5A-2A volleyball preview notes
August 22, 2018 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
5A-2A VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW NOTES FOR 2018 - EAST VALLEY AND NORTHEAST VALLEY SCHOOLS WHO RESPONDED TO PRESEASON QUESTIONAIRE
SCOTTSDALE CHRISTIAN (2A)
The defending 2A champs may not miss a beat this season. Coach Kim Ohlinger is keen on her squad getting a shot at a repeat. Here's why:
The Eagles graduated two seniors and return four starters -- Sr. Lauren Ohlinger, 6'3" OH committed to Boise State; Sr. Emma Whitehead, 5'3" Libero/DS Committed to Wisconsi-Madison; Jr. Caroline Montgomery, 5'11" M/RS; and So. 5-11 M Sophia Wadsworth. Players who could crack starting lineup are Kylie Lynne, 5'7" Libero/DS, Jr. Taylor Raiola, 5'11" OH/RS transfer from Michigan. who will be an immediate immediate impact player; Fr. Laylah Daniel, 5'10" OH/R. Laylah adds depth and will play immediately; Fr. Lexi Lambert, 5'7", S . Lambert has hops and can get up on the block and play defense. An all-around player.
COACH COMMENTS: We have many strengths this season that I'm really pumped about. Our season started early with off court team bondings to start connecting the girls on a deeper level. The four incoming freshman are fitting in nicely and are all friends. This is a young team with only five upper classmen. I thought this could possibly be a weakness for us this season but I'm seeing it is not. They bring fire, heart, passion and intensity to the court every day.! Their enthusiasm and energy is needed in the gym. I'm excited to see what they do. Our hitters are very versatile and athletic. Lauren Ohlinger is going to unstoppable this season. She's a six-rotation player with a great platform and back row attack. Our offense will be hard to stop. With Emma Whitehead leading our back court game, I'm confident that our defensive system will be strong. Our setters are young, both are freshman. I see this being a possible weakness in our game this season. We are spending a lot of time connecting our setters and hitters with a variety of sets and speeding up their tempo.
FOUNTAIN HILLS (3A)
Fountain HIlls is the two-time defending 3A champion. Coach Peter McGloin has some spots to fill from graduated seniors, who were led by KC McMahon. The Falcons return five starters -- Sr. S Alyssa Barbagallo; Sr. S Corrin Schulze; Sr. L Alexa Armenta; Sr. MB Andi Bohlman; and So. OH Barett Nolan and four varsity returnees -- Sr. MB Jenn Stricker, a varsity starter her freshman and sophomore years but took last year off. Sr. DS Lauren Schultz; Sr. DS Ashley Beck and Jr. OH Gina Woods, who came up big in multiple games last year when we were dealing with injuries.
HORIZON (5A)
Valorie McKenzie begins her 39th year -- only VB coach at the school since it opened in 1980. McKenzie is 16 wins shy of 900.
McKenzie welcomes back starters from a quarterfinal finish in 6A. They are: Jr. MB Ashleigh Barto -- look for her to turn some heads. Sr. 6’2” M Alyssa Unell an academic phenom with powerful swing. 5-9 Jr. OH Jozlyn Byers - an outstanding all-around player with a penchant on defense. Sr. 6-0 setter Claire Smith -- one of top setters in Arizona and committed to Point Loma, CA Top newcomers are Fr .5-4 L Phoebe Stebner and Sr. 5-9 OH Isabelle Nelke -- has waited to be a starter and has a lot to bring all around;Other players who will contribute --Jr. 5-10, OH-RS-DS Kayla Ray; Fr. 6-0 M Taylor Johnson; Fr. 5-9, S Kiera Hall; Fr. 5-6, OH-DS-RS Kaden Young; So. 5-9 OPP Olivia Elmore; Jr. 5-4 DS-L Meredith Tutrone.
COACH COMMENTS: The Huskies return six players – four starters – this season and look to be very competitive in the new 5A Conference. We have experience with a great setter and strong middles, rounded out with some good defensive players and strong young newcomers. The Huskies roster includes four freshman this year – a first in 39 years, but look to be 12 strong. We plan to concentrate on our defensive efforts and play smart fundamentally on offense. The group has a great deal of passion for the game and a firm desire to improve and work hard to achieve our goals. These goals include being resilient, mentally strong and determined to learn the game and be good citizens on and off the court.
MESQUITE (4A)
Mesquite is stepping down a conference from 5A to 4A. Coach Carlos Flys believes his team will be good enough ultimately to make a run at the playoffs. Flys welcomes back four starters -- Sr. L Layni Rodriguez, Jr. OH Brooklyn Holland, Jr. OH McKenna Androsky and So. MB Elli Cano. Newcomers to varsity include So. S Annika Wallace, Jr. S Daniyah Jehangir, So RS Cora Ellis, Fr. Utility Keilyn Wollangk and Jr. RS Kylie Webb (RS-Junior). A transfer who figures to help is So. MB Evie Taylor, who came over from Gilbert High.
COACH COMMENTS: We have a young team with only two seniors. We are installing a new offense. Between the new offense and playing without the transfer for the first nine matches, the first half of the season might be a bit rough. I expect us to finish strong however and make the playoffs.
CASTEEL (5A)
Casteel welcomes in veteran coach Jeff Bader from the boys ranks who will try to make a mark with the girls. Bader spent eight years as boys coach at Hamilton. He got the itch to coach again after two years at Perry. He is excited about his new gig and the group of young ladies that are in the program.
Bader returns seven of 17 players who were on varsity last year. Only two are seniors. Two players were All-Metro Region selections last season in 3A -- Jr. S Taylor Tepe and Sr. MB Lauren Hase. In addition are two outside hitters from last year -- So. Kendall Varney (So) Jr. Tatum Sanders. Team has added three freshmen -- S-RS Maila Coles, L-DS Jillian Russo and OH Sammie Schmid.
COACH COMMENTS: We are going into unknown territory for the program jumping up from 3A to 5A. The players are up to the challenge and have been working very hard. What we lack in size we hope to offset with a competitive fire and a high level of intensity every night. We have set a goal to make the playoffs and go from there.
CHANDLER PREP (2A)
Chandler Prep qualified for state last season and bowed out in the round of 16. The Titans defeated Sedona Red Rock in the play-in round and were eliminated in the first round of state by eventual champ Scottsdale Christian. Coach Anthony Jones has a host of starters back and is optimistic for 2018. Chandler Prep has five starters back. They are: first-team all-state Sr. S Isabelle Miranda, So. MB Evi Yates, So. RS-OH Olivia Cadian, who led freshmen in the state in kills in 2017, Sr. MB Ali Cohen and Jr. OH Marin Scoggin. Likely stepping into a starting rol is So. L Cassi Bronson. Helping off the bench are So. RS Elle Unruh and So. DS-S Holly Giaketsis.
DESERT MOUNTAIN (5A)
Desert Mountain will be led by its fourth coach in five years with Alyssa Showers taking the reins for 2018. Desert Mountain is competing in 5A after a few seasons back up in 6A. The Wolves have two starters returning. They are Sr. OH Skylar Wickman and So. RS-OH Brooke Ritchie. Taking on starting roles this year after varsity stint last season are Jr. S Audrey Smith and Sr. MB Oyin Olueyeba. Others competing for playing time are J. S Corynn Colbert, So. M Rylee Achtzehn and J. OH-DS Madi Glass.
COACH COMMENTS: Our strengths are a versatile offense with multiple players who can fill various roles. I expect we can improve our record from last year with a fresh start and have a successful season.
CAMPO VERDE (5A)
Campo Verde is coached by Tayler Bader and made a run to the quarterfinals at state last year where they lost to eventual champion Sunnyslope. Another strong season seems to be he outlook for the Coyotes. They are led by four returning starters -- Sr. OH Caitlin Dugan, Sr. L Hattie Patton; Sr. MB Alyssa McDowell, and Jr. S Jordyn Campbell. Picking up their playing time after a year or more on varsity are Jr. OH Taylor Van Winkle and Jr. OH-RS-MB Cassidy Lamb. There are no sophmores of freshmen on the 2018 varsity.
COACH COMMENTS: Our team consists of eight seniors who all have strong leadership skills. This team has been together for the last three seasons which has created a strong bond on and off the court through the years. Expectations for our team this season are to stay dedicated, disciplined and enjoy our journey together down the road to state.
ARIZONA COLLEGE PREP (3A)
Coach Heather Orr has a multitude of varsity playing experience at her behest for 2018. The Knights, who were a 2A playoff team last year losing in the first round to Tempe Prep, jump to 3A this year. Orr has a young group overall among the returning starters as five were sophomores last year and one a junior. The starters returning are: Sr. L Daria Sukhareva, Jr. S Julia Golichowski, Jr. MB Krista Rowan, Jr. MB Tendall Weigand, Jr. OH Haily Blixt and Jr, OH Kelsey Burns. New to the varsity roster with solid all-around ability is So. S-OH Wynter Ray.
COACH COMMENTS: ACP’s outlook is very bright despite moving from 2A to 3A. We welcome the competition and know that playing higher skilled teams challenges us to be even better than last year when our only loss in our 18-1 season was the first round of the state tournament. We are confident in our ability to not only make the tournament again but go deeper in the 3A brackets.
LEADING EDGE ACADEMY (2A)
Notes below published on August 13 on azpreps365.com
4A
Salpointe
The defending champ is returning five players who started at some point during Salpointe’s championship run.
It did graduate its leading hitter and setter, though.
Key returning players:
Senior opposite hitter Madison Sundholm. “We are expecting great leadership and solid all-round play (from her),” coach Heather Moore said.
Sophomore Andrea Owens. “She has matured as she continues to be our number one outside hitter.”
Junior middle Abby Russell. “She has the ability to go all the way around the court.”
Senior middle Claire Dunn. “She has matured and has taken ownership of the middle hitting blocking position.”
Senior Alex Parkhurst. “She is returning from a knee injury that ended her season last year. Will be moving into the outside hitting position.”
Sophomore setter Brandy Kishbaugh. “She is excited to run our offense after playing behind our outstanding setter Peyton Lewis.”
2018 goal: “Our goal is to come together as a team after losing two important seniors in our program.”
More about the program: “Many of our athletes are beach players who have committed solely to beach and have stopped playing indoor club volleyball.”
Desert Edge
The Scorpions are returning four starters, including last year’s MVP, senior Mikayla Sparks, a six rotation player with a great serve, leadership and consistent offensive/defensive play, coach Brandon Sparks said.
Key returning players:
Senior Joi Harvey, an Air Force Academy commit. “She is a 6-4 presence who will be very difficult for opposing teams to deal with. Not only did she lead the Scorpions in blocks in 2017, she will surely do damage on the offensive side of the ball,” Sparks said.
Junior Taylor Brown. “She is a Division I prospect with tremendous athleticism who shows great potential to lead the team in many offensive categories.
“I believe this team has the weapons to make a deep run in the playoffs.”
3A
Tanque Verde Volleyball
Tanque Verde returns seven starters from a 2017 state quarterfinal roster with no seniors.
Key returners:
Junior Ainsley Malis. “Ainsley is a setter by trade but will pass and attack for us this year. She is our court leader…fearless, competitive, highly skilled,” coach Michelle Malis said.
Junior Brianna Ede. “Bri is a stabilizing force on the court who has excellent ball control.”
2018 goal: “To finish in the top two in our region and to win three matches at the state tournament.”
2A
Arizona Lutheran
The team is returning four starters from a 2017 playoff season but lost five seniors who contributed last year.
Arizona Lutheran has won at least 30 games or more in three of its past four seasons.
Key returning players:
Senior Shelby Naber. She’ll move from DS to setter this year. “She’s a true court leader and encourager,” coach Brad Bode said.
Senior libero Hailey Cereske. “She is definitely the leader/model of effort and intensity in the backrow.”
Junior setter Katie Turner. “She chases down volleyballs that you think can't be chased down.”
Senior outside hitter Jordyn Patterson. “She has outstanding athletic ability and capable of dominating on the outside.”
Senior middle blocker Emma Wendt. “An up and coming middle who is eager to be a big part of the offense.”
Junior outside hitter Kaylee Palm. “She’s a model of consistency in all six rotations.”
2018 goals: “We're in a talented region, which includes Trivium Prep, Parker and an athletic Tonopah Valley team. If our younger players can mature quickly and our offense can find its rhythm, we have as good a chance as anyone to challenge for a region championship and go deeper in the state tournament after a one and done last season.”
1A
Anthem Prep
The program reached the state semifinals for the first time last year, winning 19 matches in the process.
Key returning players:
Senior middle Georgia Vallery. “She is an amazing athlete with a strong serve and very good defense,” coach Raymond Wrublik said.
Senior outside Kelly Moczulski. “She hits hard. Has a strong serve and can play all around.”
Senior setter Nicole Shibata. “She is a consistent player who can play all around.”
2018 goal: Make it to state.
