The Edmonds-Woodway volleyball lineup is being retooled.

The Warriors graduated six seniors from a team that advanced to the district tournament.

But just as significant a blow was the loss of senior standout Katie Trew, who was lost for the season after suffering a torn ACL this summer while playing basketball.

Trew underwent surgery in August and currently is going through rehab.

“She’s responding really well,” said Edmonds-Woodway coach Mike Pittis, who added the hope is that Trew will return in time for basketball.

In some ways, the 2004 season likely will be a rebuilding year for the Warriors, who return only a pair of starters.

Pittis will look to senior standouts Erin Greenwood and Charlene Toma for leadership. Two others who saw some playing time last season were seniors Toni Nelson and Chelsea Olsen.

“I’m hoping that a couple of JV kids can help us out,” Pittis said. “Then I actually have a freshman on varsity. We haven’t had one of them in years. We’re hoping she’ll come along and be our one of our other middle blockers.”

Edmonds-Woodway has a couple of tournaments and few preseason games to help prepare the younger players for the rigors of varsity action.

The speed of the game is the biggest adjustment the junior varsity players are going to have to make, Pittis said.

“I feel really good about the kids we’ve got,” he added. “I’m hoping by the time we get to the regular season we’ll be pretty competitive … there’s a lot of learning that’s going on every day.

“If we have a positive experience in the preseason, by the time we get to the regular season they’ll be ready to step in and carry that load.”

Though the Warriors lack varsity experience, they do have more height than they’ve had in quite awhile.

Greenwood is 6-feet-4 and is backed up by players ranging in height from 5-10 to 6-2.

Unlike last year when there were only two district berths to state, this year there are three. The top four teams out of the division advance to the district tournament.

“I’d like to be in the mix,” Pittis said. “I want to get in that top four.”

Here is a look at Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace:

Meadowdale

Mavericks coach Jennifer Kniseley describes her team as a blended squad that had some good experience.

Meadowdale’s top returners are juniors Maggie Brewe and Caitlyn Rohrbach along with lone senior Janette Ruiz. Kniseley is expecting a lot of out Ruiz, who is the team’s defensive specialist.

“She’s going to have a great year,” Kniseley said. “We should be looking for a lot of leadership from her.”

Also back is sophomore Krystal Craig, a multi-talented athlete who lettered in three sports her freshman year.

“She could add a lot to our program,” Kniseley said.

Junior Tessa Eberth is another player Kniseley expects to be a contributor.

Meadowdale is shaping up to be an improved team from a year ago, but one that is still relatively young.

“(We) don’t have as much varsity experience as a whole but the key players have lots of experience,” Kniseley said. “I think that they’re really chomping at the bit to be successful. They’ve been part of a rebuilding process.

“This is my fourth year as head coach. They (players) are finally all my kids. I think everyone is getting on the same page.”

The move up to 4A from 3A shouldn’t have much impact on Meadowdale. The Mavericks’ 3A competition Lynnwood and Shorecrest were among the top teams in the division. Both advanced to the 3A state tournament last year.

“I think there are going to be some tough 4A teams,” Kniseley added. “We’re not making a big deal out of it (4A).”

Mountlake Terrace

Marietta Snyder has a solid nucleus from which to build a team in her first season as head coach of the Hawks.

This marks the fourth season Mountlake Terrace’s Samantha Richardson and Jessica Schrock have been members of the varsity squad.

“They are pretty much the leaders,” Snyder said.

Also returning are seniors Allison Heuer, Kyra Blankenship and Beth Macho.

Snyder initially was hired as the C team coach but then assumed the head coaching duties when the position was left unfilled. She has about five years of experience volunteer coaching at College Place Middle School and also coached a club volleyball team based out of Edmonds.

“I like players that are really hard working,” Snyder said. “I like really positive attitudes and most of all I like hard-working kids.”

The players and Snyder spent some time during July getting to know one another in anticipation of the fall.

“They’re a great group of kids,” Snyder said. “They all get along and the older ones have really taken in the sophomores.”