2018 Palo Verde Girls Volleyball Capsule

League: Class 4A Mountain

Head coach: Phil Clarke, fifth season

2017 record: 22-15 (10-3 4A Sunset/fourth)

Returning letter winners (starters): Eight (five)

Top athletes: S Arien Fafard (Jr.), LIB Mia Sadler (Sr.), OH Carli Tanner (Jr.)

Outlook: The Panthers return five starters from a team that finished fourth in a crowded Sunset League last year.

Fafard (453 assists, 118 kills, 135 digs) will again be the team’s engine. Tanner (272 kills, 218 digs) and Sadler (353 digs) also are expected to be among the leaders on a squad that should be very good again this year.

“We need to fill some key spots from last season, but return a good core from last year’s team,” Clarke said. “It is still a pretty young, but more experienced group. Our goal to be playing as late into November as we can.”