Atholton Raiders
1993 record: 5-9. Coach: Sybil Kessinger.
Top players: Jennifer Ponzette, Sr., OH; Amanda Williams, Sr., OH; Madigan Marth, So., OH; Eileen McQuenney, Jr., S.
Outlook: Two newcomers will try to get the Raiders to at least over .500. Kessinger, who coached Chincoteague High School in Virginia to two unbeaten seasons and four regional playoff appearances in four years, and Ponzette, a talented transfer from Palotti, could lift the Raiders into the top half of the standings after landing just two notches from the bottom last season. A solid all-around player and a strong outside hitter, the 5-9 Ponzette perfectly complements the Raiders' top returning player, the 5-7 Williams. Williams moves to the outside after spending last season as a setter. McQuenney moves up from the junior varsity to take over the setting spot. Marth, junior middle hitter Ariana Lowenbach and senior outside hitter Kelly Stewart should grab the other starting positions.
Centennial Eagles
1993 record: 22-1. Coach: Mike Bossom.
Top players: Krisha Svehla, Sr., MH; Chrissy Sfakianos, Sr., D; Sheri Kujawa, Sr., S; Kelly West, Sr., OH; Jen West, Jr., OH.
Outlook: The more things change, the more they should stay the same for the three-time defending state Class 3A champions, who finished last season ranked No. 2 behind Severna Park, the only team to beat them. Former assistant Bossom takes over for Bill Shook, who moved up to the college ranks, but the Howard County champs come back loaded. Despite graduating All-Metro star and Co-Howard County Player of the Year Carlyn Cangiano, the Eagles return her counterpart in powerhouse 6-foot-1 middle hitter Svehla, a second-team All-Metro pick, as well as two strong outside hitters in the West sisters. Sophomore 5-11 middle hitter Meredith Price will step into Cangiano's spot while 6-0 senior Michelle Dugan, a key blocker, and 5-9 junior outside hitter Katie McCulloch add to the Eagles' tremendous net presence.
Glenelg Gladiators
1993 record: 17-2. Coach: Marlene Janis.
Top players: Elisa Davidson, Jr., OH/S; Susan Geisler, Sr., OH/S; Tina Avgerinos, Sr., MH; Jaime Marshall, Sr., OH.
Outlook: The Gladiators have a tough act to follow after turning in their best season ever with a Class 2A state title, the No. 3 ranking and All-Metro honors for Janis and Marisa Davidson. "Last year, we centered a lot of our play around Marisa," said Janis, in her 10th season. "With the talent we have, with three starters coming back, we will have more options. The way we play will be a bit different. We have more people who can put the ball away although obviously they're not as strong as Marisa was." Elisa Davidson, the only underclassman on last year's All-County team, and Geisler will pull double duty as they did last year while Avgerinos, Marshall, junior outside hitter Cara Franklin and sophomore middle hitter Andrea Marks round out the starting lineup. The Gladiators remain a strong defensive team and they will be shooting for another trip to the state final four.
Hammond Golden Bears
1993 record: 10-5. Coach: Ken McLaughlin.
Top players: Tina Wilmer, Jr., OH/S; Misha'el Shabrami, Sr., D; Autumn Roby, Sr., D.
Outlook: Graduation took a bigger toll on the Bears than any other team in the league. Five starters are gone including All-County star Sonia Keiner, who powered the Bears to third-place tie in Howard County and a final No. 13 ranking. This year's team will look a lot different, said McLaughlin, an assistant last season. "We are rebuilding. We're not tall.
don't have a whole lot of power like we did last year. What we are going for is defense. We'll have dig the ball up and just let them make the mistakes." Two of the Bears' top returning players are backcourt defensive specialists, Shabrami and Roby. Wilmer is the only starter back in the lineup, but 5-10 junior middle hitter Alison Pflugard will add some power while juniors Marisha McLaughlin and Brandy Peaker take over as setters.
Howard Lions
1993 record: 1-14. Coach: Craig O'Connell.
Top players: Jessica Gershman, Sr., OH; Stephanie Maison, Sr., S; Kristie Dymond, So., MH; Catherine Lohri, Sr., S.
Outlook: Despite losing four starters, including senior Mona Jackson to knee surgery, O'Connell expects a better season this fall. The Lions have better skills, but they still will have to rely a lot on their backcourt defense, because only two players stand over 5-6. At 5-6, Gershman is the top returning hitter with 5-9 Dymond expected to add more power. Maison gets some help with the setting chores from 5-11 exchange student Lohri. Sophomore Rachael Grantham also will see plenty of action. Although the Lions don't have the power to rival the county's best, O'Connell is encouraged by the improvement. "Whether that translates into more victories, I don't know, because we usually lost our matches in three games. This year, we might end up with a lopsided record, but we might win a game or two in most matches."
Mount Hebron Vikings
1993 record: 11-6. Coach Jeannine McCrumb.
Top players: Lia Kaltreider, Sr., OH; Dani Vissers, Sr., MH; Kathy Doyle, MH; Sylvia Kaltreider, Jr., S.
Outlook: The Vikings won three straight state titles before reclassification dealt them a tumble last year. Still, the Vikings, who wound up ranked No. 4, had a terrific season despite suffering half of their losses to Centennial -- the last in the regional final. With five returning starters, the Vikings should push Centennial even more this season. Lia Kaltreider, Doyle and 6-2 Vissers bring back plenty of punch at the net and 6-0 outside hitter Kate Hannas moves up from JV to add to the power. Sylvia Kaltreider, who moved up halfway through last season, will take over the setting chores for two-time All-County pick Kelly Quinn, who is no longer with the team. Sophomore Kerry Quinn also will handle some setting. The only thing the Vikings lacked last season was consistency, so if they can add that to their repertoire of experience and skills, they should improve their record as well as their third-place standing in the Howard County league.
Oakland Mills Scorpions
1993 record: 6-9. Coach: Kim Rosado.
Top players: Bria McElroy, Sr., OH; Dori Brain, Sr., OH/S; Amy Penn, Sr., D; Jennifer St. Clair, Sr., OH.
Outlook: The good news is the Scorpions have gotten taller since Rosado took over the program. The bad news is that, at this rate, they won't be up to 6-0 until the turn of the century. But 5-6 is certainly an improvement over 5-4. The 5-8 McElroy provides most of the power, and 5-7 Brain, 5-4 St. Clair and 5-11 junior middle hitter Lisa Skaggs also can put the ball down. Junior outside hitter Jean Haverstick also doubles as a setter behind Brain. The Scorpions have more experience this season despite losing their top player, Melissa Singleton, to graduation, because they have a few more club players than in the past. Despite a consistently strong defense, they just don't have the power to make a run at the county's best, so Rosado said the Scorpions' goal is to improve on last year's record.
Wilde Lake Wildecats
1993 record: 1-14. Coach: Kelly Rosati.
Top players: Anika Middleton, Sr., S; Beth Lindblad, Jr., S; Adele Chenier, Sr., MH; Heidi Olson, Sr., OH; Maria Romano, Sr., D.
Outlook: Despite their record, the Wildecats made great strides last season, and Rosati said they are picking up right where they left off. Even though four starters are gone from last year's team, Rosati sees even more potential in this group. "There's a different tone. They think they can win games now. Last year, they would get frustrated when they couldn't do something and they didn't know how to fix it. Now, they're more into winning instead of thinking, 'Well, this is the way it's always been.' " Rosati has plenty of athletic ability on this team, and even though there's not a lot of power, there's some solid defense that developed during last season.