The Bear Creek School volleyball program has compiled an impressive 14-2 regular-season Sea-Tac B League record over the past two seasons only to fall short of its ultimate goal: a November berth to the 2B state championships in Yakima.
Even without standout Katie Wolfram, who is currently playing at St. Olaf College, Grizzlies coach Sherrie Brown thinks she has the squad that can go all the way.
“We look good, and have a nice distribution of talent,” she said, adding that her varsity squad has at least two and no more than four members from each grade class, freshman to senior. “We’ve got some kids that are stepping up to fill those shoes. … they all have really elevated their game, and it’s really brought the whole team higher. We should see more even distribution, but Katie definitely had an amazing approach and spike, she was really fun to watch.”
FORMIDABLE LINEUP
The Grizzlies this year will have a pair of talented freshmen looking to make an impact in Michele Brown — who will challenge for the role of starting setter with Erica Leuenberger and Emily Kadeg — as well as Makena Schoene, who looks to have a spot as a middle hitter.
“Makena is about 6-1, 6-2,” said Brown. “She went to camp with us and did a really good job.”
Add a solid crop of sophomores and juniors, many of whom have varsity starting experience like hitters Dominique DuBois and Maddie Easley, and combine them with the senior leadership of Annie Worman and Kadeg and the Grizzlies have quite a formidable lineup, even without all-league senior Jasmine Miller, who left the team ”so that she can focus on some other areas in her life, including her studies,” according to Brown.
The team’s libero — or defensive specialist — will be sophomore Nikki Peterson, a great all-around athlete looking to hit the floor hard to get some digs for the Grizzlies. Another sophomore, first-year player Kendall Engelstone, will use her tall frame to notch some kills on the outside.
“Our biggest strength is still their work ethic, they work really hard to improve,” noted Brown, who coached volleyball for Ferris, Spanaway Lake and Mount Si before spending the last three years at Bear Creek. “Time (is our weakness). We only have 10 practices before our first match, and then off we go.”
STATE ASPIRATIONS
It’s hard to make it to the state tournament in any league, but it’s extraordinarily difficult coming out of the competitive Sea-Tac 2B League, where the Grizzlies’ 6-1 league record last year was only good enough for third place behind the undefeated Evergreen Lutheran, and Rainier Christian, which handed the Grizzlies their only regular-season loss.
Once into the Tri-District tournament, the Grizzlies have to compete against the best schools from two other leagues for just four state berths.
A tall task, but one the Grizzlies believe they can conquer.
“I think we can (make state), if we work together and work hard,” said Worman. “We’re working with a new conditioning coach, so I think we’ll be ready. We’re getting stronger… so by the end of the year we’ll be ready for districts and push through it.”
Added Brown, “That’s our goal, we’re working towards it, and we’ll do everything we can to obtain that.”
CORRECTION: The photographed player in both the print and Web editions of this story, sophomore Elizabeth Fernandez, was incorrectly identified as freshman Makena Schoene. The Reporter apologizes for the error.
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PREP VOLLEYBALL AT A GLANCE
THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL
• Head coach: Sherrie Brown, 3rd season
• Last Year: 6-1 Sea-Tac 2B (3rd place), 14-4 overall
• 2009 turnout numbers: 24
KEY RETURNERS
• Srs. Annie Worman, Emily Kadeg, S/OPP: Team’s two upperclassmen will provide veteran experience and leadership.
• Jrs. Maddie Easley, Dominique DuBois MH/OH: Pair of hitters have been working very hard to replace talent of graduated Katie Wolfram.
• Jr. Erica Leuenberger, S: Without a good setter, the offense has no chance. Leuenberger has experience but will have competition for this important role.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• Fr. Makena Schoene: The tallest girl on the team at 6-foot-1, she will be a blocking and hitting threat for many years to come.
• So. Kendall Engelstone: Another tall girl who will be spiking from the outside for the Grizzlies.
BIG GAME
• Tuesday, Oct. 27 vs. Evergreen Lutheran: The only Sea-Tac 2B league team to make it to state last year will be a tough test for the Grizzlies. Without one standout player, they will have to fire on all cylinders to stay competitive with the Eagles, who did not drop a league contest in 2008.
QUOTABLE
“I think it’s going to be a good season. We have a lot of underclassmen, a lot of new talent. I think we’re going to be good as a team and work together.” — Bear Creek School senior Annie Worman, opposite hitter.
REDMOND HIGH SCHOOL
• Head Coach: Ross Johnson, 8th season (1999-2006, 2008-09)
• Last Year: 3-8 4A Kingco (9th place), 4-18 overall
• 2009 turnout numbers: 41
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Rachel Rosen, OH: Quick hitter and a solid blocker with experience.
• Sr. Lindsay Eliason, OH: Three-year starter who has improved every year. She is very strong and will give opponents fits if she is on her game.
• Sr. Hailey Zippro, M: One of the tallest girls on the team at 6-foot-1, she will be a force at the net.
• Sr. Joanna French/Jr. Makayla Moller, S: Great all-around athletes who will be vying for the starting setter position. Whoever gets it will be instrumental to prepping Redmond’s tall outside hitters for the kill.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• So. Justice McGraw, L: Younger sister of former setter Jesse who led the team to back-to-back state-tournament trips in 03-04. Coach believes she will be one of the top defenders in Kingco.
• Jr. Nicole Stevens, M: One of four six-footers on the team will help Redmond keep up with the taller squads in the league.
BIG GAME
• Monday, Sept. 21 vs. Issaquah: The Mustangs start off their league schedule against volleyball powerhouse Issaquah, a tall and athletic team. If the Mustangs can stay competitive against the Eagles, it will bode well for the program’s chance to make the playoffs in a difficult conference.
QUOTABLE
“(We) return four starters, three who have started since their sophomore year, so we are seasoned. Hailey Zippro grew two inches in a year, and at 6-1 she will be a tough middle for opponents to hit around. Eliason, Swanson, and Stevens are also six-footers, so this is the tallest Redmond team I have coached.” — Ross Johnson, Mustangs’ volleyball coach
THE OVERLAKE SCHOOL
• Head Coach: Luke Trier, 3rd year
• Last Year: 6-6 1A Emerald City (4th place), 6-7 overall
• 2009 turnout numbers: 19
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Claire Bazely, S/OH: The two-time All-conference selection and a four-year starter will be one of the many leaders on this year’s Owls squad.
• Sr. Jessica Elliot, OPP/MB: All-conference last year, she leads by example with hustle in practices and games. Her “competitive spirit” is a big contribution to the team, according to Trier.
TOP NEWCOMER
So. Kirsten Parris, S/OH/MB/OPP: Sophomore utility player applied herself in the offseason playing on a club team. Her versatility at multiple positions will make her a big contributor from the start.
BIG GAME
• Tuesday, Oct. 26 vs. Cedar Park: The Eagles were a mere three wins away from the 1A state championship last year, and return a strong program as usual. This will be Overlake’s second meeting with Cedar Park (first match Oct. 16), and the outcome will tell if the Owls can keep flight with the league’s elite teams as the postseason nears.
QUOTABLE
“All of the seniors have dedicated themselves through the last three to four years and they have really helped the younger kids learn what it means to be a varsity player… We’re looking to be a competitive team once again this year, with almost the entire varsity team returning from last year. Over half the varsity team has three-plus years of varsity experience, so we’re hoping to just be more consistent all the way around.” — Luke Trier, Owls’ volleyball coach
