Mead, Mt. Spokane squads deal with injuries

With five of last year’s All-Greater Spokane League volleyball first-team players returning this season either to State 4A champion Mead or State 3A runner-up Mt. Spokane, the sky is seemingly the limit for both.

Not so fast.

“We’ve got to get through injuries,” lamented Mt. Spokane Wildcats coach John Reid.

His daughter, Kenzie, has a slap-tear in her shoulder, not exactly ideal for an All-GSL setter. All-GSL outside hitter, junior Annie Arnzen, has an injured hip that could impede her jumping ability.

Experience is a concern for the Panthers. They have two All-GSL players back, Kaely Kight and Kuulei Zalopany, but some major ingredients to replace, notably 6-foot-5 state MVP Alexis Olgard, now at USC, and setter Emma Barrington.

“I don’t think there’s any way you replace seniors,” said coach Judy Kight, Kaely’s mom. “Alexis was in a class by herself.”

Still – healthy or not, experienced or not – Mt. Spokane, and Mead, which won its title with an improbable comeback from two sets down and at match point in the decider, will again be favored to finish one-two (take your pick) in the GSL.

Play began Tuesday with nonleague matches and no surprises based on last year’s league finish. League counters begin on Tuesday.

Neither of Mt. Spokane’s injured stars could play club volleyball this year, which in the rock-tough GSL is imperative. John Reid said that both are slated for surgery following the season. But both are in the lineup, along with fellow All-GSL teammate Ixchelle Oleson.

Kenzie’s injury came during softball, John Reid said, but the senior wasn’t about to give up her final varsity go-around.

“If I didn’t play her, I’d be in trouble,” said her dad.

He dubbed Arnzen’s surgery, slated for December, as major.

“Healthwise we’ve got to be careful,” Reid said. “Because they won’t tell you anything I have to be in touch. But I don’t want to use that as an excuse. That’s the reality of athletics.”

The Wildcats bring back all but four players so their cupboard isn’t bare.

Plus, “Megan Nelson was gone last year with a torn shoulder (from basketball),” John Reid said. “I thought she was done, but she’s coming back for senior year ready to go. And younger kids will step in ready to rock and roll.”

This year’s Mead roster is split between seniors and sophomores, seven of them with varsity experience.

“We have five seniors and eight sophomores,” said Judy Kight, calling the absence of juniors rare. “It comes in waves and that’s where the talent broke. The sophomores are so talented it’s amazing. We have lots of youthful energy.”

The Panthers are versatile, she said, which will allow her to experiment with different looks.

There are now six 4A schools with the move up of Rogers, earning the GSL regional playoff parity with the Columbia Basin League. GSL 3A teams are down to four, University now among them, and East Valley gone to 2A, giving the expanded 3A CBBN the numbers edge previously enjoyed by the GSL and a major regional playoff advantage.

That means as of now, said Mt. Spokane activities coordinator Paul Kautzman, who also coordinates volleyball, two teams from here will face four from there for state berths.

If that format holds, it’s still better than basketball, he said, where last year member schools decided they would forgo regional entirely, take their state berths and leave the GSL with one.

“Basketball is a money maker so why cut (the regional) out?” Kautzman said. “We’re trying to lobby some more. Hopefully they’ll hear us out when it comes to revenue.”