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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Inland Empire League Volleyball

In predicted order of finish

Lake City Timberwolves

1996 record: 4-4 (IEL), 15-11 overall

Coach: Kent Scanlon

Years coaching: 23rd, 4th at LC

Top returners: Lindsay Herbert, senior, 5-11, middle hitter; Alison Asher, sr., 6-4, right-side hitter; Melanie Adams, sr., 5-6, defensive specialist; Brianne Taylor, sr., 5-8, outside hitter; Kelley McCabe, sr., 5-10, oh; Laura Dodge, jr., 5-11, mh; Marni Hayes, jr., 5-10, oh; Heather Thamm, sr., 5-9, rh.

Newcomers: Jennifer Derr, sophomore, 5-3, setter; Kellie Stern, jr., 5-10, mh; Sabrina Trimpe, sr., 5-6, oh.

Quick sets: T-Wolves received a key transfer in Derr, who started as a freshman at Clark Fork. Asher is out for a week and could be lost for the season with a stomach problem.

Coach’s comments: “We’ve got all the ingredients to be very successful. I’ve got the athletes to do it. I will get our team to a point that they have the ability to execute and we could be very good.”

Outlook: The T-Wolves hope to be playing in their gym Oct. 31-Nov. 1 when the state tournament is held at LC, and they should be a playing host. T-Wolves have all the pieces to have the best team in the school’s short history. The big question mark looming after last season was setting. That’s solved with Derr.

Sandpoint Bulldogs

1996 record: 4-4, 11-13

Coach: Jeff Hurst

Years coaching: 5th

Top returners: Natalie Ward, sr., 5-9, oh; Jenny Bymaster, sr., 5-7, oh; Kaitlin Glines, jr., 5-10, mh; Jennifer Jeffres, jr., 5-7, oh; Jessica Lippi, soph., 5-10, s.

Newcomers: Jill Verby, jr., 5-6, rh; Briana Staglund, jr., 5-7, s; Janae Cates, soph., 5-10, mh; Megan Lippi, soph., 5-10, oh; Rochelle Ruen, frosh., 5-11, mh.

Quick sets: Just 20 girls turned out for varsity and junior varsity, Hurst’s lowest turnout and perhaps the lowest turnout in school history.

Coach’s comment: “The (turnout) was bittersweet. It was nice not to have to cut anybody, but you always would like a little more depth in the program. The girls we have are sold out to volleyball, though. They’re very spirited, very fired up. We may not be the power team of recent years, but we should ballhandle well.”

Outlook: The Bulldogs are coming off the first time not qualifying for state. Hurst has the talent to get the team back to state. League and regional play could come down to some interesting battles between Sandpoint and LC. Lippi has switched from outside hitter to setter - a position she feels will better suit her for college.

Post Falls Trojans

1996 record: 2-6, 8-14

Coach: Karla Merrill

Years coaching: 19th, 11th at PF

Top returners: Janelle Ruen, jr., 5-11, mh; Rachel Edmonds, sr., 5-7, s; Saundra Juhlin, sr., 5-10, oh; Susan Holland, sr., 5-6, ds.

Newcomers: Shandy Mills, sr., 5-8, mh; Amber Wetzel, jr., 5-7, oh; Drew Schooley, 5-3, jr., rh; Megan Fehling, jr., 5-9, mh.

Quick sets: Merrill brought back the fewest returning experienced players in her 11 years at Post Falls.

Coach’s comment: “The girls really want to get better. They’re not resistent to trying new things. They have a great deal of potential to improve.”

Outlook: If LC or Sandpoint stumbles, Trojans may surprise. The key for Post Falls is getting the ball to its hitters, especially Ruen. If Ruen receives opportunities, she’ll rank among the top hitters in the league. The lack of another proven offensive option will likely keep Post Falls from seriously threatening for a state berth.

Coeur d’Alene Vikings

1996 record: 7-1 (league champ), 21-6

Coach: Karla Mitchell

Years coaching: 4th

Top returners: Melissa Martin-Gilhoover, sr., 5-9, oh; Sarah Seale, sr., 5-8, oh.

Newcomers: Heather Hull, jr., 5-8, s; Katie Shirley, soph., 6-0, mh; Sarah Koslowski, soph., 5-9, rh/s; Krissi Ruiz, jr., 5-10, oh; Seila Laititi, jr., 5-8, mh.

Quick sets: The 1997 Viks remind Mitchell of her first year, when the school split and most of the returning talent was at LC.

Coach’s comment: “We’re starting over, but they’ve been a very, very enjoyable group to be around. We have a lot of athletic ability, but it takes more than that. Because of our youth we don’t have the strength to hit with power. We have to be realistic; we’re very young.”

Outlook: The Viks will make marked improvement over the course of the year - perhaps more than any other team in the league. But it won’t be enough. CdA could be a force in a year.

Lewiston Bengals

1996 record: 3-5, 11-9

Coach: Laura Horton

Years coaching: 4

Top returners: Mandy Hunt, sr., 5-7, s; Amy Church, sr., 5-9, mh; Becky Overall, sr., 5-7, s; Kim Wegner, sr., 6-1, mh; Lindsey Roberts, sr., 5-6, oh.

Newcomers: Krista Sullivan, jr., 5-11, oh; Michelle Bausch, jr., 5-11, oh; Jana Leachman, jr., 5-5, ds.

Quick sets: Although the Bengals graduated much experience and size, they’ll still be formidable in the front line. Lewiston’s problem is lack of depth.

Coach’s comment: “If we play consistently, I think we’ll be in the middle of things. We’re just trying to blend a lot of new kids together.”

Outlook: Third, fourth and fifth place in the league is a toss up. Lewiston could finish third or last. Lack of depth could catch up with the Bengals in the season’s second half.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Lindsay Herbert, senior, 5-foot-11, middle hitter, Lake City Jessica Lippi, sophomore, 5-10, setter, Sandpoint Janelle Ruen, junior, 5-11, middle hitter, Post Falls Jennifer Derr, sophomore, 5-3, setter, Lake City Kellie Stern, junior, 5-10, middle hitter, Lake City Krissi Ruiz, junior, 5-10, outside hitter, Coeur d’Alene

This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Lindsay Herbert, senior, 5-foot-11, middle hitter, Lake City Jessica Lippi, sophomore, 5-10, setter, Sandpoint Janelle Ruen, junior, 5-11, middle hitter, Post Falls Jennifer Derr, sophomore, 5-3, setter, Lake City Kellie Stern, junior, 5-10, middle hitter, Lake City Krissi Ruiz, junior, 5-10, outside hitter, Coeur d’Alene