Anacortes Seahawks

Coach: Ashley Abrams (first year)

League: Northwest Conference

Last season: 3-10 conference

Key returners: Hannah Holtgeerts, sr., middle hitter; Megan Dunton, sr., setter; Connie Grimnes, sr., outside hitter; Tyler Calles, jr., outside/middle hitter; Meghan Murray, sr., outside hitter; Monica Archer, sr., setter/middle hitter; Amy Cole, sr., outside hitter; Jessica Straight, so., middle hitter.

Key newcomer: Kate Murray, so., outside hitter.

Outlook: The Seahawks have benefited from a new club team in town, which has meant volleyball year-around for many of the players.

The Island Fire has allowed many of the Seahawks to show up on the first day of turnouts in good volleyball shape.

“There is a lot of talent,” said first-year coach Abrams. “I’m excited to work with these girls.”

The Seahawks will have good height — Holtgeerts is 6-2, Straight 6-0 and Archer 5-11 — and an experienced setter in Dunton.

Abrams said her team appears fairly well-balanced.

“We should be a good offensive and a good defensive team,” she said. “We’ve got experience, leadership and I think we’ll have good chemistry.”

Because Abrams has just started her first season as head coach, she is not ready to set goals for her team.

“Not yet,” she said. “We’re just working on fundamentals.”

Burlington-Edison Tigers

Coach: Tawnya Brewer (15th year)

League: Northwest Conference

Last season: 19-2, seventh in state

Key returners:  Kinsey Davis, sr., middle hitter; Rachel Tingley, sr., outside hitter, Chasina Olis, sr., right side hitter; Ariel Dykstra, sr., middle hitter; Cheryl Eubanks, jr., outside hitter.

Key newcomers: Katlyn Mataya, fr., setter; Jordan Lautenbach, fr., outside hitter; Lucy Capron, fr., right side hitter; Kelli Smith, so., outside hitter; Anna Swanson, jr., outside hitter.

Outlook: The Tigers graduated key contributors on last year’s team, including setter Anna Fohn, an all-state honorable mention, and Ariel Erlenbach, a first-team all-Northwest Conference pick. But Brewer likes the blend of young players and returning seniors, including all-state second-team selection Davis.

She said she expects Davis and Rachel Tingley to be among the big contributors.

“I’ll look to both of them for leadership and picking up where they left off last year,” she said.

Brewer said the team will also be aided by an influx of talented young players.

“I feel like the young freshmen we have will end up having a big impact on our team. They’ll step into starting roles right away,” Brewer said. “I coached them in seventh and eighth grade, so I had an idea of what their talent level was. They were pretty talented from an early age.”

One freshman likely to have a big role is Mataya, who Brewer said will step into the setting role.

“She’s got really good court sense and natural setting ability,” Brewer said.

Brewer said inexperience may show early — but thinks the team’s ability and attitude will make a big difference.

“The exciting thing is they’re all very selfless players. They’re willing to do what it takes to be successful,” she said.

Concrete Lions

Coach: Billie Bjornstad

League: Northwest 2B/1A League

Last season: O-13 league, 0-16 overall

Key returners: Violet League, sr., middle hitter; Ashley Johnson, jr., setter.

Key newcomers: Tasha Holt, so., setter; Bailey Dellinger, fr., setter; Marissa Sprout, fr., middle hitter; Connie Castaneda, jr., outside hitter.

Outlook: Three coaches in three years is never a good sign. However, this year’s coach is looking forward to the challenge.

“We are very excited about the season,” said Bjornstad, Concrete class of 1983. “We are looking forward to it.”

The Lions will certainly have their work cut out for them if they plan on snapping a 31⁄2-year winless streak.

If they are going notch that win, League and fellow returnee Johnson will have plenty to do with it. Injured in the team’s opening turnout, League returned to the court for the first time this week.

“She (League) is an extremely talented player,” the coach said. “Even while she’s been out (of action), she’s been very supportive.”

As far as this season is concerned, the coach believes measuring success will be easy to do.

“If we are better at the end of the year than we were at the beginning,” she said, “then that will be improvement and that is what we want.”

La Conner Braves

Coach: Suzanne Marble (16th year)

League: Northwest 2B/1A League

Last season: 16-1, league, district and Class 2B state champions

Key returners: Julie Hulbert, jr., middle/outside hitter; Kelsey Kennedy, sr., outside hitter; Abi Hedlund, jr., outside/opposite hitter; Lauren McClung, so., middle hitter; Candice Pedroza, so., setter;

Key newcomers: Anna Thostenson, jr., opposite/setter; Kasey Swanson, jr., outside hitter; Chelsey Allman, jr., middle hitter; Pricilla Ponce-Venegas, fr., outside hitter/defense.

Outlook: The Braves are coming off back-to-back state championships and four straight trips to the state finals.

Hulbert is the only current player to have been on both championship teams, and will be the team’s leading offensive threat. Kennedy, the team’s only senior, has also stepped up.

“Their hard work in the last couple weeks and in the offseason is really paying off,” Marble said. “We’re trying different combinations at this point. Things really are working well. Obviously we’ve got some things to work on, but that’s what’s nice about the preseason games.”

Pedroza and Thostenson will see time at setter, though Thostenson’s versatility may make her more valuable at other positions.

“We haven’t made a final decision,” Marble said. “They complement each other really well.”

Marble said winning a state title may be the goal, but it is not the focus of the team at this point.

“We’re not focusing on the past, but preparing on the future,” Marble said. “They look at (state) as a tournament. We’re preparing for Mount Baker on Thursday night. We’re focusing on the fundamentals. These are good, hard-working kids, totally decidated.”

La Conner suffered a loss this summer when Emma Hedbom died from cancer.

“She was a big part of this team and left a real inspiration for us,” said Marble.

Mount Vernon Bulldogs

Coach: Debbie Guildner (seventh year)

League: Northwest Conference

Last season: 15-5, state qualifier

Key returners: Lauren Barnet, sr., outside hitter; Megan Stransky, sr., setter; Nicole Cruse, sr., defense/outside hitter; Hillary Johnson, sr., defense; Jenny Taylor, jr., outside hitter.

Key newcomers: Kylie McDermott, sr., defense; Danae VerMulm, jr., hitter; Kristin Hill, jr., middle hitter; Riley Brusseau, jr., hitter; Danica Denham, so., middle hitter; Derrick Walser, so., hitter.

Outlook: Coming off their first state tournament appearance in 10 years, the Bulldogs are looking to make the return trip a longer one.

“We’re really excited about the talent we’ve got, especially in our upcoming sophomores,” Guildner said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, which is a good thing. That’s what this group likes. They’ve had the taste of postseason, and they want to do that again.”

Taylor emerged as a threat from the outside last year, and paired with three-year starter Barnet should provide an effective 1-2 tandem.

Stransky began last year as a borderline varsity player, spent most of the season splitting the setting duties and by the end of the year had the position for herself.

“They’re really good at ball-handling, and the cohesiveness this year is the best I’ve seen in a long time,” Guildner said. “The group of seniors and Jenny have been playing together for a long time. I coached them when they were U-12. They play all positions. They’re smart, and they understand the game.”

Mount Vernon Christian Hurricanes

Coach: Kathy Carman (second year)

League: Northwest 2B/1A League

Key returners: Jenell Schloemer, jr., middle hitter; Carly Colasono, sr., setter/defensive specialist; Brittany Carman, so., setter; Olivia Sparks, so., outside hitter; Jessica Roemish, so., outside hitter; Daeleen Visser, so., middle hitter.

Key newcomers: Anna Erickson, jr., defensive specialist; Danica Clark, sr., outside hitter; Melanie Kuipers, fr., setter.

Outlook: The Hurricanes are young.

They have only two seniors — and only one of those played on the varsity last season.

But the Hurricanes have skilled young players, including a handful who play club volleyball.

“I think people might be counting us out because of what we lost and our record last year,” said Kathy Carman. “But I expect a lot out of this team.”

Mount Vernon Christian will be a more skilled team.

Kathy Carman can see that in the first week of practice. She sees a team that is quick, can serve and can receive serves well.

“If you can serve and receive serve, then you just play ball,” she said.

Oak Harbor Wildcats

Coach: Kerri Molitor (ninth year)

League: Western Conference North Division

Last season: 7-1 division, district qualifier

Key returners: Jennifer Jansen, sr., outside hitter; Kim Mowbray, sr., middle hitter; Jessica Muzzall, sr., opposite hitter; Melany Cone, jr., setter; Marissa Sutherland, jr., middle/outside hitter.

Key newcomers: Alexis Marquis, sr., defense; Kelsey Cooley, so., defense; Devin Tanner, jr., outside hitter; Emily Meagher, jr., defense.

Outlook: The Wildcats have some players to replace.

One they won’t have to worry about is Jansen, who comes back after leading the team in kills last season. Jansen, Mowbray and Muzzall give the Wildcats weapons up front.

“I don’t have a great sense of who we are, but we have a good core back,” Molitor said. “Jen Jansen has shown great leadership. Jessica Muzzall is a very good right-side hitter and has a strong block. We’re hoping to get some blocks. Kim Mowbay has improved, and she has always been quick, but she has been more of a defensive player. I think her offense has really improved.”

The big change comes at setter, where Cone takes over for three-year starter Becca Wheeler.

“Melany Cone has improved quite a bit. She’s ready to step in and play varsity,” Molitor said. “She’s confident, and the girls seem to be confident in each other.”

Among the newcomers, Molitor said Cooley has been strong defensively.

Sedro-Woolley Cubs

Coach: Doug Pass (second year)

League: Northwest Conference

Last season: 2-11 conference

Key returners: Kara Birdsell, sr., outside hitter; Megan Dralle, sr., setter; Patrice Tacker, sr., outside hitter; Ashley Joneli, sr., middle hitter.

Key newcomers: Krystal Daigle, sr., libero.

Outlook: The Cubs didn’t win a match in 2006. In 2007, they posted a pair of wins. With a senior-laden squad taking the court in 2008, Sedro-Woolley should continue to improve.

“We are going to have a lot of experience on the court,” said Sedro-Woolley coach Doug Pass. “We have a really good core of returning girls.”

Pass has also liked what he’s seen from the underclassmen.

What the Cubs may lack, however, is verticality.

“We are not a very tall group,” the coach admitted. “We don’t have a lot of height. The bottom line is I expect us to be improved.”

Look for the likes of Birdsell, Dralle, Tacker and Joneli to keep the Cubs competitive with most squads in the Northwest Conference.

Squalicum has dropped from the ranks of 3A to 2A, leaving only Sedro-Woolley, Mount Vernon and Ferndale as the conference’s 3A teams.

“Mount Vernon is traditionally a power in 3A,” Pass said. “They lost a lot of girls from last year’s team. However, I expect them to still be tough. This year I think we can surprise some teams.”

Stanwood Spartans

Coach: Erik Titus (seventh year)

League: Western Conference North Division

Last year: 4-11 overall.

Key returners: Leah Titus, sr., libero; Tessa Voelckers, sr., opposite hitter; Thea Marriott, sr., outside hitter; Deanna Hoppe, sr., middle hitter; Chelsea Campbell, sr., setter; Sarah Titus, so., defensive specialist; Shelly Dowrey, jr., outside hitter.

Key newcomers: Kaci Jones, fr., outside hitter.

Outlook: Titus expects this squad to compete for a district playoff spot.

“We’ve got six returning seniors from the squad last season, and they got more than considerable playing experience,” he said. “We’ll see how the new kids come around. There’s a pretty good group of sophomore kids who will help us in practice situations and may turn a few heads as the season rolls around.”

Leah Titus will be a four-year letter winner at libero and two-time captain; Voelckers will also be a four-year letter winner and helped the Spartans’ state run as a freshman.

“She knows what that’s about,” Erik Titus said.