2011 Volleyball Team Capsules

NORTHWEST LEAGUE

ARBOR VIEW
Coach: Tina Studards, fourth season
2010 record: 19-12 (10-6 Northwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: OH Amber Graham (Sr.), MH Erika Kelly (Sr.), OH Falon Miller (Sr.)
Outlook: The Aggies qualified for the postseason last year and welcome back five starters from that squad.
The Northwest should again be an ultra-competitive league this season, but Arbor View should be in the hunt.
“We have a strong, experienced team this season,” Studards said. “We look to make a deep postseason run this year.”

CENTENNIAL
Coach: Shannon Alia, sixth season
2010 record: 29-8 (16-0 Northwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Nine (five)
Top players: OH Kassidy Welte (Sr.), OH/S Lacy Miyahira (Sr.), OPP/MB Alex Johnson (Sr.), LIB Ashley Hill (Sr.)
Outlook: It would be impossible for the Bulldogs to improve on last year’s perfect mark on league play.
With five starters back, there also shouldn’t be much, if any, regression.
Defense is one of the team’s many strong suits, with Hill (390 digs), Miyahira (195 digs) and Welte (178 digs) all back. That trio also combined for 123 aces last year.

FAITH LUTHERAN
Coach: Amy Fisher, sixth season
2010 record: 23-11 (14-2 Northwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): 12 (five)
Top players: S Kelsey McCourt (Sr.), MH Taylor Hammer (Jr.), OH Taylor Richards (Jr.)
Outlook: It didn’t take long for Faith Lutheran to earn respect at the Class 4A level.
The Crusaders have quickly become one of the better programs in the area, and with five starters returning from a team that finished second to Centennial in the Northwest League, Faith Lutheran should be a contender again this year.
“The team expects to challenge for the Northwest league title and return to the regionals,” Fisher said.

PALO VERDE
Coach: Greg Siqueiros, fourth season
2010 record: 13-21 (7-9 Northwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Seven (one)
Top players: S Stephanie Herman (So.)
Outlook: Herman returns after a season in which she registered 331 assists, 135 digs and 70 aces, but the Panthers are otherwise young and inexperienced.
“Stephanie Herman will run the court for us,” Siqueiros said. “We are a young team, starting two freshmen and two sophomores. Our goal is to make it back to the postseason.”

SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Karissa Guthrie, eighth season
2010 record: 17-16 (11-5 Northwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Six (two)
Top players: OH Destinee Beavers (Sr.), MB Niehely Sosa (Jr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs experienced a successful season last year, finishing third in the Northwest.
But only two starters return.
Beavers had 159 kills, 113 digs and 33 aces last year, and Sosa added 181 kills and 66 blocks.
“With a lot of youth in our program, we are excited to see the development of these youngsters throughout the year,” Guthrie said. “These girls have a mentality of competitors.”

SOUTHWEST LEAGUE

BISHOP GORMAN
Coach: Ed Van Meetren, 13th season
2010 record: 31-9 (16-0 Southwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Eight (four)
Top players: MB Shelby Devlin (Sr.), S Kylee Chun (Sr.), OH Gianna Ruggeroli (So.), LIB Breanna Rubalcaba (Sr.), MB Anna Dondero (Jr.), OH Rachel Wallace (Sr.)
Outlook: The Gaels bring back four starters from a team that ran the table in the Southwest League and advanced to the state semifinals last season.
Chun likely will be the team’s floor general after racking up 623 assists, 96 aces and 78 kills last year.
Ruggeroli had 144 kills, and Devlin added 131 kills and 97 blocks for Gorman, which got 328 digs and 61 aces from Rubalcaba.
“We look to be one of the top teams in our league,” Van Meetren said. “We believe we will make state for the third year in a row and compete for the state title.”

BONANZA
Coach: Jared Wilkinson, fourth season
2010 record: 15-10 (12-4 Southwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: OH Bree Hammel (Sr.), OH Jessica Wilcox (Sr.), S Lauren Karn (Sr.), MB Rykki Rudd (Jr.)
Outlook: With five starters back from a team that finished third in the Southwest League, the Bengals appear to be primed for a big season.
Hammel, a two-time first-team all-league selection leads a strong front row. Hammel racked up 273 kills, 58 aces, 249 digs and 24 blocks last year.
Wilcox chipped in 198 kills, 54 aces and 224 digs, and Rudd contributed 125 kills.
Karn returns after distributing 516 assists and registering 139 digs last year.
“We are bigger and stronger at every position this year,” Wilkinson said. “We should match up well with any team in the state.”

DESERT OASIS
Coach: Ross Dyer, fourth season
2010 record: 17-15 (5-11 Southwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Eight (five)
Top players: S Kindra Stanfield (Sr.), OPP Tianna Jefferson (Jr.), OH Emily Heinz (Sr.)
Outlook: The Diamonbacks bring back five starters from a squad that placed sixth in the Southwest League last season.
“We should make the playoffs,” Dyer said. “We have some new players who will have a positive impact.”

DURANGO
Coach: Scott Zeidler, third season
2010 record: 9-23 (8-8 Southwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Seven (three)
Top players: S Sarah Tullis (Sr.), LIB Mariah Fuentes (Sr.), MB Feven Solomon (Sr.), OPP Mindy Larson (Sr.), OH Alex Cullors (Sr.), OPP London Estrada (Sr.), MB Hailee Wilson (Jr.), MB Cheyanne Haas (So.), DS Gina Cervone (Jr.)
Outlook: Seven letter winners return for the Trailblazers, who could be in position to snap a two-year postseason drought.
“Our goal is to be competitive in Southwest League and make it into the Sunset Region playoffs,” Zeidler said.

SIERRA VISTA
Coach: Camille McComas, 11th season
2010 record: 23-4 (14-2 Southwest)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Seven (two)
Top players: OH Taylor Price (Sr.), MB McCall Philips (So.)
Outlook: The Mountain Lions lost four starters from a team that placed second in the Southwest and have some rebuilding to do.
“We are a very young team with a lot of potential,” McComas said. “We expect to see them jell as the season progresses and move into postseason play.”

NORTHEAST LEAGUE

CANYON SPRINGS
Coach: Jessica Housley, first season
2010 record: 5-19 (4-10 Northeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): One (one)
Top players: LIB/DS Summer Asturi (Jr.), OH/MB Sydney Morris (So.), OH Breanna Valdespino (So.)
Outlook: Asturi is the team’s lone returnee from last season.
The Pioneers also have only two seniors, but five sophomores on their roster.
“This is a rebuilding year from the coaching staff on down,” Housley said.

CHAPARRAL
Coach: Jay Renneker, third season
2010 record: 5-18 (5-9 Northeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Five (two)
Top players: OH Jaeda Allen (Jr.), LIB Cheyenne Huntsman (Jr.), OPP/S Katie Oliveira (Jr.), S Taylor Rott (Sr.)
Outlook: Renneker has a relatively young team, but one that is building and should have plenty of talent.
“We should make the playoffs for the first time in quite a few years with a young team,” Renneker said.

DESERT PINES
Coach: Andrea Donahue, first season
2010 record: 3-19 (2-12 Northeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Two (one)
Top players: S Jazzmin Avalos (Jr.), LIB Karen Medrano (Sr.)
Outlook: The Jaguars have only two returnees from a team that struggled to be competitive last season and finished with only three wins.
Desert Pines is hoping to start to turn the corner this season.
“We are looking forward to improving from the previous season and hoping to make a run to qualify for the playoffs,” Donahue said.

LAS VEGAS
Coach: Sue Thurman, 12th season
2010 record: 19-7 (14-0 Northeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Six (four)
Top players: S Tiffany Jackson (Sr.), OH Desirae Lair (Sr.), LIB Katie Mathews (Sr.)
Outlook: The Wildcats have won 11 league titles in the last 12 years, and appear to be in good shape to make that 12 out of 13 this year.
Jackson returns after racking up 487 assists and 130 digs last year. Lair brings back 89 kills and 32 aces, and Mathews contributed 136 digs and 20 assists last season.
“With strong senior leadership, the team looks to continue to contend for the Northeast title,” Thurman said. “As the team progresses, we look to have a strong showing in the Sunrise Region.”

VALLEY
Coach: Nick Porter, fifth season
2010 record: 12-11 (8-6 Northeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Six (five)
Top players: S Lenore Porter (Sr.), OPP Zoe Galindo (Sr.), OH Jana Aquino (Jr.), LIB Nyla Whalum (Sr.)
Outlook: In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, the Vikings still managed to earn a Sunrise Region playoff berth.
With five starters returning from that squad, Valley should be primed for even more success this season.
Chief among the returnees is Lenore Porter, a two-time first-team All-Northeast selection. Aquino was an honorable-mention pick last year, and Galindo and Whalum each should help provide solid leadership.
“I definitely see us being more competitive than last year,” Nick Porter said. “The experience we have is a big thing.
“We’ve stepped up a level of dedication. We have a lot more commitment to our team. This is probably the best leadership we’ve had since I’ve been in the program.”

SOUTHEAST LEAGUE

BASIC
Coach: Robin Wood, sixth season
2010 record: 17-6 (7-7 Southeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Five (three)
Top players: S Wendy Williams (Sr.), MB Jordan Mullins (Sr.), OH Kamisha Richardson (Sr.)
Outlook: The Wolves bring back three starters from a team that battled its way to a postseason berth last year and they hope to return to the playoffs.

CORONADO
Coach: Matt Johnson, third season
2010 record: 28-6 (14-0 Southeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Eight (two)
Top players: OH Kuulei Piena (Sr.), MB Ally Keller (Sr.)
Outlook: The defending Southeast League champions will have a tough task in trying to repeat this season.
Eight letter winners return, but the Cougars lost four starters.
Piena was a first-team All-Sunrise Region selection, and Keller grabbed honorable mention all-region honors last year.
“Piena and Keller have started since their sophomore year,” Johnson said. “They will be looked to for leadership and experience on this young team.”

FOOTHILL
Coach: Krysta Ortiz, fifth season
2010 record: 13-18 (7-7 Southeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Five (three)
Top players: S Zoe Wolfenbarger (Jr.)
Outlook: The Falcons have some work to do with only three starters returning from last year’s squad.
The addition of junior Emma Khachikian, who played as a freshman at Lake Mead, and wasn’t eligible for varsity play after transferring last season, should help.
Wolfenbarger is the team’s engine on offense and will be the leader on the floor, but Foothill should get significant contributions from all areas of the court.
“We have high expectations for this squad,” Ortiz said. “Expect the Falcons to make a postseason appearance.”

GREEN VALLEY
Coach: Erin Hill, 21st season
2010 record: 28-10 (12-2 Southeast)
Returning letterwinners (starters): 11 (four)
Top players: OH Carly Schiess (Jr.), OH Nikki Drost (So.), S Jenna Swaffer (Jr.), LIB Alexa Drost (Sr.)
Outlook: The two-time defending Sunrise Region champions bring back four starters from a team that advanced to the state final.
Swaffer had 904 assists and 66 aces last year and will guide the offense.
Schiess (261 kills, 139 digs, 39 aces) and Nikki Drost (224 kills, 113 digs, 46 aces) both bring back solid all-around games, and Alexa Drost returns after posting 234 digs and 52 aces.
“The Gators are looking forward to another competitve season with an excellent mix of experience and enthusiasm within the team,” Hill said. “The core group of athletes return from last year, and we look forward to competing for the league, region and state titles.”

CLASS 3A SOUTHERN LEAGUE

BOULDER CITY
Coach: Cherise Roe, 13th season
2010 record: 24-12 (3-1 3A Southern)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Seven (four)
Top players: S Avalon Frantz (Jr.), OH Whitney Barlow (So.), LIB Ali Rants (Sr.), OPP Mallory Bird (Jr.)
Outlook: Frantz returns to guide the offense after receiving first-team all-state honors last year.
Rants was a first-team All-Southern League honoree.
“We hope to three-peat as league champions and be competitive at the state tournament,” Roe said.

CLASS 2A SOUTHERN LEAGUE

CALVARY CHAPEL
Coach: Nick Davis, fourth season
2010 record: 22-13 (10-4 2A Southern)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Six (two)
Top players: LIB/DS Brettani Davis (Sr.), MB/OH Deja Harris (So.)
Outlook: Graduation took its toll on the Lions, who finished third in the 2A Southern League and fell to Lake Mead in a five-set marathon in the league semifinals.
Repeating the success of last season will be a tough task, but one the Lions could accomplish.
“We will be very young with only one senior and one junior,” Nick Davis said. “We expect to be a strong defensive team, and that will hopefully help us get deeper into postseason play.”

LAKE MEAD
Coach: Diana Lewis, 11th season
2010 record: 24-14 (11-3 2A Southern)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Seven (three)
Top players: OH Colleen Zumaran (Sr.), OH Tessa McQuillan (Sr.), OH Taylor Vetter (Jr.), S Megan Watkins (Jr.)
Outlook: The Eagles bring back four letter winners from a team that placed second in its debut season in the Class 2A Southern League.
“It’s a total rebuilding year,” Lewis said. “We’re not sure if we’ll have the numbers to have a JV team. We’re looking at six brand new players on varsity if there is no JV team.”

LAUGHLIN
Coach: Eliza Candelaria, fifth season
2010 record: 7-16 (2-12 2A Southern)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Four (four)
Top players: MB Ruby Mackey (Jr.), MB Brooke Lee (Jr.), S Alexyss Young (Jr.), S Patricia Valdez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Cougars took some lumps in an ultra-competitive 2A Southern League last year, and should have a better feel for what to expect this season.
Still, Laughlin has only four returning letter winners and hopes to build as the season goes along.
“It’s a young group this year, mostly freshmen and juniors,” Candelaria said. “The veterans are looking to play competitively and put their time in on the court.”

THE MEADOWS
Coach: Stephanie Heller, eighth season
2010 record: 31-4 (14-0 2A Southern)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Six (two)
Top players: S/OH Alex Hall (Jr.), MB Hannah Brown (Sr.), MB Kathryn Chakmak (Sr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs are generally one of the top programs in the state, and this year likely won’t be any different.
Still, The Meadows has to replace four starters, including second-team all-state setter Vanessa Hall.
Alex Hall could take over some of the setter duties after averaging 2.5 kills per game last season. Chakmak is back after averaging three kills and a block per game.
“It’s somewhat of a rebuilding year, and we’ve added many sophomores to the varsity squad,” Heller said. “We hope to contend for a top four spot in the league. Once we have filled (the setter) position solidly, we hope to pick up where we left off last year.”

CLASS 1A SOUTHERN LEAGUE

PAHRANAGAT VALLEY
Coach: Ginger Whipple, 33rd season
2010 record: 24-7 (7-0 1A Southern)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Six (four)
Top players: OH Halie Lewis (Sr.), OH Kyla Mortensen (Sr.), S Kimmy Lewis (So.), LIB Bailee Hosier (So.)
Outlook: The two-time defending Class 1A state champions welcome back four starters, including a pair of outside hitters as they aim for a third successive crown.
“We are strong with our outside hitters and feel good about their senior leadership,” Whipple said. “We are young and inexperienced in the other positions, but feel that we will still be competitive.”

SANDY VALLEY
Coach: Electra Smith, fourth season
2010 record: 3-10 (1-6 1A Southern)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Six (three)
Top players: MB Kenzi Smith (Sr.), OH/S Cristian Auer (Jr.), OH/S Lauren Eastham (Sr.), OH Nicole Alessandro (Sr.)
Outlook: The Sidewinders have half of their starting lineup back as they hope to move up in the 1A Southern League.
“The ladies are working hard,” Electra Smith said. “They have attended some position camps and team camps, and are looking stronger than last year. We are excited for a better season.”

TONOPAH
Coach: Judi Boni, 20th season
2010 record: 31-7 (6-1 1A Southern)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Eight (three)
Top players: MH Deanna VanPoucke (Jr.), S/OH Alli Friel (Jr.), OH Elaina Dunn (Sr.), LIB Ashley Eason (Jr.), MH Sarah Greber (Jr.), OH Harley Maughan (Sr.), MH Monica Molina (Sr.), OH Courtney Greenwood (Sr.)
Outlook: The Muckers bring back three starters from a team that advanced to the state semifinals.
“The team looks good in preseason,” Boni said. “The standouts will be Deanna VanPoucke blocking and middle hitter, and Alli Friel at setter and outside hitter.”

ADELSON SCHOOL
Coach: Shantai Hunter, second season
2010 record: 5-8 (Independent)
Returning letterwinners (starters): Four (four)
Top players: S Allie Baracani (Sr.), OH Morgan Goodelman (Sr.), OH Elie Steinberg (Sr.), LIB Cassidy Karge (Jr.)
Outlook: The Lions bring back four letter winners as they approach their first season of league play.
Baracani is the team’s engine on offense and arguably the biggest weapon from the service line. Goodelman and Steinberg each can be a force at the net.
“Last year was our most successful season thus far, and we would like to continue to improve each year, as well as progress,” Hunter said. “We have four returning starters, and I hope that by having these players return, the progression of our volleyball program will continue.”