Inland Empire League Volleyball
In predicted order of finish:
Lake City Timberwolves
1995 record: 3-5 IEL, 16-12 overall
Coach: Kent Scanlon
Years coaching: 22, 3rd at LC
Top returners: Sarah Perry, 5-7, senior, setter; Lindsay Herbert, 5-11, junior, middle blocker; Heather Stetson, 5-11, jr., outside hitter; Olivia Sementi, 5-8, sr., oh; Alison Asher, 6-3, jr., mb/oh; Jenna Orton, 5-7, sr., oh; Melanie Adams, 5-5, jr., back-row specialist.
Top newcomers: Laura Dodge, 5-10, sophomore, mb; Cheryl Dilday, 5-4, sr., oh; Marni Hayes, 5-7, soph., oh; Heather Thamm, 5-9, jr., oh.
Quick sets: LC opened the season Tuesday with a 15-12, 15-8 victory over St. Maries. It was the firstever victory against St. Maries by a Scanlon team (he was at CdA for nine years).
Coach’s comment: “We’ll be much more versatile offensively. We’re working very hard to be the best passing team around. If we can be a good blocking and good passing team, we’ll be very tough.”
Outlook: LC has the ingredients to soar to the top of the league. The T-Wolves have multiple hitters, size for blocking, capable passers and a three-year starter at setter (Perry). The T-Wolves may have the most potential to play deep into the season of all teams in the league.
Lewiston Bengals
1995 record: 5-3, 14-11
Coach: Laura Horton
Years coaching: 3
Top returners: Laura Bloom, 6-2, sr., mb; Kari Alldredge, 5-10, sr., mb; Vicki Smith, 5-6, sr., setter; Annie Foster, 5-8, sr., oh; Sarah Emerson, 5-6, sr., back row; Brianna Martin, 5-8, sr., oh; Becky Overall, 5-7, jr., setter.
Top newcomers: Mandy Hunt, 5-7, jr., setter; Kim Wegner, 6-0, jr., oh.
Quick sets: One of the Bengals’ strengths is the continuity in their coaching staff. Horton is starting her third season, the longest stint by a Lewiston coach in some time.
Coach’s comment: “I hate to sound overconfident, but we’ll give everybody a run for their money. I think teams will be surprised at how deep we are. I can bring anybody off the bench and not miss a step.”
Outlook: Most of the league’s coaches are qualifying their optimism with words like “cautious” or “guarded.” Not Horton. For good reason, too. Seven experienced players return, led by the middle blocking tandem of Bloom and Alldredge.
Coeur d’Alene Vikings
1995 record: 4-4, 19-21
Coach: Karla Mitchell
Years coaching: 3
Top returners: Angie Shirley, 6-1, sr., mb; Kimi Towery, 5-7, sr., setter; Jessica Janke, 5-9, sr., oh; Bre Pelsma, 5-4, sr., back row; Jamie Meek, 5-9, sr., oh.
Top newcomers: Kellie Stern, 5-10, soph., mb; Melissa Martin-Gilhoover, 5-8, jr., oh; Alana Beck, 5-9, sr., oh.
Quick sets: The Viks won’t play a match at home until October because new bleachers are being installed. If CdA survives the road in September, the Viks could use home-court advantage to capture a league title in October.
Coach’s comment: “At this point, our young players are most intimidated by themselves. They don’t want to make mistakes. We’re not going to come out and dominate. We’ll lose some games along the way, but hopefully we’ll be up to par by (regionals).”
Outlook: It’s a paradox. The Viks return the most experience in Mitchell’s three seasons, but the experience drops off dramatically after Shirley, Towery and Janke. The Viks opened the season in impressive fashion Tuesday, notching their first victory over A-2 power St. Maries since 1980. The Viks have as legitimate of a shot at a state berth as any team.
Sandpoint Bulldogs
1995 record: 8-0 league champ, 27-1 state champ
Coach: Jeff Hurst
Years coaching: 4
Top returners: Mandy Ringhand, 5-10, sr., oh; Ashley Carlson, 5-10, sr., oh; Kara Cavasar, 5-5, sr., setter.
Top newcomers: Brea Sodorff, 5-6, sr., setter; Jessica Lippi, 5-7, freshman, oh.
Quick sets: Hurst begins life after Nieman and Bond, two of the players largely responsible for Sandpoint’s two straight state titles.
Coach’s comment: “We’re not going to have the ability to overlook anybody. It’s going to be a shooting match all year. It’s going to come down to the last point in the (regional) tournament. Every league match will be hotly contested.”
Outlook: It’s a rebuilding year, and Hurst says the future is bright. But he’s not looking beyond this season. Several players must step up to support Ringhand, the lone returner with much varsity match experience. Earning a state berth would be as impressive as the Bulldogs’ consecutive state titles.
Post Falls Trojans
1995 record: 0-8, 5-19
Coach: Karla Merrill
Years coaching: 18, 10th at PF
Top returners: Jessica Waltz, 5-10, sr., mb; Rachel Edmonds, 5-7, sr., setter; Lyndsy Klaudt, 5-7, sr., oh; Sasha Hrycenko, 5-4, sr., back row.
Top newcomers: Janelle Ruen, 5-11, soph., mb; Sandra Juhlin, 5-9, jr., oh; Autumn Nesbitt, 5-8, sr., oh; Heidi Strobel, 5-7, sr., oh.
Quick sets: The Trojans went winless in league last year. That won’t happen this season. Merrill expects more, but Post Falls should at the least play spoiler.
Coach’s comment: “If they continue to improve, they’ll be in the hunt. They’re very self-disciplined, they like the game, they’re very coachable. There’s not much not to like about this team.”
Outlook: With one of its most athletic teams in recent history, Post Falls is poised to compete with the upper-division teams. The Trojans don’t have enough depth to realistically contend for the league championship, though. But they’ll put a scare into teams before the season is over.
xxxx PLAYERS TO WATCH 1. Angie Shirley, 6-foot-1, senior, middle blocker, Coeur d’Alene 2. Sarah Perry, 5-7, senior, setter, Lake City 3. Mandy Ringhand, 5-10, senior, outside hitter, Sandpoint 4. Kimi Towery, 5-7, senior, setter, Coeur d’Alene 5. Laura Bloom, 6-2, senior, middle blocker, Lewiston 6. Jessica Janke, 5-9, senior, outside hitter, Coeur d’Alene 7. Olivia Sementi, 5-8, senior, outside hitter, Lake City