Xavier Prep wouldn't mind repeating as 6A state champs in 2018 something it accomplished when the current decade began three times over. (AzPreps365 photo)

2018 6A VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW NOTES

EAST VALLEY AND NORTHEAST VALLEY SCHOOLS WHO RESPONDED TO PRESEASON QUESTIONAIRE

XAVIER PREP

Xavier was as consistent as a team would want to be last season and it paid off with a strong run to another state title. Coach Renee-Lamar Bryant has a representative group returning so don't think the Gators will be anything but a title contender again. Xavier has five starters back led by four-year veteran and Sr. S Shannon Shields. Also returning are Jr. MB Jasmine Knight, Jr. OH Bri McNight, Sr. DS turned L Ashley Yeung and So. OPP Serena Turner. A couple other varsity returnees are Sr. OH Jennelle Yarwood and Sr. OH Hayley Nash. Newcomers to varsity that could impact are So. S-OH Zaira Reyes, Jr. DS Abby Converse, So. DS Kaori Robertson, Jr. OH Juli Westfall and Jr. RS Tori Burton.

COACH COMMENT: At Xavier our motto is women of faith pursing excellence. We are always in pursuit of being excellent in whatever we do.  Last year we were very fortune to outlast all of 6A and win the state championship. The 2018 team has a lot of experience and are hungry to repeat. With five seniors leading the way the Gators might be undersized, but will make up the difference with ball control and relentless defense. Shannon Shields is the best setter in the state and she is looking forward to putting her hitters in the best situation to make plays. Arizona volleyball is in an elite class and XCP will continue to work hard to be at the top of the heap.

CHANDLER

Chandler boys volleyball coach Bobby Robson douibles up this year taking over the girls head coaching position. The Wolves have four starters back -- Sr. MB Ne Che Newton, So. S Taylor Aguano, Sr. OH Emily Kendall and So. OH Kaylie Ray. Returning varsity players stepping up are Sr. L Mikaila Williams and So. MB Monet Whittier
Sophomore Setter, Taylor Aguano. Possible helping on defense is Corona del Sol transfer Nikole Lunsford.

HAMILTON

A small number of returning starters grace the Huskies' lineup for 2018. Hamilton graduated nine seniors. Longtime coach Sharon Vanis welcomes a bevy of new players to varsity. Starters returning are Sr. OH Taylor Jacobsen, who missed a huge chunk of last season due to injury, Jr. OH Bailey Williams and Jr. MH Kyra McCain. Fr. Jordan Middleton and Jr. OH Delaney Sluis, a transfer, are likely to get in on plenty of action.

COACH COMMENT: We do not have a lot of returning players, but I feel we have a deep team. We may start slow. Hoping to be in the mix at the end.

Highland is in a position to be reckoned with a solid group of returners, most of whom are not seniors Coach Jordan Neal is eager to see what 2018 brings because of it. Returning starters for the Hawks are Jr. OH Abby Peterson, Jr. OPP Anna Toolson, Jr. S Alayna Roberts, Sr. MB Nicole Faust, So. OH Kenndy Williams and So. S Natalie Palmer. A new addition to the varsity is going to augment the returning group -- So. MB Samia Bhakta. 

COACH COMMENT: I think this team could be one of the best teams Highland has put on the floor in a long time. And we will return all but one starter again for next year. 

MOUNTAIN POINTE

Mountain Pointe made a solid run at the title last season and have quite a collection of returning players for coach Karen Gray. The returning starters are Sr. OH Piper Manross, who has committed to Loyola Maramount, Sr. S-OPP Avery Luoma, with a commitment to Princeton, So. OH Jahara Campbell, who switches from MB and has committed to UC-Boulder, So. OH Brian Samilton, who may play libero and Jr. MB Kahirzma Kyles. Others who can help are Fr. S Kylie Wong and Jr. OPP Anna Jackson, improved and moving up from JV. Adding depth is transfer Jr. DS Jordan Woods (Hamilton).

COACH COMMENT: As always we aren't a very tall team but will have good ball handling and our starters have a great deal of experience from playing last year but also on elite club teams.  Piper Manross is one of the top OH's in the state and Jahara Campbell and Bria Samilton are two of the best players in their age group. Avery Luoma will bring consistency to the team  Weakness will be going up against significantly taller team but we should be pretty solid in each position. Our hope is to be top 5 but you never know.

PERRY

Perry's best runever in the sport toward a title ended in the semifinals last year to eventual champ Xavier in a five-set match. The Pumas graduated quite a bit of talent. particularly on the attack, in the process. Still, coach Fred Mann is eager to see what a somewhat new group can accomplish. Returning starters are Sr. S Madison Beasley, Sr. MB Grace Doyle, Sr. RS Brooklyn Poling and Jr. OH Sian Richardson. Players who could help fill the voids from 2017 are S Keelyn Kistner, OH Tatum Stall, L Matea Suan, MB Megan Schulte. Transfers L Emerson Belles (Hamilton) and Jenna Heller (Mesquite) may help out as well.

Corona fell shy of back-to-back titles last year as Xavier proved too much in the title match. Coach Ben Maxfield has the makings of another strong squad, but one that may not blossom until the season's second half. Maxfield welcomes back three starters -- Jr. OH Mady Noble, Jr. L Becca Morse and Jr. M Sadie McRae. Sr. RS-OH Kaiessa Sounart may help if she recovers from an elbow injury. New varsity players from the lower levels or incoming freshmen are Jr. OH Nicole Newlin, Fr. S-RS Anita Babic and Fr. M  Natalie Meyer. A quarter of transfers must wait until midseason to play, but could bolster the outlook -- Sr. Oh Mary Shroll (Tempe Prep), Sr. M Jenna Bolena and Jr.S  Ashley Hayden (both via Desert Vista) and Jr. S McKenna Olsen (Mesquite).

COACH COMMENT: We are very young experience-wise after losing 18 players to graduation from the last two seasons.  Before our transfers are eligible we will be relying on a very young group to grow up quickly as we play a brutal schedule to start the season - Xavier, Perry, Sunnyslope, Queen Creek and Chaparral. Once everyone is cleared we will be solid, especially defensively as we should be able to extend a lot of rallies.

DESERT VISTA

A couple years removed from back-to-back state titles, Desert Vista will have its hands full competing in the very tough Central Region with the likes of Corona del Sol, Mountain Pointe, Highland and newcomer Queen Creek. Molly West extends her long run as Thunder coach. Returning starters are Jr. OH Brooke Bluetreich, So. S Llia Wu, Jr. MB Jennifer Soto and Jr. MB Milah Anderson. Looking to move into a starting role is Jr. OPP Erin Kirkpatrick plus some underclassmen -- Fr. OH Kylie Moran, Fr. L Kate Morin, So. L Peyton Glover and Fr. MB-OPP Lilly Woods.

COACH COMMENT: It's too early to really know how well we will do. We are big and athletic, but young in a couple areas. Certainly a team that will get a lot better throughout the season and may surprise some teams this year.

MESA

Mesa will rely heavily on its two returning starters to try and defend its East Valley Region title. Coach Amy Strawn welcomes back senior and four-year varsity starte Annie Hatch. Hatch is an outside hitter and committed to Iowa State. Also back starting is her sister, Jr. setter Kate Hatch. Another sister act -- junior twins Brooklin and Bridgit Carter-- are middle blockers and three sport athletes.

COACH COMMENT: We are young so it will be a battle for us to repeat as city champs, but we will compete.

RED MOUNTAIN

Red Mountain moves forward with another new head coach, Kristy Simmons, as it looks to rise  in the East Valley Region that has belonged to Mesa High of late. Last year Mesa and Skyline swept the Mountain Lionsin region play and Mesa prevented them from going to state in the play-in round. Three returning starters pace the Mountain Lions -- Sr. L Makenna Fullford, Sr. DS Taylor Westra and Jr. MB Peyton Hathaway. Sr. OH Corrine Veik could be one of the leaders on the attack. A pair of sophomores should fill in nicely -- middle blockers Claire LuzHoxsie and Abby McElroy.

Mountain View also features a new head coach with Clark Fleming trying to bring the Toros up in the East Valley Region and perhaps more. It might be tough as Mountain View returns one starter -- Jr. OH Hannah Decious. Another varsity returner is Sr. MB Kaylie Green. 

COACH COMMENT: With only one returning starter we obviously have a lot of room for growth. Luckily, we have several seniors who are looking for their chance to impress At the same time,a string of young talent may find its way onto the floor. With no big name players to boast of, and a potentially young starting squad, we expect to grow quickly and steal some matches from unsuspecting teams.