We almost beat Hazen in five games, we took Lindbergh to four games and we actually took a game off of Mount Rainier. The girls just didn't know how to win yet, and this is pretty much the same group as last year."
Tyee Totems
Coach - Marty Rothlisberger, second year.
1999 record - 2-13 (seventh), 2-15 overall, eliminated at Seamount tournament.
Returning players - OH Lisa Eidson, 5-7, Jr.; S JC Hedberg, 5-2, Jr.; OH Andrea Rallos, 5-5, Sr; MB Jenessa Pettit, 5-8, So.
Key newcomers - MH Lia Hopfner, 6-0, Fr.; OH Marcie Hoskyn, 5-7, So.; S Randi Robertson, 5-5, So.; S Tracie Strelow, 5-6, So.
Outlook - "We are a much better team than in '99, but we lack varsity playing experience," Rothlisberger said. "I strongly believe we will be the most-improved team in the league, start to finish. This team played together all summer long." The addition of some height in Hopfner will help on defense. Hedberg, an all-Seamount honorable-mention pick, is a steadying influence.
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Seamount League
volleyball forecast
Projected order of finish based on coaches poll, with 10 points for first-place vote, 9 for second, etc. First-place votes in parentheses. Coaches could not vote for their own team.
Pts
1. Kennedy (6) 69
2. Mount Rainier (2) 65
3. Highline 54
4. Lindbergh 52
5. Hazen 48
6. Evergreen 42
7. Tyee 32
8. Renton 30