Prep volleyball league outlooks
(Position key: S — setter. H — hitter. OH — outside hitter. RSH — right-side hitter. MH — middle hitter. O — opposite. L — libero. DS — defensive specialist. MB — middle blocker.)
KingCo 4A
Favorites: Bothell, Redmond, Inglemoor
Contenders: Garfield, Eastlake, Ballard
Players to watch: S Alanna McDonald, sr., Ballard; OH Ali Simmons, sr., Bothell; MB Lauren Wainhouse, sr., Bothell; S Cathrin Juson, jr., Garfield; MB Lillie Cohn, jr., Garfield; MB Paris Malim, sr., Lake Washington; OH Mary Martineau, sr., Redmond; MB Kirsten Fass, jr., Woodinville.
Outlook: Bothell has not lost a league match the past two years, but needs to replace eight seniors. ... Inglemoor looks to unseat Bothell; the only league losses the Vikings suffered last season were to the Cougars. ... Garfield, which reached the league semifinals last year, returns most of its team, but league MVP Laura Washington graduated. ... Franklin, Roosevelt and Eastlake have new coaches. ... Martineau is the only returning first-team all-leaguer.
— Eric Mitchell
WesCo South
Favorites: Edmonds-Woodway, Shorecrest
Contenders: Everett, Jackson, Kamiak, Lynnwood, Shorewood
Players to watch: H Tiana Roma, sr., Edmonds-Woodway; H Morgan Harter, sr., E-W; S Charlene Toma, jr., E-W; DS Lindsay Kline, sr., E-W; S Nicole Barhanovich, jr., Everett; H Thu Ninh, sr., Jackson; H Emilee Eisinger, sr., Jackson; H Abby Lee, sr., Kamiak; H Molly Hunsinger, sr., Lynnwood; DS Julie Nguyen, jr., Lynnwood; S Lauren Herold, jr., Shorecrest; DS Emily Gould, jr., Shorecrest; DS Shannon Sullivan, sr., Shorecrest; H Becky Scherer, jr., Shorecrest.
Outlook: Shorecrest went undefeated in league last season and could do so again with a host of all-league players returning. ... Edmonds-Woodway is led by Roma, who won the Class 4A state high-jump title. ... Mariner got its first home win in eight years last year and its first three-win season in 10 years. ... Lynnwood, Kamiak and Shorewood tied for second in league last year and return solid teams. Lynnwood's Hunsinger is one of the top athletes in the division.
— Greg Bishop
WesCo North
Favorite: Marysville-Pilchuck
Contenders: Monroe, Mount Vernon, Snohomish, Stanwood
Players to watch: S Whitney Williams, sr., Arlington; MB Kristin McKeown, sr., Arlington; H Brittany Bekins, sr., Cascade; H Micaela Parker, sr., Marysville-Pilchuck; S Korissa Clevish, sr., M-P; DS Natanya Parsons, sr., M-P; H Nikole Thompson, sr., M-P; MB Morgan Lamora, sr., M-P; H Brittney Ascherl, sr., Monroe; S Brittany Rose, sr., Monroe; H Laura Peterson, sr., Mount Vernon; H Lauren Vermulm, sr., Mount Vernon; H Heidi McNeill, jr., Oak Harbor; H Courtney Schneider, sr., Snohomish; H Katelin Parks, sr., Stanwood; H Kim Donahue, sr., Stanwood.
Outlook: Marysville-Pilchuck went further at state last year than any other WesCo team and returns nearly all of its starters. ... Stanwood is defending league champ, but graduated several players. ... Coaches say Lake Stevens could be a surprise and that Monroe, on the upswing, could challenge for a spot at state. ... Arlington's McKeown is returning from an ankle injury that limited her to seven games last year.
— Greg Bishop
SPSL North
Favorites: Auburn Riverside, Kentwood, Kentlake
Contenders: Auburn, Kentridge, Enumclaw
Players to watch: MH Chanele Larsen, sr., Auburn Riverside; S Camille Timm, sr., Auburn Riverside; OH Kristina Malesis, jr., Auburn Riverside; MH Rachel Schillinger, sr., Kentridge; OH Johanna Bailey, sr., Kentridge; OH Jennifer Nack, jr., Kentridge; OH Bailey Wrenn, jr., Kentridge; OH Emily Veenker, sr., Auburn; OH Ashley Mohoric, sr., Auburn; OH Becky Williams, sr., Tahoma; MH Jessie Christensen, sr., Enumclaw; MH/MB Rachel Biornstad, sr., Kentlake; OH Cami Price, sr., Kentlake; MH Ashley Cann, sr., Kent-Meridian.
Outlook: Most coaches believe five of the nine teams could win the wide-open North. Kentlake goes for its fourth consecutive 4A state title with just two returning starters and a first-year coach, Jen Owen, a Falcons assistant last season. The Falcons appear vulnerable for the first time since Drew Terry started the program when the school opened in 1997. Terry resigned after six seasons to become assistant principal at Issaquah's Maywood Middle School. ... Kentridge seeks to return to its glory days under Doug Jansen, who returns after a year away. Jansen was head coach from 1990 to 2001. Kentridge won state in 1989 and was second in 1990.
— Matt Massey
SPSL South
Favorites: Spanaway Lake, Emerald Ridge, Bethel
Contenders: Puyallup, Decatur, Rogers
Players to watch: S Savannah Reid, sr., Bethel; OH Haley Bury, jr., Bethel; OH Brandi Specht, sr., Sumner; L Jessica Burkart, sr., Rogers; S Jenna Elliott, sr., Rogers; OH Jacky Thomas, jr., Spanaway Lake; MH Jalen Pendon, jr., Spanaway Lake; OH Carling Misley, sr., Spanaway Lake; MH Christal Morrison, sr., Puyallup; S Megan Kosel, sr., Emerald Ridge; OH Kylie Marshall, so., Emerald Ridge; OH Anna Bosa, jr., Emerald Ridge; S Tara Halvorsen, sr., Jefferson; OH/DS/L Uyen Tran, jr., Jefferson; L Emily Seckins, so., Jefferson; MH Jennifer Mooth, sr., Decatur; OH Allison Iwasaki, jr., Decatur; MB Owena Kauhane, sr., Curtis; RSH Alicia Novak, jr., Federal Way.
Outlook: The biggest threat to knock Puyallup from the top of the South is Spanaway Lake, which returns all six starters. Pendon and Misley are top players for the Sentinels, who last year qualified for state for the first time in 16 years. ... Puyallup, last year's state runner-up, retains four starters, but lost Stephanie Olsen, an All-SPSL South setter who transferred back to South Kitsap. The Vikings could also be without Morrison, who could be lost for the season to a knee injury. ... Emerald Ridge, under new coach Tanya Campbell, sports a lot a young talent. Marshall is a member of the U.S. Olympic Junior National Team.
— Matt Massey
KingCo 3A
Favorites: Skyline, Mercer Island
Contenders: Mount Si, Issaquah, Cedarcrest, Newport
Players to watch: OH Nauzley Abedini, sr., Skyline; OH/DS Ginny Steinbach, sr., Mercer Island; S Maggie Olson, sr., Mount Si; OH Shannon Stewart, sr., Newport; S/MH Kristine Grigsby, jr., Skyline; OH Emmalyn Kirshenman, jr., Skyline; O Sarah Primrose, jr., Issaquah; S Hillary LeFever, sr., Liberty; S Stephanie Hern, sr., Cedarcrest; OH Betsy Westermann, jr., Cedarcrest; MB Marissa Hill, jr., Mount Si; OH Allie Lyons, jr., Bellevue.
Outlook: With six returning starters, Skyline is considered the favorite in what should be a tough league. Several teams will challenge the Spartans, including Mercer Island and Mount Si, which returns five starters. Newport returns only two starters from a team that won KingCo and finished fifth in state, but should contend.
— John Boyle
Metro Mountain Division
Favorites: Seattle Prep, Bishop Blanchet
Contenders: Bainbridge, Holy Names, Eastside Catholic
Players to watch: MH Cristina Payne, sr., Seattle Prep; S Katrina Perez, sr., Seattle Prep; OH Laura Nuyen, sr., Seattle Prep; MH Ché Oh, sr., Seattle Prep; OH Krista Lersch, sr., Bishop Blanchet; L Tiffany Wen, sr., Bishop Blanchet; OH Stephanie Augustavo, jr., Bishop Blanchet; S Tori Ross, jr., Bishop Blanchet; OH Michelle Miller, jr., Bainbridge; OH Sabrina Tan, so., Bainbridge; MH Hannah Stuart, fr., Bainbridge; OH Kaitlyn Carl, sr., Holy Names; RSH Jenny Sager, sr., Holy Names; DS/L Lauren Hanson, jr., Holy Names; OH Jackie White, sr., Eastside Catholic; OH Rachel Woodman, jr., E. Catholic; S Rachel Chambers, sr., E. Catholic.
Outlook: With five of six starters back, Seattle Prep is the Mountain favorite and solid pick to win its third consecutive state title. ... Bishop Blanchet, last year's Metro and Sea-King District runner-up, has the best chance to dethrone the Panthers. The Braves, fifth at state, have four returning starters. Augustavo will miss four weeks or more with a stress fracture in her left leg.
— Matt Massey
Metro Sound Division
Favorites: West Seattle, Nathan Hale
Contenders: Chief Sealth, Rainier Beach
Players to watch: S Erica Wille, sr., Nathan Hale; S/MH Sherry Robinson, jr., Nathan Hale; OH/DS Michelle Foster, sr., Nathan Hale; MH Katie Hoseit, jr., Nathan Hale; MH Whitney Rance, sr., West Seattle; MB Nicole Williams, sr., West Seattle; OH Kateri Joe, sr., West Seattle; S Katie Strong, sr., West Seattle; OH Kristen McAvoy, sr., West Seattle; OH/MB Feronita Moe, sr., Chief Sealth; S Erlinda Sagote, jr., Chief Sealth; OH Daisy Whitley, sr., Chief Sealth; DS Shante Alefaio, sr., Chief Sealth; S Savali Taamu, so., Rainier Beach; OH Siuila Flores, so., Rainier Beach; OH Christina Young, sr., Rainier Beach.
Outlook: The Sound race should come down to the two teams — West Seattle and Nathan Hale — which tied for first at 9-1 last season. West Seattle retains five of six starters. Hale gets back four of six starters. Rance gives West Seattle one of the top MHs in the division.
— Matt Massey
Seamount King Division
Favorites: Mount Rainier, Kennedy
Contenders: Highline, Hazen
Players to watch: MB Moana Sau, sr., Mount Rainier; L Lindsay Stickles, jr., Mount Rainier; S Courtney Clark, sr., Kennedy; MB Ellen Soltenbeck, sr., Kennedy; OH Siri Wuotilla, sr., Highline; S Hayley Benjamin, jr., Highline; MB Desta Livingston, sr., Highline; MB Megan Daley, sr., Hazen; L Brittany Hibbits, sr., Lindbergh; MB Elizabeth Harris, sr., Lindbergh; S Brandi Fawcett, sr., Evergreen; MB Erica Rance, sr., Renton; MB Lia Hopfner, sr., Tyee, Sr.
Outlook: Megan Melver takes over as coach at Mount Rainier, where her mother Julie coached the previous five seasons, and her younger sister, Emily, was a starter at setter. Megan was an assistant last season. ... MH Carly Koebel, a 6-4 junior, chose to not turn out at Kennedy.
— George Edgar
Seamount Pierce Division
Favorites: Fife, White River
Contenders: Washington, Peninsula
Players to watch: S Colese Dornan, sr., Fife; OH Shealun Campisi, so., White River; MB Sarah Bendorf, jr., White River; MB Jamie Anderson, sr., White River; OH Michelle Weydert, sr., Washington; OH Lilly Stevens, sr., Washington; OH Megan Williams, sr., Washington; MB Jane Thompson, sr., Peninsula; S Ali Gibson, jr., Peninsula; MB Janet Bautista, sr., Franklin Pierce; L Astric Price, sr., Clover Park; MB Tisha Wells, sr., Clover Park; MB Natasha Lewis, sr., Lakes; S Brittany Becker, sr., Lakes.
Outlook: Washington beat Fife twice last season for the first time in Pierce Division play. ... Weydert was division co-MVP. ... Silaphau played on Clover Park's state-tournament basketball team. ... Lakes' Becker is also a top lacrosse player being recruited by Division I schools.
— George Edgar