With the departure of all-league middle blockers Julia DeKoekkoek and Tess Hodges, the Shoreline Christian volleyball team plans to employ some different tactics this season.
“We’re not going to focus everything on the middle like we have the last few years,” coach Glenn Hoogerhyde said. “Now we’re running (the offense) from all over.”
The Crusaders top returner is sophomore setter Anne Marie Visser, a club player and a Northwest A/2B League second team selection last year.
“She definitely has the poise right now to lead the team as a setter so that’s nice,” said Hoogerhyde, who will coach the Crusaders’ varsity and junior varsity this year.
Other key returners are senior libero Kirsten Landis, senior right-side hitter Marilyn Baker, sophomore middle blocker Laura Kredit and junior right-side hitter Valerie Weiford.
Newcomers include senior outside hitter Cathy Shipman, junior defensive specialist Andrea DeKoekkoek, junior middle blocker Angela DeKoekkoek and sophomore outside hitter Megan Bauman. The DeKoekkoeks are cousins.
“They are a quick bunch of girls. We’ve been working hard on making that even better,” Hoogerhyde said. “They know how to pursue they know how to move their feet.”
Shoreline Christian qualified for the state tournament in 2005 but did not return last year.
“These girls have worked very hard in two weeks my expectation is that they will work hard all season. If they have the strength of will they could go as far as they want,” Hoogerhyde said. “We have a tough league. We hope to finish fourth so we can go on to the postseason.”
Defending state 2B champion LaConner lost key players including league most valuable player Carlee Marble, but still is the favorite to win the league. Darrington fields a strong team and Orcas Island is improved.
The Crusaders competed in a jamboree Sept. 1 against Mount Vernon Christian and won five out of six games. They opened the regular season Wednesday against Evergreen Lutheran, a state playoff team from last year, after Enterprise deadlines.
Fifteen girls are in the program, down a bit from last year. A couple players will swing from junior varsity to varsity.
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