Atholton Raiders
1997 record: 3-14 overall, 2-11 county
Coach: Bruce Lindblad
Classification: 2A
Top players: Jen Thomas, Sr., OH; Lauren Mickley, Jr., OH; Jessica Poston, Soph., MH; Jen Poston, Jr., S.
Outlook: "We'll be much improved from last year," said first-year coach Lindblad, who served as an assistant varsity coach the last two seasons. "Athletically we're in better shape. We have better athletes. They work hard and I think they'll see some positive results." Thomas, Mickley and Jen Poston are returning starters, and Thomas and Mickley will serve as captains. Also expected to contribute are two transfer students -- junior outside hitter Barbara Delsi and junior middle hitter Kristin Maynard -- and sophomore middle hitter Julie Frostbutter, up from the junior varsity. Atholton will play a 6-2, with Jen Poston and junior Amanda Ramsey the setters. The Raiders don't have a lot of height, and are working hard to become better defensively. Lindblad believes the combination of having five club players and good athletes will make for a more successful season.
Centennial Eagles
1997 record: 20-0 overall, 13-0 county
Coach: Mike Bossom
Classification: 2A
Top players: Lisa Chapman, Sr., S; Julie Taury, Sr., OH; Beth Stadling, Jr., RH; Kim Emrich, Jr., OH.
Outlook: The Eagles were ranked No. 1 at the start of the 1986 season and haven't dropped since, going 39-0 the last two years. Can the school that has won 11 county titles (including the last seven) and seven state championships (six of the last seven years) maintain that kind of success? "This team has the capability of being as good as last year," Bossom said. "They need to work hard and want it. The challenge for them is to play together as a team. Right now, they haven't played enough together to feel comfortable with the person next to them." Centennial will play a 5-1 offense, with Chapman, an All-Metro setter, leading the way. Chapman and Stradling are returning starters, but the team lost seven seniors, including The Sun's Player of the Year, Briana Zolak (now at Towson University), and first-team All-Metro Robyn West (Elon College). Taury and Emrich have improved and will start, as will senior backcourt specialist Rachel Alpert. The Eagles will carry three seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and one freshman. "I think people will be surprised with some of our younger players," said Bossom, who added his team's depth is as strong as ever. Others who will see significant playing time are junior middle hitter Amanda Olsen, freshman middle hitter Lindsay Feller and junior backcourt specialist Erin Rochelle.
Chapelgate Christian Flames
1997 record: 14-4 overall, 5-0 league
Coach: Chris Moxley
League: AIS B Division
Top players: Jennie Van Ness, Sr. OH; Sarah Cassel, Sr., S; Laura Carder, Sr., S; Laura Starsoneck, Jr., MH.
Outlook: With only one returning starter, Van Ness, the Flames might start off a little slowly. But Moxley said "the potential is there" to be as good as last year. "They just need court time," Moxley said, to learn how to play their positions in the 6-2 system. Starsoneck is playing her first season of volleyball. An excellent basketball and softball player, Starsoneck is the tallest player (5 feet 11) and will anchor a strong net defense. The Flames have good height this season -- Van Ness and freshman middle hitter Carly Fyfe are both 5-9 -- and Moxley plans to take advantage of it. The Flames won the AIS B division title last year, and Moxley again expects the team to be competitive. Sophomore backcourt specialist Meghan Klein also is expected to contribute.
Glenelg Gladiators
1997 record: 14-6 overall; 8-5 county
Coach: Ciaran Lesikar
Classification: 1A
Top players: Jamie Bullock, Sr., OH; Kristi Hedlesky, Sr., OH; Laurie Driver, Sr., MH.
Outlook: The Gladiators aren't as strong as last year's team that reached the Class 1A state final, but they should be competitive. "We're trying to put the girls in positions where they're strong, and avoid putting them in situations where their weakness will hurt us," said Lesikar, in his first year as varsity coach. "We're not going to be playing at a super-high level. What we need is consistency." Bullock, the team's top hitter, and Hedlesky will serve as captains. Lesikar said Hedlesky, who came off the bench last year, attended camps all summer and "has improved tremendously." Lesikar said "blocking will be a big key for us on defense," and that the 5-11 Driver will lead the way. Nicole Barnoski, coming off a broken right foot she suffered playing softball in the summer, will be the setter. Barnoski, a junior, was a setter two years ago on the junior varsity and last year a backcourt specialist on varsity. Melanie Mills, a freshman, will start as a backcourt specialist.
Hammond Golden Bears
1997 record: 11-6 overall, 9-4 county
Coach: Ken McLaughlin
Classification: 1A
Top players: Monica McLaughlin, Sr., S; Stefanie Bumgarner, Sr., MH; Neyda Moulier, Sr., OH.
Outlook: The Golden Bears went unbeaten in their division last year, but with only two starters back -- McLaughlin and Bumgarner -- that's going to be difficult to repeat. In fact, McLaughlin said this season would be a rebuilding year because the team lost six of its top eight players from last year. "We're going to get better as the season progresses," the coach said. "We want to point toward the end of the season and the playoffs." Monica McLaughlin is an excellent setter and will be the floor leader. Moulier is the top hitter on team, which has six seniors, three juniors and three freshmen. One freshman -- outside hitter Julie Bixler -- will start. Also starting will be Courtney Price, a backcourt specialist and outside hitter up from the JV. Senior Alessandra Romeiro, a 6-foot left-handed exchange student from Brazil, and 6-3 freshman Katie Wright will help the team's depth. "We've got some inexperience," McLaughlin said. "We're working on being a good passing team that plays defense."
Howard Lions
1997 record: 7-9 overall, 5-8 county
Coach: Laura Heinz
Classification: 2A
Top players: Ophelia Tindall, Sr., OH; Julie Newhouse, Sr., OH.
Outlook: The team has dedicated the season to longtime coach Craig O'Connell, who died last Friday. "We're going to work really hard to make him proud, and maybe win some matches that we're not expected to win," Tindall said. "This team has a lot of heart, and we won't give up." Tindall, Newhouse and senior setter Lia Bernstein will serve as captains, and help first-year coach Heinz. The Lions have four returning starters -- Tindall, Newhouse, Bernstein and senior middle hitter Sarah Berg -- and hope to improve on last year's overall 7-9 mark, which was their best record this decade. Junior setter Amy Bumiller and sophomore middle hitters Kristin Johnson and Lindsay Frank will play important roles.
Long Reach Lightning
1997 record: 3-15 overall, 0-13 county
Coach: Christine Ewing
Classification: 2A
Top players: Kathy Shahrokh, Jr., S; Janean Allen, Sr., OH; Candice Washington, Soph., MH.
Outlook: Beginning its third season, Long Reach still is looking for its first league win. Ewing, with five returning starters, is confident that will happen many times over. "We're much better," Ewing said. "I expect us to be at least .500." Leading the attack will be Allen, the team's top hitter. The 6-foot-1 Washington, who played volleyball for the first time last season, was one of seven varsity players to play club in the off-season and, according to Ewing, is a "much-improved" player. Kristin Lundy, a junior setter, is a transfer student from Dulaney High and "will make an impact right off the bat," said Ewing. Long Reach had a number of opportunities to win league matches last year, losing twice to Atholton in five games and once to Howard in five games. Against Howard, the Lightning won the first two games only to lose three straight. Ewing admits winning matches like those "was a big stop we never got over and we need to now." She said this year's team has the talent to "win the close ones and take the ones that shouldn't be close." Tamara Jackson, a 6-1 junior outside hitter, and Jessica Modeen, a junior outside hitter, also will contribute.
Mount Hebron Vikings
1997 record: 10-6 overall, 8-5 county
Coach: Kedre Fairley
Classification: 2A
Top players: Kristina Kaltreider, Sr., OH; Samantha Crehan, Sr., MH.
Outlook: The Vikings will play a 6-2 this season because Fairley believes it's a better fit for her players. Kaltreider, a second-team All-County performer last year, has one of the hardest shots in the county and again will be the Vikings' top offensive threat. "She has attributes of a very talented player," Fairley said. Kaltreider and Crehan are the only returning starters. Jackie Armstead and Lisa Carroll, both juniors, will be the setters. Both had limited playing time on the varsity last season. Crehan and Armstead are team captains, and Fairley said the "leadership I have from [them] is unbelievable." Fairly, beginning her third season, said this year's team is "truely coachable. They want to be coached." And Fairley said she's better equipped to do so. "I have learned a lot," said Fairley. "We're doing a lot of things we haven't done [in the past] because of my inexperience." She added that she's "getting feedback that I'm doing a better job. I feel they believe in me." Fairley also is looking for junior middle hitter Julie Kurtzman, who was hobbled last season with an injured ankle, to be a solid contributor to the team.
Oakland Mills Scorpions
1997 record: 8-8 overall, 7-6 county
Coach: Kim Rosado
Classification: 1A
Top players: Nicki Haverstick, Jr., MH; Sylvie Safren, Sr., BCS/RH; Erin Hughes, Sr. S.
Outlook: "We're not a great team, we're not a fair team, we're a good team," said Rosado. She said the team has "no superstars," but is a "super group" that "plays well together." Haverstick, Safren and Hughes are returning starters and will serve as captains. Seniors Ilyse Reid, a setter, and Jenny O'Keefe, a backcourt specialist and outside hitter, are back for another varsity season. The Scorpions' JV team lost only one county match last season, and some of those players -- junior outside hitter Holly St. Clair, junior outside hitter Megan Greeve, sophomore middle hitter Rayna DuBose and junior outside hitter Jenny Skaggs -- are expected to make solid contributions. "We're looking forward to an enjoyable year," Rosado said.
River Hill Hawks
1997 record: 14-3 overall, 11-2 county
Coach: Sybil Modispacher
Classification: 2A
Top players: Shannon Patrick, Jr., MH/OH; Lisa Humphrey, Jr., OH; Sarah Albert, So., S/OH.
Outlook: The Hawks finished third in the final Sun poll last year, and they should be as strong this season. Modispacher said she and her team have "high expectations," but stayed away from making specific predictions. "I think we'll be successful," Modispacher said, Four starters return -- Patrick, Humphrey, junior hitter Carrie Kelehan and junior backcourt specialist Susan Trapuzzano. Patrick, a first-team All-County selection last year, is one of the top hitters in the county. She improved her game this summer by playing in Europe. Modispacher said junior outside hitter Kristin Dahlen, whose playing time was limited last year because of injuries, "has really improved a lot." And Modispacher is looking forward to big things from 5-foot-11 freshman hitter Krystal Jacobsone. "I look for her to be a top player in the near future," Modispacher said. A key addition to the team is Albert, who was the starting setter last season at Wilde Lake. The Hawks lost setter Amber Rieg, a first-team All-County and second-team All-Metro performer, to graduation. "We're very fortunate that she's here," said Modispacher of Albert, who is enrolled in the tech magnet program. "She gets along great with everyone. She really fits right in."
Wilde Lake Wildecats
1997 record: 4-14 overall, 2-11 county
Coach: Regan Hall
Classification: 3A
Top players: Lindsay Smardon, Jr., OH/BCS; Nicole Kellogg, Jr., S; Leslie Devereaux, Jr., MH; Meredith Zaslow, Jr., BCS.
Outlook: The Wildecats had their best season since 1983 last year, and first-year coach Hall thinks this year's team can do better. "We're a young team but we have people with good skills and they work well together," said Hall, who added that serving and defense are two team strengths. Smardon was a second-team All-County performer last year, and Hall said her leadership will help. "During practice she's very positive with the girls," Hall said. "She's willing to help them out anyway she can." Smardon and Devereaux are team captains. Kellogg, up from the JV, will be the setter this season, replacing Sarah Albert, who transferred to River Hill. The Wildecats have only eight players on the varsity, with sophomore Cathy James the tallest player at 5-foot-8. Also on the team are sophomores Michelle Marucci and P. J. Luncssord and Lindsay Hall, the lone senior.
Top 15
1. Centennial
2. Severna Park
3. River Hill
4. Mount Hebron
5. Dulaney
6. South River
7. Lansdowne
8. Loch Raven
9. Liberty
10. Glen Burnie
11. Glenelg
12. Chesapeake-AA
13. Perry Hall
14. St. Mary's
15. Catonsville
Pub Date: 9/02/98