Gsl Volleyball

Defending champion: Lewis and Clark (also State AAA champion)

Returning all-leaguers: First team - Brandy Barratt, Gonzaga Prep; Lea Ruhl, Ferris; Tamara Van Engelen, North Central. Second team - Ingrid Lindeblad, LC; Teana Scott, Rogers.

Opening matches: Today: Shadle Park at Mead, Rogers at G-Prep, LC at University. Thursday: Ferris at Shadle Park, NC at G-Prep. Central Valley opens Sept. 12 at NC.

Predicted finish: Ferris, G-Prep, Shadle, LC, NC, U-Hi, Mead, Rogers, CV.

Players to watch: Five all-league returners, plus Molly Jones and K.C. Richards, Ferris; Katie Williams, G-Prep; JoEne Heimbigner and Courtney Clary, Shadle; Sarah Hiss, LC; Aimee Wilson, NC; Devon Bakken, U-Hi; Jessica Sandborn, Mead; Ginger Clark, CV.

New coaches: Laurie Henry, CV; Steve Gillis, G-Prep.

Biggest change: The GSL and Big Nine Conference will advance four teams apiece from district to a regional tournament in the Tri-Cities. The top three from region will advance to the state tourney at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane.

Short tips: Williams of Prep fell off her bike and hurt her ankle, which may sideline her… . Setter Angel Whalen and outside hitter Kristina McAuley transferred from CV to U-Hi … Shadle has its shortest team in memory, and 5-9 outside hitter Kelli Pilkington may be out a month with a broken hand. … Mead is anything but short, as 6-1 Sandborn and 6-0 Jen Clark can attest… . For various reasons, three NC veterans didn’t turn out. … Rogers, with five varsity returners, believes setters Jenifor Wells and Jaime Christensen will lead coach Sharon Hankins to her best finish in six years… . Rogers, however, lost outside hitter Erika Robinson, who transferred to LC. … The defending state champion Tigers will make do with a roster of nine, including promising sophomores Erin Naipo and Carlin Oelgen.

, DataTimes