KingCo 4A volleyball preview

Sep 20, 2002

By Matt Peterson

Seattle Times staff reporter

Ballard Beavers

Coach: Tami Reese (6th year)

2001 record: 10-10 overall

Returning starters: OH Angie Bohrer, 5-6, Sr.; MB Lizzy Ford, 5-11, Sr.; S Alanna McDonald, 5-8, Jr.; MB Kirstein Moldstred, 5-6, Jr.; S Jennifer Watson, 5-9, Sr.

Other key returners: OH Brittney Claus, 5-4, Jr.; DS Haley McClure, 5-3, Sr.

Impact newcomers: OH Nikki Desart, 5-7, Sr.; DS Fiorella Diaz, 5-3, Sr.; MB Natasha Palewicz, 5-5, Jr.; DS Kristina Schmidt, 5-3, So.; DS Katrina Sigurdson, 5-5, Sr.

Outlook: Ballard makes jump from 3A Metro League. Biggest offensive threat, Ford, has missed time with sprained ankle. Reese said team's strengths are serving, setting. Concerns include lack of height, inexperience in middle.

Bothell Cougars

Coach: Russ Kerwin (13th year)

2001 record: 13-0 conference

Returning starters: S Kalisa Beyer, 5-7, Sr.; OH Katie Ehrmantraut, 5-10, Sr.; OH Jessica Holloway, 5-9, Sr.; DS Mel Querimit, 5-3, Sr.

Other key returners: MB Kim Behrends, 5-8, Sr.; MB Lauren Wainhouse, 5-10, Jr.; OH Julie Zubovic, 5-8, Jr.

Outlook: Cougars, picked in preseason poll of KingCo 4A coaches to finish a close second to Inglemoor, return experienced and talented quartet of Beyer, Ehrmantraut, Holloway and Querimit. Holloway and Querimit were all-KingCo 4A first-teamers. Kerwin calls Ehrmantraut and Holloway "two of the best I've ever had" at outside hitter. Passing and defense appear to be strong points.

Eastlake Wolves

Coach: Carol Hinrichs (8th year)

2001 record: 8-5 conference

Returning starters: MH Jenny Dickens, 6-1, Sr.; OH Stephanie Ortolf, 5-9, Sr.; MH Kelsey Sikma, 5-9, Sr.; S Rian Robison, 5-3, Sr.

Impact newcomers: OH Katie Bostwick, 5-8, Sr.; OH Hannah Montgomery, 6-0, Sr.; MH Emily Poblete, 5-10, Sr.

Outlook: Wolves return four starters, including three — Ortolf, Sikma and Robison — who have played together since seventh grade. Ortolf was second-team all-KingCo 4A pick. Sikma, niece of former Sonics star Jack Sikma, earned honorable mention.

Franklin Quakers

Coach: Jonathan Dela Cruz (1st year)

2001 record: 3-10 conference

Returning starters: None.

Other key returners: OH Chelsea Luke, 5-6, Jr.; OH Claire McWilliams, 5-4, Jr.; OH Emily Tialavea, 5-8, Sr.

Impact newcomers: S April Alexander, 5-4, So.; DS Abigail Capati, 5-2, Fr.

Outlook: Dela Cruz, who played high-school volleyball in Hawaii, inherits a team that returns no starters. Quakers' strong points appear to be passing, defense and team chemistry. Franklin is not tall, and offense is primary concern.

Garfield Bulldogs

Coach: Leslie Hamann (3rd year)

2001 record: 2-11 conference

Returning starters: MB Lillie Cohn, 5-11, So.; OH Kathleen Compton, 5-9, Jr.; S Lauren Hudson, 5-3, Jr.; MB Laura Washington, 5-11, Sr.

Other key returners: DS Dana Kamara, 5-5, Jr.; OH Zoe Marks, 5-10, Sr.; OH Alix Toothman, 6-0, Jr.

Impact newcomers: DS Amanda Jamieson, 5-2, So.; S Catherine Juson, 5-5, So.

Outlook: Young Bulldogs start three sophs and only one senior — Washington, a second-team all-KingCo 4A pick. Garfield has outstanding team Web site: www.garfieldvolleyball.com.

Inglemoor Vikings

Coach: Sarah Chase (2nd year)

2001 record: 12-1 conference

Returning starters: S Sarah Allen, 5-8, Sr.; MB Liandren Buck, 5-9, Sr.; MB Zoe Downing, 5-8, Sr.; OH Kendal Formo, 5-10, Sr.; OH Carin Trygg, 5-8, Sr.

Other key returners: OH Alauna Taylor, 5-8, Sr.; S Hailey Wright, 5-6, Sr.

Impact newcomers: OH Marisa Guerriero, 5-6, So.; OH Carly Lovitt, 5-8, Jr.; MB Jane Metcalf, 6-0, Sr.; OH Kristine Metcalf, 6-0, Sr.; OH/DS Morgan Waller, 5-6, So.

Outlook: Vikings, in preseason coaches' poll, were picked to narrowly edge Bothell for conference title. They return five starters, including all-KingCo 4A first-teamers in Allen, Buck and Trygg. Latter two are among conference's most powerful hitters. Chase said her team's offense should be a strength.

Juanita Rebels

Coach: Teena Bambolo (1st year)

2001 record: 5-8 conference

Returning starters: OH Lindsay Flowers, 5-10, Sr.; MB Mallory Redner, 6-0, Sr.

Other key returners: None.

Impact newcomers: RS Jackie Dickens, 5-7, Jr.; S Amanda Kennedy, 5-6, Sr.; OH Blair Stoppleman, 5-8, Jr.

Outlook: Juanita returns only two players, but both are team leaders and Flowers is one of conference's best players. Bambolo, who played collegiately at North Idaho and Montana Tech, said she is spending a lot of time teaching fundamentals and likes how hard her players have worked.

Lake Washington Kangaroos

Coach: Melissa Chadwick (1st year)

2001 record: 3-10 conference

Returning starters: OH Sara Dennehy, 5-9, Jr.; MB Paris Malin, 5-11, Jr.; OH/RS Caitlin McInnis, 5-9, Jr.; MB Katie Shelby, 5-11, Sr.; S Haley Woods, 5-8, Sr.

Other key returners: RS/DS Ashley Dorr, 5-8, Sr.; OH Margaux LeSourd, 5-10, Sr.

Impact newcomers: OH Colby Hammond, 5-7, Jr.; S Kylee Mackey, 5-5, Jr.; RS Lindsay VanNostrand, 6-0, Sr.

Outlook: Chadwick has Kangs working hard. Improvement, she said, should be seen in defense and confidence of hitters. Offseason goal is to increase number of club players on team.

Redmond Mustangs

Coach: Ross Johnson (4th year)

2001 record: 9-4 conference

Returning starters: MB Kristina Krause, 6-0, Sr.; OH Mary Martineau, 5-9, Jr.; OH Stephanie Newcomb, 5-8, Sr.

Other key returners: OH Allison Black, 5-8, Sr.; OH/S Alysse Cole, 5-8, Sr.; DS Kristin Defazio, 5-6, Sr.; DS Alexis Downey, 5-8, Sr.; MB Ashley Olson, 5-8, Sr.; S Jill Oury, 5-6, Sr.

Impact newcomers: OH Megan Halverson, 5-8, Jr.; MB Amy McMahon, 5-8, Jr.; S Chelsea Presto, 5-7, So.; MB Jamie Vallee, 5-8, Jr.

Outlook: Mustangs return eight seniors and wealth of experience. Most players have been together since sophomore seasons and virtually all played club volleyball this year. Defense should be strong point. Lack of height is a concern.

Roosevelt Roughriders

Coach: Susan Hogben (4th year)

2001 record: 6-7 conference

Returning starters: None.

Key returners: OH Sydney Klingenbeck, 5-6, Sr.; MB Tracy Waldman, 5-9, Jr.

Impact newcomers: OH/S Nicole Forbes, 5-7, Sr.; OH/MB Megan Frodge, 5-7, Jr.; S Ana Hays, 5-5, So.; MB Eleanor Howe, 5-8, Jr.; OH/S Corina Nolet, 5-6, Sr.

Outlook: Roosevelt does not return a regular, though Klingenbeck and Waldman started occasionally. Both, along with Nolet, are returning from offseason knee surgeries that prevented them from playing on their club teams.

Woodinville Falcons

Coach: Christopher Pratt (6th year)

2001 record: 4-9 conference

Returning starters: OH Whitney Hogle, 5-8, Sr.; DS Stephanie Swenstad, 5-4, Sr.

Other key returners: S/OH Brea Collier, 5-6, Sr.; OH Brie Neilson, 5-6, Sr.; MB Emily Palm, 5-9, Sr.

Impact newcomers: S Lauren Devich, 5-7, Jr.; MB Kirsten Fass, 5-11, So.; S Colleen McKinney, 5-6, Jr.; MB/RS Hillary Willis, 5-9, So.; OH Kieran Worrell, 5-7, Jr.

Outlook: Falcons return only one full-time starter — Hogle — and need strong performances from sophs and juniors. Pratt said he likes team's work ethic, chemistry.