North Star League Volleyball

In predicted order of finish

Kootenai Warriors

1996 record: 5-3, 8-10 overall

Coach: Lynnette Bartholdt

Years coaching: 1st

Top returners: Jamie Bornitz, senior, 5-11, middle hitter; Shennelle Kraack, junior, 5-3, setter; Natalie Damiano, sr., 5-6, outside hitter; Annie Goodson, sr., 5-10, mh.

Newcomers: None.

Quick sets: Both Goodson and Bornitz are left-handers and have 20-inch reaches.

Coach’s comments: “They’re practicing switching and playing in their proper positions this year. I think they can make it all the way to state as hard as they’ve been working. I don’t see any reason why they can’t.”

Outlook: The Warriors are adjusting this year to a new coach who has them hopping all over the court. Bartholdt was trained by Eastern Washington University coach Pam Parks and is coming into this league with enough enthusiasm that it may take this team all the way to state.

Clark Fork Wampus Cats

1996 record: 7-1 (NSL champ), 13-12

Coach: Mike Randles

Years coaching: 2nd

Top returners: Erin Manderscheid, sr., 5-7, s; Kelly Miller, sr., 5-7, defensive specialist; Katie Hess, sophomore, 5-5, s/oh; Alison Franck, soph., 5-3, defensive specialist.

Newcomers: Jill Miller, jr., 5-7, oh; Ashley Ruen, freshman, 5-5, oh.

Quick sets: Former head coach Sandy Ross returns as Randles’ assistant and junior varsity coach.

Coach’s comments: “My feeling is if we can play like we are capable and play a good passing game, we’ll go real far. They have a lot of experience under my play.”

Outlook: The Wampus Cats, who were last year’s league and district winners and battled their way to state, may have a more difficult path ahead of them this year after losing some top starters to graduation and other schools. But Randles’ positive attitude may work a miracle.

Lakeside Knights

1996 record: 4-4, 9-16

Coach: Brad Veile

Years coaching: 7th

Top returners: Mindy Middleton, sr., 5-6, oh; Angela Flint, sr., 5-7, s; Mary Kolar, soph., 5-9, mh; Clarity Wolff, sr., 5-7, mh; Michelle Kelley, soph., 5-8, oh/mh; Josetta SiJohn, soph., 5-4, s/oh.

Newcomers: Amy Fuchs, soph., 5-7, oh; Sunny Mullen, soph., 5-8, mh/oh.

Quick sets: The Knights have solid offensive potential. Fuchs and Flint spent their summer at volleyball camp.

Coach’s comments: “I’m looking forward to doing some winning this year. We’ll definitely be ruled one of the contenders. The girls are working well and playing well as a unit, but they still need some fine tuning.”

Outlook: Volleyball camp experience may be what Lakeside needs to make it to the top. With the return of most starters and Veile’s experience the team could reach new heights this year.

Falls Christian Eagles

1996 record: 2-6, 7-13

Coach: Danica Belleque

Years coaching: 3rd

Top returners: Meghann Jenkins, sr., 5-8,mh; April Coy, sr., 5-10, mh; Ashlee Taylor, jr., 5-6, oh; Melanie Johnson, jr., 5-4, s.

Newcomers: Taylor Moering, jr., 5-6, ds; Jennifer Tuttle, jr., 5-6, oh.

Quick sets: The small, private Christian school has created a tight-knit feel for the team as players have grown up together.

Coach’s comments: “Right now, we know how each other thinks and how each other plays so we just jell together out there. We’re pretty optimistic this season. We’re definitely going to be in the top two.”

Outlook: Belleque begins her third year, which is the longest stint by an FCA coach in years. FCA has a chance to sweep the league if it holds its cohesiveness on the court when it counts.

Mullan Tigers

1996 record: 2-6, 5-10

Coach: Dawn McKinnon

Years coaching: 2nd

Top returners: Katie Elwood, sr., 5-9, oh; Lori Engle, sr., 5-10, oh; Amanda Hegbloom, sr., 5-5, s; Tiffany Hoven, jr., 5-5, s; Natalie Autio, soph., 5-8, ds; Liz Winstead, soph., 5-6, ds.

Newcomers: Tabitha Lane, sr., 5-7, ds; Michelle Garitone, jr., 5-9, oh.

Quick sets: All starters return.

Coach’s comments: “We look real good and we’re very optimistic. We’re just taking one day at a time. They’re a good group of girls and we’ve done a lot of conditioning.”

Outlook: The Tigers have height on their side and need to use it to their advantage if they want to climb to the top. After beating Wallace last Saturday for the first time in 10 years, the Tigers are confident heading into the season.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Erin Manderscheid, senior, 5-foot-5, setter/outside hitter, Clark Fork. Angela Flint, senior, 5-7, setter, Lakeside Annie Goodson, senior, 5-10, middle hitter, Kootenai Katie Elwood, senior, 5-9, outside hitter, Mullan Kati Hess, sophomore, outside hitter/ setter, Clark Fork Jamie Bornitz, senior, 5-11, middle hitter, Kootenai Amy Fuchs, sophomore, 5-7, outside hitter, Lakeside