Panthers Ready To Defend State Title

Don’t get them wrong. The Mead Panthers are enjoying the view from the top.

But it sure is a different view.

The Panthers captured their first state volleyball championship last November by blitzing through the 16-team field at the Arena.

Ten months later, Mead is discovering how it feels to carry around the badge of “defending state champion.”

“The championship was awesome, a dream come true,” said 11-year Mead coach Judy Kight. “But this `defending state champion,’ that’s something new for me. We’re just busy finding things out about our team, just like everyone else.”

Mead became the third school from the North Side to win the state crown. Shadle Park (1984, ‘85, ‘87, ‘88, ‘93) and North Central (‘95) preceded the Panthers.

Shadle made its 18th state appearance last year and won its 11th top-four trophy. The Highlanders figure to be one of Mead’s biggest challengers again.

Mead looks solid again

The Panthers graduated three solid hitters from their championship team, but seven players have returned and 6-foot-3 Kelicia Shorts has transferred from Riverside.

Senior setter Wendy Baker, who is lined up to play at the University of Montana, will run the show. Her top two hitters should be 6-0 junior middle blocker Kari Vagstad and junior outside hitter Kali Rumberger.

Junior outside hitter Whitney Murphy, whose sister Lindsay guided last year’s title run and now plays for the University of Oregon, adds height (5-11) at the net.

The Panthers are three deep at setter, with senior Amy Vaughn and junior Rebekah Hornor capable enough to guide most GSL teams.

Mead is 52-10 in the GSL during the last four seasons.

The Panthers’ preseason schedule has included Idaho state champion Sandpoint (a loss), four-time defending GSL champ Ferris (a win) and last weekend’s high-powered Walla Walla Invitational.

“It makes us tougher,” Kight said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Mt. Spokane ready for next step

The Wildcats achieved their first big goal last season by winning the first two league matches in their three-year history.

The next step is obvious, said fourth-year coach Bridget Monahan.

“We have a huge team goal to make district playoffs this year for the first time,” Monahan said.

The onus will fall upon five returners who must pick up for four starters who graduated.

Rachel Bertholf, a 5-10 outside hitter, and Jill Wyrick, a 6-1 middle hitter, are Mt. Spokane’s returning seniors.

Other letterwinners are juniors Taci Van Leuven, Micaela Young and Tara Amistoso.

NC has five players back

Second-year coach Momi Bowles returns five players from last year’s 4-6 team but just three who saw much time.

Senior Hannah Meisen-Vehrs returns for a third season as starting setter. Her sister, Amy Meisen-Vehrs, and Amy Oates are sophomore returners at outside hitter.

“(Oates) played in almost every match last year,” Bowles said. “She will carry most of the load this season.”

Also back are seniors Markie Anderson and Shelly McCoy.

Sophomore Jennifer Van Engelen, up from the junior varsity, is the sister of current Eastern Washington University player Tamara. Tamara guided NC to the state title in 1995.

The Indians are 17-50 since their championship season, but matters are looking up.

“The sophomore class definitely has talent and potential,” Bowles said. “I like the idea that they are stuck with me for two years after this season.”

Rogers will be young

The Pirates took a big hit when their top player and only returning starter, DeeAnn Dempsey, injured her knee and required surgery in July. She isn’t expected to return to the sport until January, for the club season.

Sophomore setter Shelly Seipp has experience after filling in for last year’s projected starter, who also was injured.

The Pirates have five other returners, with defensive specialist Naomi Ma’ae the only senior.

Vanderpool’s fourth season in 1999 was a rarity: her first losing record in the league. Rogers is 36-26 in the GSL under Vanderpool’s watch and 95-214 in the league pre-Vanderpool.

Shadle Park has senior leaders

Brooke Cooper’s first year as Highlanders coach was much like the quarter-century her predecessor, Linda Sheridan, put into the job.

Cooper, who played for Sheridan’s state championship team of 1988, led Shadle to the state semifinals. Mead knocked Shadle out of title consideration, but the Highlanders bounced back for third place.

Half of the roster has returned, GSL, guided by a trio of seniors: setter Katie McCaffery and middle hitters Ashley Bright and Katy Schrader.

“(Katie) has always played behind people, and she is finally getting the opportunity to lead her team,” Cooper said of her four-year player.

Bright, another four-year veteran, played for a select team in Hawaii this summer. Schrader, a three-year varsity member, has moved from outside hitter to middle blocker.

Juniors Stefanie Ferrette, Ashley Lynn and Kaylene Black have also returned.

“We expect to surprise some people this year,” Cooper said. “Our juniors have really grown since last year, and they have become a major contribution to the team.”

Gonzaga Prep has new coach Dana Parnell replaces Steve Gillis, who in five years coached the Bullpups to their only two winning seasons. Gillis is now an assistant at the University of Washington.

Parnell arrives from Second Baptist, a private school in Houston. She has her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M and her master’s from the University of Houston.

The Bullpups are well-stocked with veterans for Parnell, including second-team, all-league returner Keva Sonderen, a 6-foot senior middle blocker. Senior Laura Bruya returns as the starting setter.

Six others veterans are back from a 6-4 team that tied for fourth place with EV and LC.