CoachesAid.com - High School Sports

It’s a grim reality for many high school volleyball teams in Washington when they must ponder facing the mighty Mead Panthers of Spokane.

What’s worse this season is the Panthers have extra motivation to be even better.

Mead enters the 2009 season as the No. 1 team in the Coaches Aid Washington Class 4A preseason state volleyball rankings. The Panthers have a bit of a chip on their shoulders after coming up short in the state tournament last season after winning five state titles in a row prior to that.

“Last year, I thought we were talented but inexperienced,” Mead coach Judy Kight said. “This year, we feel are talented and more experienced. That’s definitely an advantage over last year.”

Mead was shocked by Olympia in the state tournament quarterfinals last season and had to settle for seventh place. The loss ended Mead’s hopes of winning a sixth straight title.

“They feel driven in the right way,” Kight said of her Panthers this season. “They’re so driven because they feel they could’ve and should’ve done better last year.”

Mead returns eight players from last year’s team, led by 6-foot-6 phenom Alexis Olgard, who already has committed to the University of Southern California. Mead surrounds her with a talented cast in senior setter Emma Barrington, junior outside hitter Kuulei Zalopany, senior outside hitter Mady Dahlstrom and junior middle blocker Kaely Kight, the coach’s daughter.

Olgard has shined on the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team this year.

“Alexis is arguably the best player to ever come out of the state of Washington,” Kight said. “She had a fantastic summer with the Junior National team. She led them in points, aces, kills and blocks. She had a great experience. She’s just the neatest teammate and player you’ll ever have. We’re thrilled to have her back as a senior.”

Here’s a look at the preseason Coaches Aid state volleyball rankings for all classifications in Washington. Rankings were made after consulting with media and coaches:

Class 4A

1. Mead

2. Kamiakin

3. Lewis & Clark

4. Skyview

5. Curtis

6. Monroe

7. Issaquah

8. Edmonds-Woodway

9. Auburn-Riverside

10. Kentwood

Others to watch: Bellarmine, Bothell, Eastmont, Eisenhower, Graham-Kapowsin, Kamiak, Kent-Meridian, Marysville-Pilchuck, Olympia, Puyallup, Richland, Southridge.

Class 3A

1. Eastside Catholic

2. Blanchet

3. Shadle Park

4. Sumner

5. Lakes

6. Seattle Prep

7. Mount Spokane

8. Kennedy

9. Shorecrest

10. Mount Si

Others to watch: Auburn Mountainview, Camas, Capital, East Valley (Spokane), Holy Names, Meadowdale, Mercer Island, Prairie, Union.

Class 2A

1. Tumwater

2. Selah

3. Black Hills

4. Pullman

5. Mark Morris

6. West Valley (Spokane)

7. Fife

8. Burlington-Edison

9. Grandview

10. Centralia

Others to watch: Archbishop Murphy, Hockinson, Lynden, R.A. Long, South Whidbey.

Class 1A

1. King’s

2. Castle Rock

3. Zillah

4. Chelan

5. Lynden Christian

6. Goldendale

7. Cascade Christian

8. Onalaska

9. Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls)

10. Cascade (Leavenworth)

Others to watch: Annie Wright, Cedar Park Christian, Connell, Kalama, River View, Stevenson

Class 2B

1. Colfax

2. La Conner

3. Tekoa-Oakesdale

4. Riverside Christian (Yakima)

5. Davenport

6. Toutle Lake

7. Lind-Ritzville

8. Northwest Christian (Colbert)

9. La Salle (Union Gap)

10. South Bend

Others to watch: Adna, Bridgeport, Darrington, Evergreen Lutheran (Des Moines), Kittitas, Mossyrock, Ocosta, Pomeroy, Shoreline Christian.

Class 1B

1. LaCrosse-Washtucna

2. St. John-Endicott

3. Klickitat

4. Wilson Creek

5. Colton

6. North Sound Christian (Mountlake Terrace)

7. Wilbur-Creston

8. Moses Lake Christian

9. Lake Quinault

10. Crescent

Others to watch: Almira-Coulee-Hartline, Cusick, Lummi, Three Rivers Christian (Kelso).