More BCHS Volleyball

• 2008 Fall All-Area Teams: Girls volleyball
• Prep volleyball: Gulf Coast rebounds in fifth set to top Barron in district semifinal
• Prep volleyball: Gulf Coast, Barron advance, will meet in 5A-15 semifinal

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The preseason Spike Classic at Barron Collier won't count in the high school volleyball standings, but it proved something nonetheless -- three-time defending 4A - District 12 champions Naples High is back.

The Golden Eagles were impressive in the Classic, beating 5A rival Barron Collier in five sets and sweeping '07 district runner-up Golden Gate.

"We're happy," coach Rich Hubbard said. "We thought we executed real well (against Barron) ... (against Golden Gate) we were kind of flat, but it's nice we could pull it out anyway against top competition."

On paper, this looks like a rebuilding year for the Golden Eagles, who lost five starters from last year's regional semifinal team, including '07 Daily News volleyball player of the year Cassie Mang.

While Mang is hours away playing for Division II Florida Institute of Technology, two talented middle blockers appear to be adequately filling her shoes for the Golden Eagles.

Neither Samantha High nor Angela Faulkner was a full-time starter at the beginning of last season, but they were a force to be reckoned with in the Classic. Against Golden Gate, both junior middles looked solid blocking the Titans' trio of strong hitters: Melissa Romelus, Naomi Andre and Marjorie Eldira.

"We think our combination of middle hitters is among the best around," Hubbard said after his Golden Eagles beat Golden Gate decisively.

A big key for Naples in its repeat quest will be the play of sophomore setter Katie Raile, who has only been playing the position for two years.

Still, with a solid senior core including libero Izzy Palumbo and do-everything outside hitter Nina Schmidt, the Naples volleyball team hopes to march toward a fourth straight district title -- and maybe steal a bit of the spotlight from the Golden Eagles' defending state champion football team.

NAPLES

COACH: Rich Hubbard (seventh year)

DISTRICT: Class 4A-12

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 22-7

ONES TO WATCH: OH Nina Schmidt, Sr.; S Katie Raile, So.; MH Samantha High, Jr.; MH Angela Faulkner, Jr.; DS/L Izzy Palumbo, Sr.

BARRON COLLIER

COACH: Nick Sweat (first year)

DISTRICT: Class 5A-15

ONES TO WATCH: MH Christine Mansour, So.; OH Christine Stetler, Sr.; L Krissty Andaur, Jr.

OUTLOOK: The Cougars look to pick up where they left off last season, after finishing with a 12-win run to advance to the state tournament, where they fell to St. Thomas Aquinas. Inspiration could come from last year's undefeated freshman squad, or from the fourth new head coach in four years: Nick Sweat -- a Barron Collier grad and beach volleyball star who will get a little help from twin brother and beach volleyball partner Chris Sweat, and from wife and Florida Gulf Coast University single-season kills leader Brooke (Youngquist) Sweat.

COMMUNITY SCHOOL

COACH: Keith Edwards (fourth year)

DISTRICT: Class 2A-12

ONES TO WATCH: MH Ondine Legris, Jr.; MH Alexandria Zimm, Jr.; OH/S Kat Malat, Jr.

OUTLOOK: Revenge on crosstown 2A rival St. John Neumann will be key for the Seahawks, who beat the Celtics three times last season but lost to them in the opening round of the Class 2A - District 12 tournament. For a school without football, volleyball will be in the spotlight at Community School once again, and the Seahawks hope to deliver with a still young but slightly more experienced squad.

ESTERO

COACH: Barry Harris (sixth year)

DISTRICT: Class 4A - 11

ONES TO WATCH: OH Jessica Moorhead, Sr.; OH Rachel Mielke, Sr.; S Carla Wheeler, Sr.; L Stacy Mielke, So.

OUTLOOK: The Wildcats return five seniors from last year's district semifinals squad, and they're hoping for a breakout season behind the class of '09 -- which would mean a return to the state tournament after missing last season for the first time in three years. Estero's biggest strength might be its senior trio, of outside hitters Jessica Moorhead and Rachel Mielke and setter Carla Wheeler, who have been working together on the court since they were freshmen.

FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY

COACHES: Shaliece Hall, Tom Jones (first year)

DISTRICT: Class 2A - Independent

OUTLOOK: In First Baptist's first year of volleyball competition, the Lions will play a half-varsity, half-junior varsity schedule. The action started tonight, with a first-ever match at Seacrest. First Baptist won't play in a district this season, either, competing as a Florida State High School Athletic Association independent.

GOLDEN GATE

COACH: Kim Kaye (fifth year)

DISTRICT: Class 4A - 12

ONES TO WATCH: S Claudia Cabrera, Sr.; MH Naomi Andre, Sr.; OH Melissa Romelus, Sr.; MH Marjorie Eldira, Sr.

OUTLOOK: This could be the year for Golden Gate, which has been close each of the past two seasons -- losing to Naples in the district finals last season and losing to eventual Final Four participant Lemon Bay in the first round in '06. The Titans return three starters from last season's squad, including the district's top blocker, Marjorie Eldira, and steady, four-year starting setter Claudia Cabrera. Also back is middle hitter Naomi Andre, who injured her ankle early last year and missed most of the season.

GULF COAST

COACH: Christy Wright (second year)

DISTRICT: Class 5A - 15

ONES TO WATCH: S Sundai Weston, Sr.; OH Holly Reschke, Jr.; MB Karina Mambuca, Jr.; L Nicole Guidish, Jr.

OUTLOOK: The Sharks might be the most talented team in Collier County, with setting standout Sundai Weston and '07 county kills leader Holly Reschke back to avenge last season's district semifinal loss to Barron Collier. Gulf Coast got off a solid start to the season in last week's preseason Spike Classic at Barron Collier, going 2-0 with a sweep over Golden Gate and a four-set outdoing of the Cougars.

IMMOKALEE

COACH: Bridgett Toombs

DISTRICT: Class 4A - 12

ONES TO WATCH: S Kameisha Thomas, Jr.; OH Erneisha Freeman, Jr.; L Jamie Toombs, Jr.

OUTLOOK: An undersized Immokalee squad looks to again use its hustle and grit to compete with the county's taller squads. Tonight's opener against Everglades City should be a good chance for the Indians to gain some confidence. Palmetto Ridge beat Immokalee in the first round of districts last season.

LELY

COACH: Daniel Selvey (first year)

DISTRICT: Class 4A - 12

ONES TO WATCH: MB Victoria Howard, Sr.; S Amy Russetto, Sr.; OH Kiley Stoll, Sr.

OUTLOOK: After a sub-.500 season, the Trojans look to get back in the mix of a tough district led by Naples and Golden Gate, and they'll do so under a new head coach. Daniel Selvey became Lely's head coach this year after serving as an assistant to Laly Santiago last season. And the Trojans do have experience -- with six senior starters.

PALMETTO RIDGE

COACH: Jess Drevitch (fourth year)

DISTRICT: Class 4A - 12

ONES TO WATCH: OH Carmen Sanchez, Sr.; OH Kim Milne, Sr.; RS/OH Mariah Padilla, Jr.; S Brittinni Marin

OUTLOOK: Like Lely, Palmetto Ridge hopes to move into the upper tier of 4A-12 this season with the return of seven seniors, including talented hitters Carmen Sanchez and Kim Milne. Key for the Bears will be Brittinni Marin's position change from libero to setter, and Mariah Padilla, a junior transfer from Golden Gate, will contend for a starting hitting spot.

ST. JOHN NEUMANN

COACH: Chris Addeo (third year)

DISTRICT: Class 2A - 12

ONES TO WATCH: MB Paige Driapsa, Sr.; MB Kaitlyn Kohls, Sr.; L Jessica Fernandez, Sr.; OH Brittany Giller, Sr.

OUTLOOK: Like Community School and Seacrest, the Celtics will battle in a tough 2A-12 to dethrone Evangelical Christian School atop the district. St. John Neumann lost to Community School three times last season but won when it counted, to advance to the district semifinals, where the Celtics fell to Canterbury School. Neumann looks to advance farther this season behind four returning senior starters.

SEACREST COUNTRY DAY

COACH: Duarte DaSilveira (first year)

DISTRICT: Class 2A - 12

ONES TO WATCH: MB Rachel Bowden, Jr.; OH Chelsey Boll, Jr.; S Savannah King, So.; OH Rikki Townsend, Fr.

OUTLOOK: In Seacrest's third year of volleyball competition, the Stingrays are still looking to build tradition and advance past the semifinals of a tough district. Last year, Seacrest lost its final game to top-seeded powerhouse Evangelical Christian, but with a better regular season, the Stingrays might have a chance for their first-ever state tournament berth under first-year coach Duarte DaSilveira.

SOUTH FORT MYERS

COACH: Kristin Ward (second year)

DISTRICT: Class 4A - 11

ONES TO WATCH: S Samantha Wylie, Sr.; OH Jessica Himalstein, Sr.; MB Sarah Shaw, Sr.; OH Ashley Clark, So.

OUTLOOK: The Wolfpack will contend with Estero and likely Riverdale in a packed 4A-11. Like the Wildcats, South Fort Myers has experience. Four seniors and two juniors return from an '07 squad that compiled South's best-ever record. But the Wolfpack lost in district semifinals last season, missing a trip to regionals.