THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL
• Head Coach: Sherrie Brown, 7th year
• Last Year: 12-0, 1st place Sea-Tac 2B League, 27-4 overall, 4th place at 2B state tournament
• 2011 turnout numbers: 34
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Kendall Engelstone, MH: Key member on offense returning after ACL surgery last year.
• Srs. Elizabeth Fernandez, Nikki Peterson, Bethan Meyer, OH: Trio of experienced and capable outside hitters will do big things this year.
• Jr. Michele Brown, S: League MVP last year as a setter will feed the Grizzlies’ first-class offense for some kills.
• Sr. Kristin Wallis; Jr. Morgan Cadigan, L: Defensive specialist will be ready to come up with some point-saving digs.
• Jr. Makena Schoene, OH: One of the tallest girls in the league at 6-foot-2, a real blocking and hitting threat.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• Sr. Madelyn Magee, OH: Two-time state high-jump champion will use her killer vertical well as an outside hitter.
DID YOU KNOW?
Jesse Magraw, who is the older sister of Redmond High senior libero Justice Magraw (see below), currently coaches volleyball at The Bear Creek School in Redmond. Jesse was a setter for the Mustangs in 2003 and 2004 and went to the 4A state tournament.
BIG GAME
• Thursday, Sept. 29 at Crosspoint Academy – The Warriors return a very strong team and will be a force to be reckoned with in the Sea-Tac 2B League.
REDMOND HIGH MUSTANGS
• Head Coach: Ross Johnson, 12th season with Redmond (1999-2006, 2008-11)
• Last Year: 1-9, 9th place in 4A Kingco, 2-11 overall
• 2011 turnout numbers: 38
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Justice Magraw, L: League leader at libero, she already holds school records for digs in a match and in a season.
• Srs. Heather Smith, Joy Zhang, OH: Pair of outside hitters will notch a majority of the kills. Smith is a three-year starter and Zhang is a “solid, powerful” hitter according to coach.
• Jrs. Lauren Bogard, OH; Taylor Herro, M: Pair of varsity returners got to start as sophomores and look to grow into leadership roles for next year.
• Sr. Sarah Du, S: Mustang tennis sensation is a seasoned, veteran setter.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• Soph. Sarah McClurkin, S: Will challenge for starting setter position as a sophomore.
• Jr. Suzi French, RS: Very athletic, a strong, physical blocker.
• Jr. Ali Henderson, OH: Will challenge for one of the outside hitting spots.
QUOTABLE:
“We return seven players off of last year’s team. We have several versatile players that will most likely play a variety of positions. Magraw will be a league leader at libero and will help us compete in a very tough league. Mustangs look to make a return to the playoffs after missing the playoffs last season for the first time in my tenure at RHS.” – Mustangs’ head coach Ross Johnson
BIG GAME
• Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Woodinville: Crucial late-season league match against a very tough Falcons team that returns a lot of talent including D-1 bound Ali Forde. Other strong teams look to be Roosevelt, Bothell, Newport and Eastlake.
THE OVERLAKE SCHOOL
• Head Coach: Scott Christopher, 4th season with Overlake (2004-05, 2010-11)
• Last Year: 5-5, 3rd place in 1A Emerald City League, 10-11 overall
• 2009 turnout numbers: 29
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Louise Chouinard, L: Second-team all-league selection last season has improved her defensive game in the offseason.
• Sr. Kirsten Parris, OH: One of the best hitters in the league is poised for a breakout season.
• Sr. Emilee Chambard, OH: Very strong outside hitter that improved greatly during the club volleyball season.
• Sr. Andree Gavrilescu, OPP: A versatile utility player last season that has become an integral part of the Owl offense.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• Fr. Carly Silvernale, S/OH: A strong all-around player that will add much-needed depth at the setter and outside hitter positions.
QUOTABLE:
“A young team in 2010 gained the much-needed playing experience to be successful in the Emerald City League. The team has matured and has added some much needed depth with the addition of a few younger players. I expect us to be a much stronger team than last season.” – Owls’ head coach Scott Christopher
BIG GAME
• Thursday, Oct. 13 at Cedar Park Christian: Second matchup and chance for redemption against a very strong, and young, Eagles program that placed third at state last year. Last Thursday, the Eagles got the best of the Owls, 3-1, with three of the four games coming down to the wire.
