The Savage Heat, who advanced to state for the first time ever last year, are favored once again amid the dense 9-C and 10-C districts.
“It's the unknown,” said fourth-year Hot Springs coach Bonnie Franklin, whose squad went 21-7 last season. “We'll just see how the stars align. I know the girls are excited, so that makes me excited.”
They return first team all-state pick Mackenzie Wood, a junior, and honorable mention picks Matea DePoe and Randi Arnold, both seniors, although Arnold won't suit up until late September after aggravating an old car accident injury during a basketball camp this summer.
Wood, who sets, and older sister Whitney, the libero, are the only two players that don't switch back and forth between hitter and blocker positions. Whitney Wood is joined by Jordon Fisher and Jocelyn Erchul as returning seniors, and Devon White a junior.
Together, this group of girls has the Hot Springs community psyched for more success in '08.
“Historically, Hot Springs teams have strong junior high showings and then things seem to peter out when they reach high school,” Franklin said. “I'm not sure if that's typical of other high schools, but we have a group of kids that were able to get past that at an early age and now they're carrying the flag forward.
“It's a neat group of kids.”
The Heat won their district, were runners-up at the Western C divisional to Shields Valley, but maybe have something to prove after going 0-2 at state.
“They bring the bulk of their team back,” said veteran Philipsburg coach Bill Dirkes. “They are the odds-on favorite to do well at districts and the divisional again.”
“We're hopeful this year,” said Franklin, whose girls open their season Friday. “But I'm also a little nervous. The other teams gained people and lost people, too.”
Others to watch include Charlo in District 10-C, which is the same league Hot Springs plays in, and Drummond and Dirkes' Prospectors in 9-C.
Drummond returns a bunch of players from a young team that had fourth-year head coach Tina Hoeksema looking forward to this year no doubt.
Senior setter Megan Oberweiser and senior middle blocker Jessica Paske were all-league a season ago, when the Trojans knocked off Philipsburg at districts.
“Drummond has a nice tradition in all of their sports,” Dirkes said, “so when it comes to playing us they always bring their A game, no matter what.”
The Trojans played six underclassmen in '07, including Brianna Jesse, and should be loaded again.
Dirkes is calling it quits after this, his 17th year in Philipsburg. His reason is simple. He'd like to reach a very near milestone.
“I thought, you know, 200 (wins) would be a good way to go out,” said Dirkes, who first thought about retiring last fall. “I might get it, with a little luck, in a year or two.”
He stands nine games off the mark right now, with a fine crop of talent able to help him.
Dirkes brings back five starters from a team that just missed divisionals. His squad is led by seniors Kirsten Butler, Addie Lepley and Melanie Graham.
Graham is switching to setter after playing outside hitter a year ago.
“She's never set a game in her life,” Dirkes said, “and girls don't like being out of their comfort zone, you know, but they're doing alright.”
Dirkes is also hoping for big things out of middle McKenzie Boomer, who played a lot as a sophomore.
Three starters return in Charlo, where Sheryl Kain is the new coach.
She'll get plenty of help from junior setter Stephanie Maughan, who already has two years of starting experience. At 5-foot-9, Maughan is also one of the Vikings' taller players coming back.
Joining Maughan are classmates Jaris Kelley and Stephanie Murphy, who were starters last season, and seniors Turquoise Devereaux, Naomi Knight and Rochelle Toussaint.
Arlee was a surprising third at the Western C divisional last year, and could be just as good in '08 if the Scarlets can fill in around junior hitter Jordan Pfau.
Head coach Cindy Feasel returns four girls at St. Regis, led by juniors Heather Pruitt and Brianna Managhan, who earned all-conference honors last season.
Seniors Dallas Ward and Brittany Smith are also back for Feasel, who's in her 15th season with the program.
The Tigers, who went 8-10 last year, don't have all of their players eligible yet, but a run at districts is in the sights, Feasel said.
A few new coaches dot the rest of the region, including in Alberton and Lincoln, which the latter has Kori Clark. The Lynx and the Noxon Red Devils also made divisionals last season.
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