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West Valley high school volleyball sets up for season
Comments 0 | Recommend 0The West Valley volleyball season starts up Sept. 2. Below are capsule glances of the high school girl's volleyball teams across the Northwest Valley, including defending 5A Div.-II state champion Ironwood and 4A newcomers Liberty:
Sunrise Mountain Mustangs
School Address:
21200 North 83rd Ave., Peoria
Peoria Panthers
School Address:
11200 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria
Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions
School Address:
22800 N. 67th Ave., Glendale
Liberty Lions
School Address:
9621 W. Speckled Gecko Drive, Peoria
Ironwood Eagles
School Address:
6051 W. Sweetwater, Glendale
Deer Valley Skyhawks
School Address:
18424 N. 51st Ave., Glendale
Centennial Coyotes
School Address:
14388 N. 79th Ave., Peoria
Cactus Cobras
School Address:
6330 W. Greenway Road, Glendale
Region:
Class 4A Div.-I, West Valley
2007 Record:
18-1Postseason Result:
Lost to Cactus Shadows in semifinals.Head Coach:
Lindsay Walls (fourth year at Cactus)One word that describes your coaching style:
ExpectationsWho is the best player in region:
Kelli Dallmann (Cactus)Who is the most underestimated player on team:
Erika Lodgek - she is small in size but can get any ball anywhere on the court.What is your team's best attribute:
Healthy competition between players and positions.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
I think Sunnyslope will be tough. Also, we look forward to the tournaments.Region:
Class 5A Div.-II, Desert West
2007 Record:
16-9Postseason Result:
Lost to Ironwood in finals.Head Coach:
Carly Bourland (ninth year at Centennial)One word that describes your coaching style:
Expectations, as in I have high expectations that I hold my girls to.Who is the best player in region:
Mackenzie Willneff, Brooke Pottle, and Dana Gundrum for everything they bring to the court during the game.Who is the most underestimated player on team:
Megan Rhoades. She plays right side and always finds the open shot.What is your team's best attribute:
Our team chemistry.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
Ironwood and Sunrise Mountain. They have always been rivals and are always great matches.Region:
Class 5A Div.-II, Northwest
2007 Record:
15-12Postseason Result:
Lost to Centennial in second round.Head Coach:
Jackie Wallace (third year at Deer Valley)One word that describes your coaching style:
Dedicated/intense.Who is the best player in region:
Izzy Gaulia and Kaitlynn Ausmus of Deer Valley.Who is the most underestimated player on team:
Kaitlynn Ausmus who played middle for us last year, which was not her regular position. This year she is playing outside for us where she is amazing.What is your team's best attribute:
Intensity.What will be the key to your team's success:
Adjusting to new players on the team.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
We are looking forward to Ironwood and Mountain Ridge, who will both be tough.Region:
Class 5A Div.-II, Desert West
2007 Record:
29-11Postseason Result:
Won state championship, defeating Centennial in three sets.Head Coach:
Kathy Wilson (seventh year at Ironwood)Has winning last season's state championship changed this season's approach:
Winning the state championship was great for this program and was the result of a lot of hard work. My returners will be able to use the experience as they now know what it takes and can pass that on to the younger players. My team is approaching the season like they have approached every season - one match at a time.One word that describes your coaching style:
Reserved.Who is the best player in your region:
There are a lot of great players in our region.Who is the most underestimated player on your team:
I have many new players to my team and I think several will be underestimated. All of them have outstanding leadership skills and work ethic.What is your team's best attribute entering:
They have the will to win. They are willing to work hard, make sacrifices, and do what it takes to meet our goals.What will be the key to success this season:
Developing team chemistry with our new players and defense.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
We always enjoy playing the teams in our region because they are great rivalries. We also look forward to our tournaments because they give us a good idea of where we stand in the state.Region:
Independent
Head Coach:
Courtney Orcutt (first season at Liberty, sixth year coaching)One word that describes your coaching style:
Unwavering.What does it mean to coach the first varsity volleyball team at Liberty:
It is an honor to be building a program at this great school. We have wonderful athletes and a great staff, and I hope I can represent them well.What are your expectations:
Although young, I expect my team to be competitive and give some teams a run for their money.What is your team's best attribute:
A strong work ethic and drive.What will be the key to your team's success this season:
Working together and having my juniors demonstrate leadership.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
Cactus, because although we lost to them last year as a junior varsity team, it was the best match we ever played.Region:
Class 5A Div.-I, Desert Valley
2007 Record:
8-9Postseason Result:
Lost to Gilbert in second round.Head Coach:
Jon Devenney (seventh year at Mountain Ridge)One word that describes your coaching style:
SpecificWho is the best player in region:
Stephanie Preach, the junior setter from Xavier Prep.Who is the most underestimated player on your team:
Shannon Rutherford, she can do it all and is very effective, but does it quietly.What is your team's best attribute entering this season:
Defense, versatility, and teamwork. We have a great group of girls this year that really seem to get along, but push each other in practice. A number of girls can play multiple positions. As for defense, we have to be good at it, so we will be working hard to make it an attribute.What will be the key to your team's success:
Defense.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
Xavier. It's always fun to play one of the best teams in the state and see where you stand. Corona del Sol is another team I love to play. We play them first though, and a team never really looks that great in its first match.Region:
Class 4A Div.-I, West Valley
2007 Record:
12-5Postseason Result:
Lost to Sabino in the first round.Head Coach:
Teresa Fuller (second year at Peoria)One word that describes your coaching style:
Repetitive, but fun. I want the athletes to be more consistent with whatever skill we are working on, but I also want them to enjoy playing volleyball and their team.Who is the best player in your region:
Kelli Dallman from Cactus High School.Who is the most underestimated player on your team:
Estrella Linares - a junior who is quiet but is very consistent at hitting and passing.What is your team's best attribute entering this season:
Their attitude. I feel everyone is going into the season with a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard.What will be the key to your team's success:
Consistency and teamwork.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
Cactus and Millennium They were our toughest competitors last year in the region and I have a feeling they will be again this year. But I feel that all teams in our region are getting better every year competing at higher levels than the year before.Raymond S. Kellis Cougars
School Address:
8990 W. Orangewood Avenue, GlendaleRegion:
Class 4A Div.-II, Skyline2007 Record:
13-15Postseason Results:
Lost to Ampitheater in first round.Head Coach:
Mark Adams (four years with Kellis)One word that describes your coaching style:
Cooperative, but firm.Who is the best player in your region:
Our own Brooke Razo.Who is the most underestimated player on your team:
Christina Whitaker. She's only just begun to find her real potential.What is your team's best attribute entering this season:
Motivation.What will be the key to your team's success:
Bottom line, it always seems to be communication between teammates.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
The team we are looking forward to play is Buckeye High School, and the toughest will probably be Notre Dame Prep.2007 Record:
23-22
Postseason Result:
Lost to Centennial in the first round.Head Coach:
Tony Gale (first year with girl's program, five years with boys).One word that describes your coaching style:
Demanding.Who is the best player in your region:
Mackenzie Willneff and Brooke Pottle - Centennial; Katie Rutherford - Sunrise Mountain.Who is the most underestimated player on your team:
Nicole Battle. She is very skilled but overlooked because of size.What is your team's best attribute entering:
We have a strong work ethic.What will be the key to your team's success this season:
Putting the team first.Which teams on this season's schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest:
We look forward to Centennial because they are the toughest.
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