Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

Girls 3A state volleyball team-by-team outlook

By Rene Ferran, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK -- Here are the team-by-team outlooks for this weekend's girls 3A volleyball tournament at Toyota Center in Kennewick:

Favorites

Mount Spokane Wildcats

Location: Spokane. Record: 27-4. Coach: John Reid. How qualified: Won Eastern Regionals title. Last appearance: 2008 (seventh). History: 2 trips, 1 trophy. Key players: OH Annie Arnzen, soph.; S Kenzie Reid, jr.; OH Ixchelle Oleson, soph.; S Mary Konis, sr. Quick set: Wildcats finished second in the Greater Spokane League to 4A power Mead and rolled to district and regional titles with young team. To win a state title, though, they'll have to survive a brutal top half of the draw.

Seattle Prep Panthers

Location: Seattle. Record: 25-3. Coach: Katie Wilson. How qualified: Won SeaKing District title. Last appearance: 2003. History: 11 trips, 6 trophies. Key players: OH/MB Gabby Bird-Vogel, jr.; S Emily Kujiper, sr.; MB Olivia Magill, soph. Quick set: Panthers won three straight titles from 2001-03 but haven't been back to state since. They've beaten Blanchet in last two meetings to win league and district titles.

Contenders

Bishop Blanchet Braves

Location: Seattle. Record: 24-5. Coach: Matt Chang. How qualified: Finished second at SeaKing Districts. Last appearance: 2008 (third). History: 19 trips, 10 trophies. Key players: S Chloe Sliger, jr.; OH Summer Nash, sr.; MB Sarah Hubbard, sr. Quick set: Braves have reached the semifinals the past two years, losing both times to the eventual champion -- Hanford in '07, Shadle Park in '08 -- after winning the 2004 and '06 crowns.

Camas Papermakers

Location: Camas. Record: 26-6. Coach: Julie Nidick. How qualified: Won West Central District title. Last appearance: 2008. History: 8 trips, 4 trophies. Key players: OH/MB Stefani Sorensen, jr.; OH Sam Youngblood, sr.; S Marleen de Zoete, jr. Quick set: The Papermakers are all grown up after sending a young group to Kennewick last year. They rallied to beat Capital in five sets in the district final and got rewarded with the softer side of the bracket.

Capital Cougars

Location: Olympia. Record: 20-8. Coach: Natalie Zukowski. How qualified: Finished second at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2003 (4A). History: 10 trips, 6 trophies. Key players: OH Kristyn Ross, jr.; S Gabi Vega, jr.; L Molly Kuntz, sr. Quick set: Led by Western Cascade Conference MVP Ross, the Cougars shared league title with Timberline before putting together district run with wins over fellow state qualifiers Columbia River and Prairie.

Prairie Falcons

Location: Battle Ground. Record: 23-7. Coach: Andrea Doerfler. How qualified: Finished third at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2005 (4A). History: 11 trips, 6 trophies. Key players: S Camryn Irwin, sr.; MB Haley Doerfler, jr. Quick set: The Falcons almost followed last year's pattern -- dominate the Greater St. Helens League, lose in league tourney final, fall flat at WCDs -- but after falling to Camas in GSHL final, they held off Lakes and Auburn Mountainview at districts to clinch their state berth.

Darkhorses

Meadowdale Mavericks

Location: Lynnwood. Record: 17-9. Coach: Machen Shrum. How qualified: Won Northwest District title. Last appearance: 2008. History: 1 trip, 0 trophies. Key players: S Megan Nelson, sr.; OH Lindsey Milner, soph.; MB Alexa Cannon, sr. Quick set: Mavericks earned second straight berth by again getting hot down the stretch and beating Everett in the district final -- this time rallying from two sets down to win.

West Valley Rams

Location: Yakima. Record: 15-11. Coach: Katie Orgill. How qualified: Finished second at Eastern Regionals. Last appearance: 2005. History: 12 trips, 10 trophies. Key players: S Julia Nathe, fr.; OH Rachel Hanses, jr.; L Lexi Filliol, sr.; MB Emily Yost, sr. Quick set: Don't let the 11 losses fool you. The Rams played in the difficult CBBN and showed their mettle by beating defending state champ Shadle Park 3-1 in the winner-to-state match at regionals.

Longshots

Auburn Mountainview Lions

Location: Auburn. Record: 32-5. Coach: Momi Bowles. How qualified: Finished sixth at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2008. History: 3 trips, 0 trophies. Key players: OH Caitlin Carr, soph.; S Melissa Arias, sr.; MB Alexi Morton, sr. Quick set: Lions survived life without all-state setter Megan McBride (now at Oregon State), surviving a district quarterfinal loss to Prairie to earn fourth straight berth.

Columbia River Chieftains

Location: Vancouver. Record: 21-8. Coach: Dino Annest. How qualified: Finished eighth at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2004. History: 23 trips, 14 trophies. Key players: OH Heide Davis, sr.; MB Katie Trimble, soph.; S Michon Hunsacker, sr.; S Danae Brown, sr. Quick set: Chieftains got past '08 state qualifier Union in the league playoffs, then rallied to beat Enumclaw in winner-to-state match at districts.

Everett Seagulls

Location: Everett. Record: 13-11. Coach: Jackie Carel. How qualified: Finished second at Northwest Districts. Last appearance: 2006. History: 5 trips, 1 trophy. Key players: S Mackenzie Banta, jr.; OH Emily Liger, jr.; MB Molly Burton, sr. Quick set: Seagulls had better luck rebounding from district finals loss this year, sweeping Ferndale to claim their spot in the state field.

Holy Names Cougars

Location: Seattle. Record: 23-11. Coach: Brian Richards. How qualified: Finished fourth at Sea-King Districts. Last appearance: 2008. History: 8 trips, 1 trophy. Key players: OH Kelly Nielsen, sr.; OH Annemarie Falaniko, sr.; S Rachel Cline, sr. Quick set: Cougars finished 3-7 in Metro League play but found their stride at districts, upsetting KingCo tourney champion Mercer Island and last year's state runner-up Eastside Catholic to qualify for third straight year.

Lakes Lancers

Location: Lakewood. Record: 21-10. Coach: Patti Hoeks. How qualified: Finished fourth at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2008 (sixth). History: 3 trips, 1 trophy. Key players: S Deedra Foss, sr.; RS Tusa Kuaea, sr.; L Tori Foss, sr. Quick set: Led by Colorado State-bound Deedra Foss, the Lancers are back for a second straight year after a 31-year state drought, escaping a five-setter against Bonney Lake in the winner-to state match.

Mount Si Wildcats

Location: Snoqualmie. Record: 23-7. Coach: Bonnie Foote. How qualified: Finished third at Sea-King Districts. Last appearance: 2008. History: 10 trips, 3 trophies. Key players: S Robyn Schrimer, sr.; OH Zoe Gogan, jr.; OH Shelagh Macaulay, sr. Quick set: Wildcats went unbeaten in KingCo play, then avenged their loss to Mercer Island in the league tourney final when it mattered most -- in the winner-to-state district match.

Peninsula Seahawks

Location: Gig Harbor. Record: 17-11. Coach: Ann Lovrovich. How qualified: Finished fifth at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2004. History: 8 trips, 0 trophies. Key players: OH Kayla Erickson, sr.; MB Olivia Gallucci, sr.; L Jordan Stewart, sr. Quick set: Seahawks were the last team out of the SPSL but shocked league champ White River in the opening round of districts, then beat Bonney Lake to punch their ticket to state.

Timberline Blazers

Location: Lacey. Record: 21-11. Coach: Krista Manke. How qualified: Finished seventh at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2007. History: 2 trips, 0 trophies. Key players: S Gatalina Schuster, jr.; OH Alyssa Kellar, jr.; OH Taryn Smith, sr. Quick set: Not only has Timberline only made two state trips, but it has yet to win a match in seven tries. The Blazers earned their latest shot by upsetting Seamount champion Kennedy in the winner-to-state match at districts.

-- Records include best-of-3 and best-of-5 match results.