Chiefs' trio 'instrumental' for CBL success

Area Volleyball Previews

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Chiefs volleyball coach Amy Utter has just three returning varsity players to begin the 2007 season.

That's a lot to overcome in a very competitive Columbia Basin League, but Utter, entering her 10th season at the Chiefs' helm, thinks very highly of her three most experienced ladies - Shayla May, Becky Madrishin and Shelby Gonzales.

"Those three girls are instrumental in our success and our consistency," Utter said.

For Moses Lake to do well in league and make a run at a 4A state tournament berth, the returners will have to mesh well with their young but talented teammates. The spark plug of the first-year varsity group thus far has been junior outside hitter Iesha Garza, who led the Chiefs with 15 kills and 10 digs in their five-game defeat to Davis in last Thursday's CBL opener.

"I think Iesha Garza is doing a great job," Utter said. "She's a little fireball; she's pretty powerful. She's really a motivator for our team."

Another key player will be junior libero Heidi Smith, whom Utter praises for her vocal leadership. Smith stands only 5-foot-1 but talks a big game.

The 5-10 May should be the Chiefs' leading passer on most evenings from the starting setter spot, backed up by sophomore Karlyn Stoltman, senior Creeanne Beeman and freshman Marquel Fancher.

Gonzales, a 5-9 junior outside hitter, is recovering from a foot injury and wasn't expected to play in Moses Lake's match Tuesday night at Walla Walla. When she returns, she should bolster an offensive attack still searching for consistency.

In the meantime, the Chiefs will need to rely on Madrishin, their 6-foot middle blocker, to contain the CBL's top attackers. Utter thinks Richland and Eisenhower could be the teams to beat, but Moses Lake could contend if it finds cohesiveness.

"I don't know if we have a superstar," Utter said. "We have a lot of kids that are very quietly very consistent, and I think that's a strength that we don't have to rely on one single person."

Listed below are season previews for four other Columbia Basin area teams.

Ephrata Tigers

Head coach: Kim Crown, fourth season

The Central Washington Athletic Conference is not one of those leagues you want to be rebuilding in - especially when it comes to volleyball.

But that's the situation head coach Crown and her Tigers face this season. When the CWAC was reconfigured in 2006, the competition got a whole lot stronger - Selah went on to win the 2A state title, with Grandview taking second and Ellensburg seventh.

"We have a competitive league, so we didn't have that great a record," Crown said of last fall. "We've improved, definitely, from last year."

Crown sees the strength of her squad in three seniors - setter Breane Duff, outside hitter Britney Ratigan and middle hitter Brianna Moser.

"It's crucial that they're in the game and that they're good leaders," Crown said of the threesome. "I'm expecting a lot out of those seniors."

While Ephrata might not overwhelm teams on offense, the Tigers are concentrating on fielding serves, passing and being the best defensive team they can be. With that in mind, senior Sara Price and junior Carli McConnell, the team's liberos, will need to play well.

Ephrata's 12-player rotation also includes three sophomores in Rachelle Couture, Alex DeHoog and Mallory Lotz.

"They're learning really quickly and they're working really hard," Crown said of her youngsters.

Othello Huskies

Head coach: Steve Parris, ninth season

Parris finds his Othello Huskies in the same bind as much of the CWAC - figuring out how to contend without a lot of experience.

"I wouldn't say we're a young team, but we're an inexperienced team," he said. "I've got a lot of kids who've got a lot to learn."

Parris felt the Huskies were a state-caliber squad in 2006 if it weren't for the league they played in. Five seniors graduated from that group, leaving senior Priscilla Cantue and juniors Justine Villareal and Allison Walker as the leaders.

Walker, a 6-foot junior outside hitter, was a second-team CWAC selection last fall and will be the focus of the Huskies' offense.

"She's probably one of the top players in eastern Washington," Parris said of Walker.

Cantue should be the team's No. 2 offensive option. Villareal and Kayla Dickson will split time at setter, while Kylee Mollotte appears to be the defensive stopper at middle blocker.

The Huskies' strengths, Parris believes, is their willingness to learn and ability to work together.

"They embrace things - they're constantly asking, 'How do I get better at this?'" he said. "They do a very good job working together and they're friends off the floor."

Quincy Jackrabbits

Head coach: Jeanne Brindle, third season

The Lady Jacks are an especially youthful squad, so the goal for Brindle's squad might simply be making the postseason - Quincy just missed the final district playoff berth in 2006.

Still, there are some key returners to build around. Junior setter Manda Brindle is back for her third varsity campaign, joined by senior libero Lesa Hearst, sophomore outside hitter Taylor Kunkel and sophomore middle blocker Rachel Tobin.

"I'm very excited," Jeanne Brindle said. "I have a lot of personalities and they're very willing to work hard and jump in and do things."

Rounding out the starting lineup at outside hitter are sophomore Kayla Horning and junior Samantha Reynolds, two first-year varsity players.

Quincy played a non-league tune-up with Royal last week in which Brindle found her team's strength - defense.

"My problem is getting the ball put down on the other side, getting the kill," she said.

There's one place the Lady Jacks bow to no one - the classroom. They're the defending 2A state academic champions, having compiled a 3.79 grade-point average last fall.

Warden Cougars

Head coach: Jeff Kottong, third season

The Cougars finished next to last in South Central Athletic Conference play last fall, but a solid group of returning players - including four seniors - has Kottong setting his sights on much bigger and better things.

Warden opened its season last Tuesday with a five-game loss to perennial 2B power Lind-Ritzville, a morale victory in Kottong's eyes.

"What they showed me tonight, we've got a lot of potential," he said. "Much better defense - we've got some girls who can dig it out."

Warden's captain is senior outside hitter Kelsey Garner.

"She's matured as a leader on the team and as a hitter," Kottong said, "and we're looking forward to a good season out of her."

Senior Brandi Kisler brings some "exciting" play to the middle hitter spot, the coach said, while senior setter Amanda Martin and defensive specialist Katherine Martin figure to bring a veteran presence to the lineup.