They've got the height, hitting and raw physical talent to put their opponents on their heels. They've got four returning starters, three seniors. And they've played very competitive volleyball in the off-season.
Do they have the passing to set up those big hitters? And do they have the quickness defensively to cover the tips designed to pick apart big teams?
Those are questions to be answered during the 2007 prep volleyball season that began this week for the Wood River High School varsity squad. The Wolverines traveled to Buhl Tuesday and head to Pocatello for a tournament this weekend.
Indeed, prospects appear bright for Wood River, coming off a Great Basin West Conference championship and the school's 20th trip to the state tournament. Wood River (22-15) now has seven consecutive 20-win seasons on the hardwoods.
Sixth-year head coach Tim Richards (115-78) said, "We always want to win our conference and go play for a state championship and have as many successes as we can."
Richards was Great Basin "Coach of the Year" in 2006 after guiding the Wolverines to an unblemished 9-0 record in league play and the school's 19th district crown. His Wolverine teams have a 47-11 record in league and district play.
Four players graduated. They were All-Great Basin first teamers Leah McIlhenny and Kelsey Lidstrom and second teamers Elissa Baker and Casey Vegwert. But, as Richards told the team at the year-end banquet, "Tradition doesn't graduate, it just gets better."
He's hoping that's true with his seven seniors and five juniors on the varsity in 2007.
"Seven seniors is more than I've ever had," Richards said. "We've got plenty of options and a lot of all-around players. Every single player on the varsity can play the game and they're all leaders. I like who we can put on the floor and I like the competition so far."
With four six-footers, Richards has height and blocking ability. "We'll have different blocking schemes based on what we see," he said. One of his six-footers, co-captain Hannah Gove, is a skilled setter. The coach said he'll have two setters on the floor at all times.
He said about his plans for multiple offenses, "We've got the hitters. We need to make sure we have somebody to set on every ball. Our weakness last year was ball control and passing. It will continue to be our weakness until people step up and learn how to do that."
Defensively, Wood River will need to "get quickness behind our big block in case the other teams start tipping us," Richards said. That's a common tactic smaller teams like Buhl, St. Maries and Bear Lake have used to succeed all the way to the state tourney level.
Last fall, sophomore Angela Coleman did such a good job digging and passing at the libero position that she made the All-Great Basin second team. It's dirty work, but someone has to do it and Coleman thrived at the job.
This fall, Richards has plans to advance Coleman to outside hitter/setter and train junior Kylie Anderson as the new libero. "Kylie is really aggressive and athletic," he said.
Hitters like co-captain Hannah Ward, 6-2 Lauren Morgenthaler, Gove, Kaylee Baker and Coleman will challenge the defenses of opponents. Gove, senior Dani Stone and Coleman will be setters. But Richards expects a dogfight each match.
Wood River breezed through its Great Basin West tournament last October, winning all three of its matches in the three-game minimum including the title contest over the Burley Bobcats. Burley and Jerome had a five-game scrap in the semi-final, and those two teams will be better in 2007.
"They have state championship basketball athletes in Burley and they'll be tough," said Richards. "Jerome and Minico will both be better."
Burley had seven juniors last year including All-Great Basin first teamers Katelin Robins and Alex Haynie. Jerome graduated "Player of the Year" and current College of Southern Idaho volleyball freshman Megan Parrish, but Jerome's club program makes their players better, he said.
"Every match will be a tough match," he said. "We'll just bring the best we can and try to elevate our play."
Schools invited to the 27th annual 10-school Wood River Invitational varsity tournament Sept. 14-15 in Hailey are Hillcrest of Idaho Falls, Filer, Boise, Blackfoot, Centennial, Rigby, Century, Idaho Falls and Mountain Home.
2007 WRHS volleyball roster
Varsity
Head coach—Tim Richards.
Assistant coaches—Gary Carr and Kelsea Ballantyne.
Co-captains—Hannah Ward and Hannah Gove.
Seniors (7)—Hannah Ward (5-11 middle/OH), Hannah Gove (6-0 setter/OH), Lauren Morgenthaler (6-3 middle/right side), Dani Stone (5-6 setter), Carly Ballantyne (5-8 OH/defensive specialist), McKenna Murphy (5-6 middle) and K.D. Pruett (5-6 defensive specialist).
Juniors (5)—Kaylee Baker (6-0 OH), Angela Coleman (5-9 OH/setter), Kylie Anderson (5-4 libero), Hanna Gustafson (6-0 middle) and Haleigh Hall (5-7 setter/right side).
Junior varsity
Head coach—Gary Carr.
Juniors (2)—Shelby Grubbs and Chelsey Souligny.
Sophomores (7)—Grace Lagodich, Monica Garceau, Ellen Johnson, Sara Koonce, Haley Libert, Whitnee Dudley and Lizette Lira.
Freshmen (2)—Jessica Hamilton and Claire Bowman.
Freshmen
Head coach—Kim Young
Players—Claire Bowman, Laura Kunz, Ali Levy, Alison Town, Taylor Gove, Marly Morgus, Jade Glenn, Ali Hesteness, Aunika Phillips, Cassandra Gorringe, Mady Uhrig and Morgan Brunker.
