Season after season, rivals wonder if this could be the year the perennial powers take a step back and slip back toward the pack of contenders. And season after season, the answer is no. Then why is it that programs like Whitefish and Libby from Northwestern A never seem to have a down year?
“I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we work very hard and we take a lot of pride in our programs,” said Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston. “We really work hard every year and set our goals high, no matter what group we have coming in.”
But the Bulldogs will have to contend with the loss of all-state selections Brielle Menegazzi and Ashley Ferda and second-team all-conference honoree Hailey Farmin to graduation. Senior hitters McCara Cullen, Shannon Kalbfleisch and Kate Klundt and senior setter Jade Hansen will have to develop quickly in order to achieve the standard Whitefish fans have become accustomed to.
“I like the idea of letting these kids develop and be themselves,” Fuller said. “Mark my words, they're going to develop into a great team because they care so much about each other.”
Libby faces a similar quandary as its longtime rival with one major exception. Gone from last year's Northwestern A championship team are all-state hitter Brooke Hageness and all-conference picks Megan Wedel and Shelby Barton. But returning along with senior hitters Crysta Quinn and Nichole Newman, is junior Jackie Mee. The 6-foot-1 Mee earned a first-team all-conference selection as a sophomore and will be called upon to lead the Loggers back to state.
“She is going to be carrying a lot of the load, now that she's involved in passing in six of our rotations,” Ostrem-Johnston said. “We're asking a lot of her and so far she's responding to it. She's matured a lot from the end of last season to now. She's rising to the challenge.”
Leading the way for Columbia Falls will be outside hitter Alyssa Ladenburg, right side/setter Amanda Milliard, middle hitter/setter Cedar Smith and defensive specialist Kayla Stinger. Each is a senior with solid varsity experience, which should come in handy come divisional tournament time.
Bigfork is young and lacks experience as a whole, but boasts one of the league's best players in middle hitter Roxy Thurman.
Juniors Nichole Davey and Staci Benson have Polson on the rise, while seniors April Soukup, Kaylee Larson, Carli Starkel and Amanda Bartel make Ronan the most experienced squad in the league.
The team to beat from Southwestern A is Anaconda. In addition to senior McCall Flynn, who led the Copperheads in kills in last year's state tournament campaign, a trio of juniors will make Anaconda a good bet to return to state. Middle blocker Korey Krumm earned all-state accolades as a sophomore, while classmates Lisa Laslovich and Torrey Hill established themselves as weapons a year ago. Hill set a school record with 317 digs in 2007. What the Copperheads lack in overall size, they make up in quickness and solid team defense.
Seniors Ashley Albert, Brittany Keimig and Samantha Wood have Hamilton looking toward the postseason, while Stevensville returns starters Christina Boberg and Janele Jessop.
Corvallis boasts a senior-heavy roster, featuring setter Whitney Henderson, middle blockers Amber Bradshaw and Ali Bierer and all-conference outside hitter Kim Gilder.
Frenchtown will look to senior hitter/blockers Laura Geis Preslee Maki, while defending league champion Dillon will have to make due without graduated two-time all-state middle hitter Hayley Pettit.
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