2012 Girls Volleyball Capsule Previews
NORTHWEST LEAGUE
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Tina Studards, fifth season
2011 record: 17-14 (10-6 Northwest)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (Four)
Top players: MB Samantha Bales (Sr.), OH Jordyn Beas (Sr.), OH Kayla Papuga (Sr.), LIB Jocelyne Gonzalez (Sr.), LIB Chrissy Blazek (Sr.)
Outlook: The Aggies lost only two starters and bring back a strong senior class from a team that finished third in the Northwest League last year and saw the two teams that finished ahead of it both shift to different divisions.
“With six returners and some talented young athletes, we expect to finish in the top four of our league and qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year,” Studards said.
DURANGO
Head coach: Scott Zeidler, fourth season
2011 record: 15-18 (8-8 Southwest)
Returning letter winners (starters): Five (Three)
Top players: OH Hailee Wilson (Sr.), S/OH Cheyanne Haas (Jr.), MB Katarina Jaksic (Jr.), OH Precious Williams (So.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers bring back three starters from a team that qualified for the postseason last year.
“We’re looking to be competitive in the Northwest League and Sunset Region,” Zeidler said. “We’re looking to qualify for the region playoffs.”
SOUTHWEST LEAGUE
BONANZA
Head coach: Joe Cap, first season
2011 record: 26-9 (14-2 Southwest)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (Four)
Top players: OH Rykki Rudd (Sr.), MB Vasati Fiatoa (Sr.)
Outlook: The Bengals return four starters from a team that placed second in the Southwest.
“We are a young team looking to improve from last year,” Cap said.
LEGACY
Head coach: Raymond Lewis, first season
2011 record: 7-17 (5-11 Northwest)
Returning letter winners (starters): Three (Zero)
Top players: MB Ashly Goor (So.), OH Saipeti Fuiava (Fr.), OH Kayla Elwell (Jr.), MB Bianca Boyt (Sr.)
Outlook: The Longhorns are very close to starting from scratch with a new coach and no returning starters.
“We look to be competitive this year in conference,” Lewis said. “We are on a mission to earn respect and surprise some teams throughout the season. We rely on the fact that it’s a new program and look to be more competitive than the old program ever was.”
NORTHEAST LEAGUE
CANYON SPRINGS
Head coach: Jessica Housley, second season
2011 record: 7-18 (2-12 Northeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (Five)
Top players: LIB Summer Asturi (Sr.), OH Sydney Morris (Jr.)
Outlook: The Pioneers bring back five starters and should be improved this season.
GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Erin Hill, 22nd season
2011 record: 30-6 (14-0 Southeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (Four)
Top players: OH Carly Schiess (Sr.), OH Nikki Drost (Jr.), S Jenna Swaffer (Sr.), LIB Amanda Lake (Jr.), MB Shanna Olsen (Jr.), S/DS Alley Seidler (Jr.), OPP Bridgette Dwyer (Jr.), DS Kayla Helm (Sr.)
Outlook: The 2011 Class 4A state champions bring back four starters and plenty of talent.
Drost racked up 382 kills, 114 digs and 88 aces, and Schiess recorded 281 kills, 123 digs and 50 aces. They give the Gators an intimidating front-line presence. Swaffer is back after distributing 898 assists and serving 68 aces.
“The Gators are looking forward to another competitive season with an excellent mix of experience, enthusiasm and youth within the team,” Hill said. “We look forward to the challenge and competition of defending our conference, region and state titles.”
LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Sue Thurman, 13th season
2011 record: 21-7 (14-0 Northeast)
Returning starters: Two
Top players: OH Marissa Lair (Sr.), RS Matti Ventling (Jr.), MB Charlai Francis (Jr.), OH Shaleah Butler (Jr.)
Outlook: Lair, a first-team all-league selection, is one of only two returning starters for the Wildcats, who advanced to the Sunrise Region title match last year.
The Wildcats are coming off an undefeated season in league play, but welcome 2011 state champion Green Valley and 2009 state champion Silverado to the Northeast League this year.
“With new conference opponents, we look to continue our focus on basic skills and conditioning to remain competitive,” Thurman said.
SILVERADO
Head coach: Kahealani Roston, first season
2011 record: 16-9 (10-4 Southeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (Two)
Top players: OH Kayla Agae (Sr.), S Morgan Little (Jr.), OH Melanie Srok (Jr.), MH Amari Norris (Jr.), MH/OPP Lauren Purdy (Jr.), MH Courtney Kinsella (Jr.), OPP/DS Cheyanne Phillips (Sr.), OPP Quintana Reid (Jr.), OH Kristina Hertz (Sr.), DS/LIB Briana Troisi (Sr.), DS Tawney Griffin (Jr.), DS Meriah Janosik (Jr.)
Outlook: Roston inherits a team that brings back only two starters.
Agae is expected to be among the leaders.
“It’s a rebuilding season with lots of new faces and new coaches,’ Roston said. “We expect to play every game with heart and determination to our fullest potential.”
VALLEY
Head coach: Nick Porter, sixth season
2011 record: 10-7 (10-4 Northeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Three (One)
Top players: Diva Carter (Sr.), Gabby Cabanero, Ma’kayla Hicks.
Outlook: The Vikings lost five senior starters from a team that tied for second in the Northeast League last season.
“We have a young, ambitious team, looking to stay competitive in an increasingly difficult division,” Porter said. “With newly-acquired, 6-foot-2-inch middle blocker Hicks, a 6-2 setting offense, and Diva Carter’s attitude and experience, I feel that we can look forward to another winning season.”
SOUTHEAST LEAGUE
BASIC
Head coach: Robin Wood, sixth season
2011 record: 16-13 (7-7 Southeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Six (Three)
Top players: MB Tori Foutz (Sr.), MB Leah Causey (Sr.), OH Christa Isaiah (Sr.)
Outlook: The Wolves lost three starters, but return six letter winners from a team that qualified for the postseason last year.
CORONADO
Head coach: Matt Johnson, fourth season
2011 record: 21-14 (11-3 Southeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (five)
Top players: MB Berkeley Oblad (So.), OH Brooke Garlick (Jr.), OH Taylor Jackson (Jr.), S Lia Herlosky (Sr.)
Outlook: The Cougars return five starters, but are young with three freshmen and a sophomore in the hunt for significant playing time and perhaps challenging for a starting spot.
Oblad was a first-team all-league selection last season.
“The juniors and seniors are experienced and will be looked to for leadership,” Johnson said.
DEL SOL
Head coach: Chris Rawlins, first season
2011 record: 6-10 (5-9 Southeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (Three)
Top players: OH Kaleileihua Cabanas (Sr.), MH Eugenia Petkova (Sr.), DS Camille Santana (Sr.)
Outlook: Rawlins inherits a team that placed sixth in the Southeast last season, but finished only two games out of the final playoff spot.
“The players are anxious for an opportunity to prove themselves on the court, and new leadership hopefully will revitalize this team’s prowess,” Rawlins said.
FOOTHILL
Head coach: Krysta Ortiz, seventh season
2011 record: 12-18 (7-7 Southeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (Four)
Top players: S Zoe Wolfenbarger (Sr.), LIB/OH Emma Khachikian (Sr.), MB/OPP Nicolette White (Jr.), MB/OPP Samantha Douglas (Sr.), LIB Korina Bush (Jr.), OH Sarah Dusenbury (Jr.)
Outlook: Wolfenbarger, who racked up 336 assists, 161 kills and 144 digs last season, returns to lead an offense that should have enough firepower to compete for a postseason berth.
White recorded 100 kills last year, and Khachikian added 326 digs.
“It’s a dynamic group of young athletes with many returning senior letter winners,” Ortiz said. “We have high expectations for this group.”
DIVISION I-A SUNSET LEAGUE
CHEYENNE
Head coach: John Armstrong, first season
2011 record: 1-17 (1-15 Northwest)
Top players: MB Jenna Mecham (Sr.), LIB Aubriana Barrera (Sr.)
Outlook: The Desert Shields struggled last year, splitting with Mojave for the team’s only win of the season, but Armstrong hopes to breathe life into the program.
“I am excited to start building up a more successful program, and I believe this year will be a great year for us to begin going in the right direction,” Armstrong said. “We expect to win more games than we have in the recent past and hope to make a good playoff run for the first time in almost 10 years.”
FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Amy Fisher, seventh season
2011 record: 22-10 (14-2 Northwest)
Returning letter winners (starters): 10 (Five)
Top players: OH Taylor Richards (Sr.), MH Taylor Hammer (Sr.), MH Sam Leonard (Sr.), OH Lindsey Flangas (Sr.), S Gianni Perryman (Sr.), OH Devynn Mills (Sr.)
Outlook: The Crusaders lost only one starter from a team that finished second in the Class 4A Northwest League last season.
But the senior — setter Kelsey McCourt — was a big loss and one that won’t be easy to replace. Still, with plenty of other talent left, the Crusaders should be one of the teams to beat in Division I-A.
“The team looks to place at the top of the conference,” Fisher said. “Six seniors will provide the leadership necessary to compete regionally and at the state level. It looks to be exciting year.”
DIVISION I-A SUNRISE LEAGUE
BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Cherise Hinman, 15th season
2011 record: 29-8 (4-0 3A Southern)
Returning starters: Four
Top players: S Avalon Frantz (Sr.), OH Whitney Barlow (Jr.), OPP Mallory Bird (Sr.)
Outlook: The Eagles lost two starters, but return a pair of Class 3A all-state honorees in Frantz and Barlow. Bird earned second-team all-state honors.
“We have a strong cohesive team that played together a few years, with probably one of the strongest setters in the state leading them,” Hinman said. “I expect that we will have a strong season in the new league and look forward to postseason play.”
CHAPARRAL
Head coach: Jay Renneker, fourth season
2011 record: 11-13 (10-4 Northeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (Five)
Top players: OH Jaeda Allen (Sr.), MB Rita Mesa-Mola (Sr.), LIB Cheyenne Huntsman (Sr.), S Katie Oliviera (Sr.), MB Hannah Kirschbaum (Jr.)
Outlook: The Cowboys welcome back a pair of first-team All-Northeast League honorees in Allen and Mesa-Mola from a team that finished second in the Northeast last season.
“Chaparral has an experienced team that is poised to go deep in the playoffs and has the goal of a Division I-A championship,” Renneker said.
DESERT PINES
Head coach: Andrea Donahue, second season
2011 record: 0-23 (0-14 Northeast)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (Two)
Top players: S Jazzmin Avalos (Sr.), MB Melissa Benford (Jr.)
Outlook: With only two starters back from a team that struggled to be competitive last season, the Jaguars are hoping to show improvement.
“We are looking to progress,” Donahue said.
MOAPA VALLEY
Head coach: Mandie Matheson, fourth season
2011 record: 21-12 (1-3 3A Southern)
Returning letter winners (starters): Four (Three)
Outlook: Coming off a runner-up finish in the Southern League last season, the Pirates had high hopes for the season.
But those took an early detour when outside hitter Malary Reid went down with an injury during the third day of practice. She will be out indefinitely.
“While disappointing, this major blow has not halted the team spirit and determination to do what it takes to make it to the state tournament this season,” Matheson said.
DIVISION III SOUTHERN LEAGUE
CALVARY CHAPEL
Head coach: Nick Davis, fifth season
2011 record: 30-11 (13-1 2A Southern)
Returning letter winners (starters): 10 (Five)
Top players: MH/OH Deja Harris (Jr.), S Brooke Davis (Jr.), DS/LIB Athena Lewis (Jr.), OH/DS McKenna Beckwith (Sr.), OH Alexis Harris (So.), MH Jamie Mejia (Jr.)
Outlook: The Lions lost only one starter — star defender Brettani Davis — from last year’s league championship team.
Brooke Davis will lead the offense after dishing out 385 assists, and Deja Harris returns after pounding 219 kills.
“With almost a full team returning, we are hoping to contend for a conference title,” coach Davis said.
LAKE MEAD
Head coach: Diana Lewis, 12th season
2011 record: 24-12 (11-3 2A Southern)
Returning starters: Three
Top players: OH Taylor Vetter (Sr.), S Megan Watkins (Sr.), LIB Jeanette Hensley (Fr.), MH Shannon Regan (Jr.)
Outlook: The Eagles have only three starters back from a team that finished second in the Southern League last year.
Watkins split time at setter with Vetter last year. Watkins had 176 assists and 174 digs, and Vetter added 152 assists and 61 kills.
Regan is back after posting 117 kills last season.
THE MEADOWS
Head coach: Stephanie Heller, eighth season
2011 record: 14-19 (9-5 Class 2A Southern)
Returning letter winners (starters): 10 (Five)
Top players: OH Alex Hall (Sr.), MB Nikki Lenardson (Sr.), MB Amber Peterson (Jr.), LIB Victoria Onufrieff (Sr.)
Outlook: Hall, who averaged 3.2 kills, 3.0 digs and 3.5 assists per set last year, leads five returning starters who are looking to bounce back after something of a rebuilding year last season.
Lenardson averaged 2.3 kills and just more than a block per set, and Onufrieff returns after averaging 2.9 digs per set.
“We hope to be a contender for a top three spot in the league,” Heller said. “We have a large nucleus of returners from last year’s team that was young and had graduated five seniors.
“We improved immensely last year and were close to qualifying for the state tournament.”
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Head coach: Yvette Armstrong, first season
2011 record: 8-17 (2-10 Class 2A Southern)
Returning letter winners (starters): Three (Two)
Top players: MB Alley Cintron (Sr.), S Malori Mauck (Sr.), S Aariel Armstrong (So.), OH Elle Germany (So.), Lindsey Kessler (Jr.)
Outlook: The Saints have some building to do after returning only two starters.
DIVISION IV SOUTHERN LEAGUE
ADELSON SCHOOL
Head coach: Shantai Hunter, third season
2011 record: 6-13 (1-6 1A Southern)
Returning letter winners (starters): Seven (Four)
Top players: OH Delaney Bruckner (Sr.), MH Ariel Sand (Sr.), OH/LIB Mackenzie Lally (So.)
Outlook: The Lions are hoping to build on last season and be more competitive in the Division IV Southern League.
“We have some great potential this season, especially from our younger players,” Hunter said. “I see this season as a building year which will help us to become a stronger team for the upcoming seasons.”
