Port Angeles (3A)
• League: Olympic
• Coach: Christine Halberg (second year)
• Last year: 4-7 in league (sixth), 4-10 overall; Eliminated in 3A sub-district playoffs.
• Returning contributors: Sam Manwell (Sr., 5-6, OH); Emily Cook (Sr., 6-1, MH); Taylyn Jeffers (Jr., 5-10, OH); Chloe Johnston (Jr., 5-2, L); Kiah Jones (Soph., 5-11, OH); Emily Drake (Soph., 5-3, S).
• Top newcomers: Darian Foley (Soph., 5-11, MH); Autumn Ruddick (Soph., 5-9, OH); Lauren Coventon (Sr., 5-2, L); Lauren Norton (Soph., 5-7, S); Danielle Rutherford (Soph., 5-8, OH).
• Player to watch: Emily Cook
The honorable mention All-Olympic League middle hitter is a three-sport star for the Roughriders, starting for the basketball team in the winter and playing golf in the spring.
• Outlook: The second year of the Halberg era should be competitive.
North Kitsap, which brings back a pair of first-team All-Olympic League players, should be the Riders’ stiffest test in the Class 3A division.
“[The players] have put in a lot of time this summer playing together, so their team chemistry is giving them a big boost,” Halberg said.
“Now that we are beginning to play more fundamentally sound, I think that we will make big strides as we begin to implement more of our strategies and gain confidence in our system, ourselves, and in each other.”
Sequim (2A)
• League: Olympic
• Coach: Jennie Webber-Heilman (16th year)
• Last year: 8-4 in league (fourth), 10-8 overall; Reached 2A state tournament (0-2).
• Returning contributors: Caitlin Pallai (Sr., 5-11, OH); Sierra Clark (Sr., 5-6, OH); Sarah Donahue (Sr., 5-5, OH); Maddy Zbaraschuk (Jr., 5-10, MH).
• Top newcomers: Jessica Lauritzen (Jr., 6-2, MH); Sara Hankins (Jr., 5-4, S); Kelli Haffner (Sr., 5-7, OH); Taylor Balkan (Fr., 5-3, S); Haleigh Harrison (Fr., 5-9, OH).
• Player to watch: Caitlin Pallai
The senior hitter came on by the end of last season and has now added a jump serve to her arsenal this fall.
• Outlook: The Wolves lost several senior contributors from last season’s state tournament team.
Yet turnover never seems to be a problem at Sequim, where winning seasons are pretty much a given.
“I think we may start out a little slow, but if we work together as a team we’ll do really well,” Pallai said.
“Everybody I think wants to go to state and prove we’re still a strong team. We lose good players every year, but we gain new ones that can become even better.”
Port Townsend (1A)
• League: Olympic
• Coach: Nettie Witheridge (first year)
• Last year: 3-9 in league (seventh), 3-11 overall; Eliminated in 1A sub-district playoffs.
• Returning contributors: Bella Daubenburger (Sr., 5-7, OH); Samira Kahil-Pace (Sr., 5-2, DS); Christine Unrue (Soph., 5-3, S); Jordyn Holbrook (Sr., 5-8, OPP).
• Top newcomers: Trisha Minnihan (Sr., 5-7, MB); Katie Pollock (Sr., 5-10, MB); Brook Nutter (Sr., 5-3, DS); Lydia Young (Jr., 5-5, S); Teslin LeMaster (Jr., 5-8, OH); Cheyenne Weishaar (Sr., 5-11, MB).
• Player to watch: Bella Daubenburger
The last contributor left from the Redskins’ 11-3 team of two years ago is now the Redskins’ senior leader.
• Outlook: Witheridge is the Redskins’ third different coach in the last three years.
Having played at the collegiate level (Pacific University) prior to returning to her hometown, Witheridge brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to a program two years removed from a second-place finish in the Olympic League.
“I expect the girls to communicate on and off the court,” coach Witheridge said. “We have a well-rounded team this year, and I think we will represent Port Townsend positively.”
Chimacum (1A)
• League: 1A Nisqually
• Coach: Bridgett Kaminski-Richardson (second year)
• Last year: 2-10 in league (sixth), 4-11 overall; Missed playoffs.
• Returning contributors: Tara Peters (Sr., 5-9, OH); Natasha Keisel (Sr., 5-4, OH); Dani Kaminski (Jr., 5-9, MB); Cailey Snyder (Jr., 5-7, setter).
• Top newcomers: Krista Hathaway (Fr., 5-10, MB), Alysa Gail (Soph., 5-9, MB)
• Player to watch: Tara Peters
The Cowboys’ leading returning hitter
• Outlook: Chimacum has long struggled on the volleyball court, with its 7-8 record in 2004 its best in the last six years.
The Cowboys do finally get some stability at coach, however, with Kaminski-Richardson returning to the bench.
Up until this fall, the Cowboys had a different coach each of the last three years.
Forks (1A)
• League: SWL Evergreen Division
• Coach: Jennifer Daman (second year)
• Last year: 6-8 in league (fourth), 8-10 overall; Eliminated in 1A district playoffs.
• Returning contributors: Cheryl Moore (Sr., 5-8, OH); Gwen Gillet (Sr., 5-7, OH); Paige Kennedy (Sr., 5-11, MH).
• Top newcomers: Raven McCann (Jr., 5-9, MH); Hailey Horton (Jr., 5-11, MH); Taylor Ingram (Jr., 5-7, S); Casey Williams (Fr., 5-10, MH).
• Player to watch: Raven McCann
McCann, who saw spot time on varsity last season, comes into the fall with a new jump serve and some improved hitting skills at the net.
• Outlook: The Spartans are looking to keep alive a run of 11 straight district playoff appearances.
While Forks lost a number of seniors off last year’s squad, as well as its starting setter, Daman expects the Spartans to be more competitive in her second year at the helm.
“We’re looking really strong this year,” Daman said. “The team is really clicking together really well. It’s my second year, so I think the girls are used to me now and I think that will help out. I just think it’s all going to mesh really well for us this season.”
Quilcene (2B)
• League: Sea-Tac League
• Coach: Tiffany Parks (first year)
• Last year: 0-13 in league (fifth), 1-15 overall; Missed playoffs.
• Returning contributors: Chelsea Vilet (Jr., 5-6, DS); Amy Kaiser (Jr., 5-6, S); Cecily Ellis (Sr., 5-7, OH/DS)
• Top newcomers: Christi Benson (Jr., 5-8, Util.); Andrea Perez (Fr., 5-3, DS); Naeomie Barrow (Fr., 5-7, Util.); Kelsey Hughes (8th, 5-7, Util.); Sophie Knutzen (8th, 5-7, Util.).
• Player to watch: Christi Benson
“She hasn’t played since she was in sixth grade,” Parks said, “but you can’t even tell that she’s taken off time. She’s doing excellent.”
• Outlook: Parks takes over a program that has struggled to stay competitive in recent seasons (12-62 the last five years combined).
The Rangers are young and inexperienced this fall, but Quilcene’s first-year coach is still optimistic.
“I’m just looking for them to grow together as a team and work on their communication,” Parks said. “We have a lot of talent.
“I think are very capable of having a great season.”
Crescent (1B)
• League: NOL
• Coach: Alex Baker (11th year)
• Last year: 5-1 in league (first), 13-5 overall; Reached 1B state tournament (0-2).
• Returning contributors: Rachel Poats (Sr., 5-8, MH); Mikela Williams (Jr., 5-8, MH); Kylie Mitts (Sr., 5-4, OH); Rachel Bowen (Soph., 5-3, S).
• Top newcomers: Jandi Frantz (Fr., 5-7, MH); Bonny Hazelett (Fr., 5-3, OH); Rashaya Donnell (Jr., 5-4, OH/S).
• Player to watch: Rachel Poats
Poats is the latest in a long line of solid middle hitters for the Loggers.
• Outlook: Can the Loggers reload yet again?
Crescent is looking to win their eighth straight North Olympic League title with a lot of new faces.
All-NOL performers Whitley Barnes and Laura Williams are both gone. So if the streak is to continue, it will come on the shoulders of new Loggers stars.
“I have five freshmen that all have the potential to be starters this year,” Baker said. “I truly believe by the end of the year this team will be as good as any I’ve coached.”
Neah Bay (1B)
• League: NOL
• Coach: Chon Clayton (third year)
• Last year: 3-3 in league (second), 16-5 overall; Seventh at 1B state tournament (2-2).
• Returning contributors: Rebecca Thompson (Soph., 5-7, S); Tori Thompson (Sr., 5-7, OH); Cherish Moss (Soph., 5-6, OH); Alisha Kallappa (Sr., 5-1, S); Stephanie Greene (Sr., 5-8, MH); Chaely Kanichy (Sr., 5-7, MH); Savannah Martin (Sr., 5-7, OH); Fallon Dulik (Sr., 5-6, OH); Stormy Gouley (Sr., 5-6, OH); Samantha Logan (Sr., 5-3, OH).
• Top newcomers: None.
• Player to watch: Rebecca Thompson
Thompson was named a first-team All-NOL performer as a freshman last fall. Imagine what she’ll do for an encore.
• Outlook: Neah Bay won its first-ever Tri-District title last fall as well as its first state trophy.
With a first-team All-NOL player returning up front (Thompson), and Crescent having to reload, this could be the year the Red Devils win that elusive league title.
“It will be a strong team,” coach Clayton said. “I just expect them to play hard, work hard and better their skills with every game we play. They need to earn a trip back to districts and earn a trip back to state. So it’s up to them.”
Clallam Bay (1B)
• League: NOL
• Coach: Michelle Klepps (third year)
• Last year: 1-5 in league (third), 3-7 overall; Missed playoffs.
• Returning contributors: Sara Reeves (Sr., 5-6, MH); Courtney Willis (Sr., 5-3, Setter/OH); Stena Erickson (Jr., 5-6, Setter/OH); Melissa Willis (Soph., 5-9, MH); Jamie Parker (Jr., 5-2, OH); Gloria Ojeda (Soph., 5-3, BR/H); Jazzmin Erickson (Fr., 5-7, OH).
• Top newcomers: None.
• Player to watch: Sara Reeves
Described as an “evil hitter” by coach Klepps, Reeves was a first team All-NOL performer last season.
• Outlook: Health will be a big factor for the Bruins this fall.
With only seven players on the varsity roster, Clallam Bay has just one sub.
“The girls are starting this season with the same skills they had at the end of last season, so we can only get better this year,” coach Klepps said. “They are motivated to show everyone that even though we are a very small team with dedication and determination we can succeed.
“My motto is “We are small but mighty!”