North Star volleyball
In predicted order of league finish:
Kootenai Warriors
2004 records: 19-7 overall, 11-1 (co-league champ)
Coach: Mandy Love
Years coaching: 3rd
Starters, lettermen returning: 6, 8
Key players: Darcy Collins, senior, 5-foot-7, outside hitter; Hannah Nyrop, sophomore, 5-10, oh; Cassie Scheffelmaier, junior, 5-8, setter; Nikita Amy, sr., 5-8, right-side hitter.
Coach’s comments: “If we pass the ball, we could do fine. Our hitting is strong. We should be a little more well-rounded in hitting.”
Outlook: The Warriors will have no problem qualifying for state. Once there, though, they want to bring some significant hardware home, and they should do so. Kootenai features much firepower on offense.
Wallace Miners
2004 records: 19-6, 11-1 (co-league champ)
Coach: Corki Matilla
Years coaching: 3rd
Starters, lettermen returning: 5, 7
Key players: Staci Hinsz, sr., 5-8, mh; Shala Wild, sr., 5-9, rh; Lisa Carver, jr., 5-8, oh; Heather Moore, jr., 6-0, mh; Cara Hayman, jr., 5-3, s.
Coach’s comments: “I’m loaded with hard hitters. They’re really a cohesive group.”
Outlook: For a volleyball team, this is a great basketball team. The Miners feature several multiple-sport standouts, and they want to make up for their poor showing at district a year ago when Clark Fork stole a state berth from them.
Clark Fork Wampus Cats
2004 records: 13-15, 6-6
Coach: Lisa Allen
Years coaching: 1st
Starters, lettermen returning: 4, 4
Key players: Tia Becker, sr., 5-3, s/rh; Tiffany Van Buren, sr., 5-6, oh; Kalynn Wold, sr., 5-3, oh; Jolene Meredith, sr., 5-7, mh; Megan Hess, soph., 5-5, rh; Bailey Hewitt, freshman, 5-7, s/rh.
Coach’s comments: “They’re all really good players and athletes. I think we have the potential to make it back to state this year.”
Outlook: If one of the top two teams stumble like last year (read: Wallace), the Wampus Cats will be poised to take advantage. Allen, the school’s tennis coach, has played volleyball recreationally the past nine years in Sandpoint.
Lakeside Knights
2004 records: 11-9, 6-6
Coach: Brad Veille
Years coaching: 15th
Starters, lettermen returning: 5, 6
Key players: Kara Howard, sr., 5-4, s; Wynonna Johnson, sr., 5-6, oh; Krystal Stockdale, sr., 5-8, mh; Davi Swan, soph., 5-8, oh; Sara Gauthier, jr., 5-7, mh; Vicki Sifford, jr., 5-4, rh.
Coach’s comments: “We’ve got a little more height this year. The girls are playing real well as a unit.”
Outlook: The NSL is two leagues within one. Kootenai and Wallace are in a league of their own, and Lakeside and Clark Fork are the best of the rest. The Knights will be competitive but don’t have enough offensive skills to challenge the league’s elite.
Post Falls Christian Academy Eagles
2004 records: 3-16, 2-10
Coach: Alicia Kirsebom
Years coaching: 1st
Starters, lettermen returning: 3, 3
Key players: Emily Bishop, sr., 5-7, oh; Heidi Shaw, sr., 5-9, mh; Katie Hoye, jr., 5-7, mh; Alexa Henson, soph., 5-5, rh; Angela Akins, sr., 5-4, rh; Katie Higgins, sr., 5-5, s.
Coach’s comments: “Six of our 10 girls are new (transfers), but many of them haven’t played before. We could be an underdog team. Things could come together toward the middle or end of the season.”
Outlook: Kirsebom, 19, is another in a line of former Eagle players turned coach. A 2004 graduate, Kirsebom was a four-year starter in both volleyball and basketball. PFC could finish higher if things come together.
Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy Panthers
2004 records: 1-15, 0-12
Coach: Dan Nicklay
Years coaching: 6th, 1st at CdA Charter
Starters, lettermen returning: 3, 3
Key players: Kalyn Lovlyn, jr., 5-6, oh; Shea McHugh, jr., 5-5, s; Janie Helgeson, sr., 5-9, rh.
Coach’s comments: “They’re a really nice bunch of kids. They’re amazing to work with. We haven’t overpowered anybody in the past obviously.”
Outlook: The Panthers will move out of the cellar and up one notch. That will be significant improvement for a program in only its third year. Nicklay, the school’s assistant principal, was the head coach at Troy, Mont., before coming to the Charter.
Mullan Tigers
2004 records: 9-10, 6-6
Coach: Dawn McKinnon
Years coaching: 10th
Starters, lettermen returning: 2, 3
Key players: Fawn Story, soph., 6-1, mh; Bev Hammond, sr., 5-3, s.
Coach’s comments: “We’re so darn young. We don’t have a lot of experience.”
Outlook: Six of Mullan’s 10 players are freshmen. The Tigers will be green and will slip to the bottom of the league after a middle-division finish last year.