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KENNEWICK -- Here are the team-by-team outlooks for this weekend's girls 4A volleyball tournament at Toyota Center in Kennewick:
Favorites
Curtis Vikings
Location: University Place. Record: 20-3. Coach: Jeff Grosshans. How qualified: Won West Central District title. Last appearance: 2008 (fifth). History: 4 trips, 2 trophies. Key players: OH Emily Cotter, sr.; S Kenzi Teigen, jr.; RS Samantha Hutchinson, sr. Quick set: There were no dramatics this time to Curtis' run to a second straight WCD title. The Vikings dropped only two sets in four district wins.
Mead Panthers
Location: Spokane. Record: 28-2. Coach: Judy Kight. How qualified: Won Eastern Regional title.Last appearance: 2008 (seventh). History: 19 trips, 13 trophies. Key players: MB Alexis Olgard, sr.; S Danika Christen, jr.; OH Kuulei Zalopany, jr.; MH Kaely Kight, jr. Quick set: The Panthers saw their five-year title run ended last year in the quarterfinals by Olympia, but led by Olgard (USC commit) they have come back with a vengeance. The top-ranked team in the state (and ranked No. 74 in the nation by prepvolleyball.com) earlier won the Crossover Classic.
Contenders
Graham-Kapowsin Eagles
Location: Graham. Record: 29-4. Coach: Loni Parks. How qualified: Finished fourth at West Central Districts. History: First trip to state. Key players: OH Kayla Reno, sr.; L Shelby Woodson, sr.; MH Kaitlyn Molloy, jr. Quick set: After going undefeated in the SPSL South, the Eagles had to bounce back from a first-round district loss to Tahoma and escape a five-set marathon with Gig Harbor before sweeping Puyallup to clinch their first-ever berth.
Olympia Bears
Location: Olympia. Record: 30-3. Coach: Laurie Creighton. How qualified: Finished second to Curtis at WCDs. Last appearance: 2008 (sixth). History: 17 trips, 9 trophies. Key players: OH Lauren Herseth, jr.; L Megan Triggs, sr.; OH Lisa Chulich, sr. Quick set: Chulich was named MVP of the Narrows League as the Bears went undefeated in league play, then lost to Gig Harbor in the league tournament before going 3-1 at districts to earn a berth for the second straight season.
Richland Bombers
Location: Richland. Record: 27-4. Coach: Bob Raidl. How qualified: Finished third at Eastern Regionals. History: First trip to state. Key players: OH Chelsey Bettinson, jr.; S Krysta Olberding, sr.; L Liz Judy, sr.; MH Alex Estes, sr. Quick set: Bettinson, who recently committed to WSU, had a big regional to lead the district champion Bombers to their first-ever state berth, beating University in four sets in the clinching match.
Skyview Storm
Location: Vancouver. Record: 25-2. Coach: Cheyanne Knight. How qualified: Defeated Bothell 3-2 in GSHL-KingCo playoff. Last appearance: 2008 (third). History: 3 trips, 1 trophy. Key players: OH Devon Brown, sr. S Courtney Schaub, jr.; OH/MB Gabby Moritz, sr. Quick set: The Storm again rolled through the Greater St. Helens League before surviving against KingCo No. 3 seed Bothell in the play-in match to return for a third straight year.
Woodinville Falcons
Location: Woodinville. Record: 27-3. Coach: Mike Mills. How qualified: Defeated Heritage 3-0 in KingCo-GSHL play-in match. Last appearance: 2007. History: 14 trips, 0 trophies. Key players: S Nikki Conley, sr.; OH Melissa Gilkey, jr.; MB Danielle Towslee, jr. Quick set: Falcons have won only six of 38 matches all-time at state but look to have the team to end that run of futility this year. They swept through KingCo play unbeaten before being upset by Issaquah in district final.
Darkhorses
Issaquah Eagles
Location: Issaquah. Record: 20-8. Coach: Todd Parsons. How qualified: Won KingCo districts. Last appearance: 2008. History: 5 trips, 2 trophies. Key players: S Riley Sorenson, jr.; OH Alyssa Schultz, sr.; MB Stephanie Stoll, sr.; OH Rachel Roeder, jr. Quick set: Eagles are getting hot at the right time after finishing third in league play. They upset Bothell and Woodinville to win district title and cap five-match win streak.
Lewis & Clark Tigers
Location: Spokane. Record: 15-8. Coach: Heather Jackson. How qualified: Finished second at Eastern Regionals. Last appearance: 2008 (first). History: 15 trips, 12 trophies. Key players: MB Janele Vogt, sr.; S Malea Webb, jr.; OH Shelby Grant, sr.; RS Emily Clary, sr. Quick set: The Tigers finally won that elusive title last year, sweeping Kamiakin in the final, then graduated almost everyone of note. But LC showed at regionals it can be dangerous, knocking off Kamiakin and Richland led by Vogt's play.
Longshots
Auburn Riverside Ravens
Location: Auburn. Record: 24-7. Coach: Chris Leverenz. How qualified: Finished third at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2007 (3A). History: 7 trips, 3 trophies: Key players: MH Brooke Bray, sr.; RS/S Brooklynn Bradbury, jr.; OH Maureen Sachs, jr. Quick set: Ravens have fond memories of Toyota Center, having finished second to Hanford two years ago. They won the SPSL North title led by league MVP Bray, the only player left from the '07 team.
Edmonds-Woodway Warriors
Location: Edmonds. Record: 21-6. Coach: Mike Pittis. How qualified: Finished second at Northwest Districts. Last appearance: 2008. History: 8 trips, 1 trophy. Key players: S Leigh Fishback, sr.; MB Hannah Lauber, sr.; OH Miah Diirell, fr. Quick set: Warriors earned third straight state berth after finishing third in the WesCo South behind fellow qualifiers Jackson and Kamiak.
Jackson Timberwolves
Location: Mill Creek. Record: 22-4. Coach: Erik Champoux. How qualified: Defeated Marysville-Pilchuck 3-1 in winner-to-state match at Northwest Districts. Last appearance: 2004. History: 3 trips, 0 trophies. Key players: S Haley MacDonald, fr.; OH Leigh-Ann Haataja, jr.; MB Christy Cain, sr. Quick set: Timberwolves, who have won only one match in their previous three state trips, boast a tall front line with the 6-5 Cain and 6-2 Haataja.
Kamiak Knights
Location: Mukilteo. Record: 25-3. Coach: Natalie Bowie. How qualified: Won Northwest District title. Last appearance: 2007. History: 4 trips, 1 trophy. Key players: OH Bryce Larson, soph.; S Ally Bowles, soph. Quick set: Knights turned to youth to return to state after a one-year absence, upsetting Monroe in district semifinals before beating E-W in finals.
Kentwood Conquerors
Location: Covington. Record: 19-11. Coach: Bil Caillier. How qualified: Finished fifth at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 2008 (fourth). History: 11 trips, 9 trophies. Key players: OH Ally Patter-son, sr.; OH Erin Campbell, jr.; L Korin Hedlund, sr. Quick set: Conqs, like LC, graduated a ton from last year's fourth-place team, including a pair of college signees. They finished third in league play and won two loser-out matches at WCDs to earn sixth straight trip.
Southridge Suns
Location: Kennewick. Record: 25-6. Coach: John Lengphounpraseut. How qualified: Finished fourth at Eastern Regionals. Last appearance: 2006 (3A). History: 1 trip, 0 trophies. Key players: OH Heather Worley, sr.; MB Meagan Doyle, sr.; S Andrea Smith, jr. Quick set: The Suns won the CBBN regular-season title and their losses include three to Richland and ones to Mead and Idaho power Sandpoint.
Tahoma Bears
Location: Kent. Record: 17-16. Coach: Sally Eaer. How qualified: Finished sixth at West Central Districts. Last appearance: 1990. History: 11 trips, 3 trophies. Key players: OH Maria Bahlenhorst, sr.; MH Megan Brothers, sr.; OH/MH Morgan Murrey, jr. Quick set: Bears haven't been to the 4A state tournament since 1976 but after surviving a three-way playoff for the final district berth, they upset Graham-Kapowsin, then beat Stadium to clinch berth.
-- Records include best-of-3 and best-of-5 match results.
