It will be a much shorter road trip for the Western Conference teams who qualify for this year’s state volleyball tournaments.
Both the Class 3A and 4A state championships are moving from their separate venues to the new arena in downtown Everett.
More than a few Wesco 4A South Division squads are hoping to score an invite.
Reigning league champion Shorecrest is a cinch for one of the division’s two automatic berths to the 3A playoffs. Last year, the Scots followed up their 9-0 dash through the regular season by claiming a Northwest District 3A title and a No. 1 seed to state.
An impenetrable defense was Shorecrest’s secret. And this fall, the Scots expect to encounter a procession of heavy hitters eager to bring their win streak to a halt.
“Edmonds-Woodway should be the favorite,” Shorecrest coach Dave Morehouse said. “They’ve got a lot of good talent and a lot of size.”
E-W returns one of the league’s deepest and most experienced lineups. Four all-leaguers are back for the Warriors, who won just one of their three matches at last year’s Northwest District 4A tournament.
Jackson made an even bigger impact at districts, coming up one victory short of a state berth. With five players 5-feet-10 or taller, the Wolfpack possesses an intimidating front row.
Size will also be the primary asset of a relatively green Shorewood team looking to return to the playoffs for the second year in a row.
“Shorewood is going to be real young, but they’re going to be huge from the sound of things,” E-W coach Mike Pittis said. “They may be the biggest team in the South physically.”
After going winless in 2002, Meadowdale is showing marked improvement and plans to push Lynnwood for the league’s second 3A playoff bid.
The Royals lost their all-league setter and five other seniors, but should still be a force on offense with a pair of 6-footers roaming the net.
A full slate of non-conference matches and preseason tournaments kicked off this week. League play starts up Oct. 2.
Boys tennis
Teams will be hard-pressed to hold court with defending champion Shorewood and Jackson in the race for the Wesco 4A South Division boys tennis title.
Shorewood brought a 47-match winning streak into the season and returns three of its four state qualifiers from last season.
Jackson coach David Hutt looks for the Thunderbirds to continue to dominate the league.
“They should be very good because of the depth of their players,” Hutt said. “The rest of the teams lost too many players to compete with Shorewood. I think my group may have a good chance just because we only lost a couple of players.”
Shorecrest is much improved from 2001 and Edmonds-Woodway and Meadowdale could repeat last year’s success, though both teams are coping with considerable losses to graduation.
Girls swimming
Much like tennis, it appears that Jackson and Shorewood will battle for supremacy in the Wesco 4A South Division girls swimming ranks as well.
But they’ll be wrestling over second place.
Perennial powerhouse Kamiak is far and away the choice by area coaches to defend its league championship. The Knights finished fifth at last year’s Class 4A state meet.
“They have such a strong year-round team feeding them, plus great coaching and great facilities and a great group of girls,” Shorewood coach Susie McDowell said. “They have everything.”
Shorewood standout Jackie Benson reached the same conclusion from personal experience. Benson competes with several Kamiak swimmers on her club team, the South Snohomish County Dolphins.
“They’ve got quality swimmers, they’ve got depth,” she said. “Their scores are pretty unattainable.”
Charlie Laughtland and David Pan cover sports for The Enterprise Newspapers. Questions and comments may be sent by e-mail to entsports@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-774-8622 or by mail to Sports editor, The Enterprise, 4303 198th St. SW., Lynnwood, WA 98036.
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