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Kettle Falls could be competitive this fall |
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Wednesday, 03 September 2008 |
Five returning letter-winners give
Lady Bulldogs room for optimism
BY CHRIS COWBROUGH
S-E Sports Editor
Northeast A League volley¬ball wins have always been hard to come by for Kettle Falls High (one last season).
While it might be a little op¬timistic—and unrealistic—to think that 2008 will be some¬thing of a watershed season for wins, there is reason for opti¬mism in the KFHS volleyball camp this fall.
For one thing, 29 players turned out for volleyball when practice sessions got underway in late August. And for an¬other, the Lady Bulldogs are as experienced a unit as third-year head coach Norm Gaston has had.
And let’s be real—not hav¬ing five-time defending State A volleyball champion Colfax in the league any longer is a good thing if you’re a Kettle Falls volleyball player. Colfax has moved down to the Bi-County League.
Veteran team
“This is definitely the most veteran team I’ve had here,” Gaston said last week. “There is some reason for optimism. I think with this group, we will be in every match.
“In previous seasons, we really haven’t had the hitting power or the staying power to keep up with teams like Colfax and Freeman. But we have some power and several kids who can knock it down.”
Gaston, who says “every¬body has been swinging well,” can trot out maybe the best all-around athlete in the Northeast A in 5-6 senior Jessica Coots.
“Jessica is the key for us,” Gaston said. “She is a great athlete and she can really ele¬vate (28 inch vertical).
“If the other people around her can pick it up, we can be competitive.”
Other key players for KFHS include setter Jeni Beardslee; senior middle Chelsea Brisbois; outside hitter Leanne Cannon, and Sami Mangini.
“Those are our veterans and keys to our success this sea¬son,” Gaston said.
The remainder of the varsity line-up includes Heather Payne, Tory Bircher, Alexys Hall, Devon Stormley and Samantha Charlton.
Gaston also says he likes the attitudes and the leader¬ship shown by Coots and Mangini.
“Sometimes we have lacked that leadership in the past,” he added.
ELSEWHERE
Look for Freeman and Lake¬side, with its usual big num¬bers, to be the NEA favorites.
But without Colfax around any longer, the league has gotten appreciably weaker. And that creates more oppor¬tunity for second division clubs like Kettle Falls and Newport.
“Without Colfax, I think we should realistically win some games,” Gaston said. “I don’t think it’s out of the question to finish .500.”
Gaston and his girls will get an inkling of what could be down the road when they travel to the Freeman Tournament on Saturday. In Kettle’s pool on Saturday will be West Valley, Class B power Wilbur-Creston, Chewelah and Medical Lake.
“I’m excited and the kids are excited,” Gaston said. “The kids are pumped and having fun. If we can keep the enthu¬siasm going, we’ll be in great shape.”
Assistant coaches are Naomi Edwards and Courtney Brunette.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 6—At Freeman Tourna¬ment
Sept. 11—Curlew at KFHS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13—At Republic, 3 p.m.
Sept. 15—Selkirk at KFHS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23—Freeman at KFHS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25—At Lakeside, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27—Newport at KFHS, 3 p.m.
Oct. 2—At Chewelah, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9—Lakeside at KFHS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10—At Spokane Crosser Classic
Oct. 11—At Spokane Crossover
Oct. 14—At Freeman, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16—At Columbia, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21—Chewelah at KFHS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23—At Newport, 7 p.m.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 September 2008 )
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