High School Volleyball Previews

ARLEE

Arlee’s volleyball program returns four starters from a year ago, when the Warriors made an appearance in the divisional playoffs. Fifth-year coach Brian BigSam’s lineup will be heavy on the hitters, highlighted by junior Violet Pablo.

“She’s an all-around player,” BigSam said. “…She’s got some very strong hits. I’m hoping that her confidence is built up enough this year for her to open up a little.”

BigSam is excited about his team’s versatility, noting that nearly everyone can play any position on the court. He said his team’s goal this season is to make it back to the postseason.

CHARLO

Despite returning just two starters, Charlo’s volleyball future looks to be fairly bright. Coach Sheryl Kain expects 29 players in her program in 2013.

Kain’s varsity squad will be led by senior outside hitter Aspen Runkel, and she expects junior Sienna Brown to handle the battle at the net at middle hitter. The Achilles heel of this team will be height, though. Kain put it bluntly: “We have none.”

That being said, the Vikings’ practice regimen will stress defense.

“We’re going to have to work on a lot of coverage and defense and make the other teams make more mistakes than we do,” Kain said.

The sixth-year coach expects her team to be in playoff contention.

“I want the girls to not just work as hard as they can work and get nothing out of it,” she said. “I would like to be in the top 2 in the conference and get to Divisionals and see what happens there.”

MISSION

Sixth-year head coach Kendal Anderson will have to replace three all-conference players from last season, including graduated setter Loren Erickson, who will play this fall at the University of Great Falls.

“We lost all of our leadership on the court, so a big thing is going to be finding someone to step up,” Anderson said. “We’re going to be starting from scratch. I’m looking for improvement throughout the season.”

The back row will be anchored by senior Kaylie Durglo, Anderson said. She also returns key juniors in outside/middle Lindsay Johnson and middle/right-side Emilie Charlo. The most difficult replacement will be finding a setter, as Erickson had handled those duties for the past three seasons. Anderson tabbed sophomore Jordyn Eichert as the likely candidate.

“I’m hoping that we can play as a team,” Anderson said. “I have a lot of individual athletes but they haven’t really played a lot together.”

POLSON

After an earlier-than-expected exit in the Class A Divisionals last season, Pirates coach Jan Toth looks to reload.

Her biggest challenge will be replacing three all-state performers from a year ago—setter Shalaina Duford, middle Heidi Rausch, and libero Mackenzie Banner.

Toth’s daugher, Jaiden, should take over the duties at setter. Toth expects senior outside hitters Chloie Huerta and Jessica Hoel to accumulate most of the Pirates’ kills this season.

“The big goal for the season for me is going to be the state tournament,” Toth said.

New assistant coach Patricia Luetzen, who comes from North Dakota with a load of experience, will aid the program. Luetzen played volleyball at perennial college power Penn State. Former Polson assistant Adrienna DeCock took the head coaching job at Ronan.

With just two returning starters, 2013 is still sort of an enigma for Polson.

RONAN

Sydnee Clairmont, a junior, highlights a young Ronan team that will be led by first-year head coach Adrienna DeCock. DeCock comes to the Maidens after serving as an assistant in Polson the past few years.

She will have the tough task of replacing three graduated all-conference players in Ashleigh Lynch, Larissa Witters and Courtney Clairmont.