Matlock’s court

Irene Matlock was understandably concerned about the transition process after being named Eastern Washington University’s interim volleyball coach in mid-July.

A month later, as the Eagles continue preparing for Friday’s season opener, Matlock has no complaints with the way her team has responded to a seemingly difficult situation.

“I’m very excited, I’m very positive,” said Matlock, who steps in for Wade Benson, who left for an assistant coaching job at Auburn. “I was really worried in this fast transition, in losing the coach and a couple of players, but the ones that have stayed are very positive and very committed.”

And apparently very much believers in Matlock, who was 715-246 in 19 years as head coach at Community Colleges of Spokane.

“Things are going well,” junior libero Mandy Daniels said. “She definitely knows a lot about volleyball so it hasn’t been hard. Our team is coming together.”

Matlock, who has been out of coaching for two years, said it didn’t take a lot of persuasion to get her back on the court. She earned her master’s of science degree from EWU and was an assistant coach from 1977-79.

“I love coaching and I just thought about it and said, ‘I can help out,’ ” said Matlock, who won four state titles at Sandpoint High before moving into the college ranks.

Her approach has been simple and straightforward.

“I’m actually a person that brings issues up so we can discuss it and resolve it,” said Matlock, who also credits fourth-year Eagles assistant Miles Kydd with helping smooth the transition. “I’m pretty aggressive and the game plan I have is to give them more ownership. It really is about them and because of that they’re taking the ownership and the responsibility.

“I’m sure they were worried. They went from a having a coach and a program and then a controversy over what do next, but once I was on board we just worked it out and they’re pretty positive.”

Community Colleges of Spokane coach Jenni Rosselli, who was an All-America player for Matlock, said the Eagles are in good hands.

“I don’t think any other person could step into that position and do as well as she can,” Rosselli said. “She has the tools to pull any team together. She’s amazing.”

EWU, Washington State, Idaho and Gonzaga open their respective seasons Friday. Here’s a look at the four Division I schools as well as CCS, Whitworth and North Idaho College.

Washington State

Fourth-year head coach Brian Heffernan wasn’t surprised to see his team picked last in the Pac-10 preseason poll.

“They do that to us every year, and that’s OK,” he said. “We have to prove ourselves on the court. We have to begin winning matches.”

WSU won matches early last season – 12 of its first 13 – but went 3-15 in the Pac-10 and finished ninth. Heffernan believes the pieces and experience are in place for the Cougars to climb up the standings.

“Experience is huge, you saw that in our men’s basketball team last year. The maturity from ‘06 to ‘07 was very apparent,” Heffernan said. “We’re looking for the same thing. … We were young a year ago and lost some close matches with our immaturity. If we can get a couple of close ones under our belt we can build some confidence and move forward.”

WSU returns five starters, including Adetokunbo Faleti and Brittany Johnson, who combined for 727 kills last season, and libero Kelly Hyder.

Setter Corina Beyer, a Timberlake High graduate who earned Pac-10 All-Freshman team honorable mention honors last year, transferred to Auburn. Senior Maureen Perez, who started the last half of the 2005 season, will replace Beyer.

Idaho

The Vandals don’t have a senior on the roster, but that doesn’t mean they lack experience.

Junior outside hitter Haley Larsen led last year’s team with 3.34 kills per game. She’s a preseason All-WAC selection. Setter Kelsey James and middle blocker Debbie Pederson also return. Sarah Loney and Sarah Conwell figure to have prominent roles in the offense.

“We have a ton of potential, but it’s still early,” said eighth-year coach Debbie Buchanan. “The first couple of days (of practice) I was like, ‘this is going to be a fun year.’ We’re more dynamic than last year, stronger, fundamentally better and the kids are a year older.”

Redshirt freshman middle blocker Kelsey Taylor is pushing Pederson and Anna McKinney, who is probably the team’s top blocker, for playing time.

Idaho rebounded from a 2-12 non-conference record last year to finish third in the WAC. Buchanan said this year’s schedule “isn’t quite as tough, but we still have some great teams mixed in there.”

Gonzaga

The Bulldogs were picked seventh in the WCC preseason poll, but not on sixth-year coach Kip Yoshimura’s ballot.

“I think we’re going to surprise some teams,” he said. “But every team we play is going to be prepared for us, too, because we caused enough scares in the conference last year.”

GU might boast the most experienced team in the region with 14 returning players. All six starters return, including seniors Heather Dunn, Briawna Mueller, Becky Jones and Alecia Douglas. Middle blocker Caitlin Cozad and outside hitter Michelle Boevers return after missing last season with injuries.

“We’re a strong defensive team and I think we have a balanced offense, whereas a lot of teams rely on one or two players to score,” Yoshimura said. “I could see some changes (in the lineup). We’ll have some choices.”

Eastern Washington

The Eagles are young with 12 freshmen and sophomores on the 15-player roster.

Setter Amanda Yausie returns and she’s joined at the position by Arizona transfer Ashley Hamilton. Outside hitter Chelsea Ross and middle blocker Chenoa Coviare are names to watch.

Ross and Yausie “are pretty dynamic for our team,” Matlock said. “Chenoa is going to be fun to watch. She can jump and has a fast arm (swing).”

EWU, which has played in the Big Sky tournament championship match the last seven years, was picked fifth in the preseason poll.

Whitworth

The Pirates won the Northwest Conference in 2005, but slipped to 7-20 a year ago.

“We’re going to be much better,” ninth-year coach Steve Rupe said. “We’re going to have better punch offensively, which was really the biggest thing lacking last year. We have more offensive-minded middles. The pressure was all on the outsides to do the job last year and you can’t ask them to do that game in, game out.”

Senior setter Holly Ridings will direct the offense. Libero Cassie Moore is back after earning second-team All-NWC honors a year ago. Ridings and Moore are team captains.

North Idaho College

The Cardinals have become a Scenic West Athletic Conference power and a force at the NJCAA tournament, finishing 10th in 2004 and fourth last season. Coach Bret Taylor lists Southern Idaho and Salt Lake as SWAC preseason favorites, but quickly adds “the potential is there, definitely, for us. It’s just developing and getting kids used to playing because it’s a different speed.”

Amanda Misa, Meredith Dolny, Renee Bordelon and Whitney Tucker return. Transfers Kelly Scott (Lewis-Clark State) and Carolina Ribeiro (New Haven) have been added to the mix. The Cardinals have six players 6-feet or taller.

Community Colleges of Spokane

The Sasquatch feature six freshmen and six sophomores.

“You generally don’t have an even split,” Sasquatch coach Rosselli said. “We have a great recruiting class and a lot of returnees that played for us last season.”

Ashlee Lupfer and Brandy Sonderland should be productive outside hitters. Annie Kitchens is capable of playing libero or outside hitter. Rosselli said Miranda Gouin, who set in a 6-2 offense last year, “could be used in a couple of different ways.”