FALL PREVIEW-Astoria Volleyball
LEAGUE: Cowapa League (4A)
The Cowapa League loses Rainier, which stays at the 3A level in the new Lewis & Clark League. This would have been cause for celebration a couple of years ago, but the Columbians dominating program has dropped back in the pack. Yamhill-Carlton joins the Cowapa League and should compete for a playoff berth.
HEAD COACH: Angee Hunt (4th year, 23-20)
ASST COACHES: Nikki Gascoigne, Sara Oien
Ex-Oregon Duck player Hunt and J.V. coach Gascoigne return after a stormy 2005 campaign. Veteran coach Oien joins the staff after seven years as head coach of the Warrenton track team.
2005 RECORD: 8-6 (5-5 Cowapa League 4th place)
PLAYOFFS:lost at Banks in 3-game league playoff final
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2004-first Cowapa League championship
LAST PLAYOFF WIN: 2004-tied for 7th at state, best ever finish
After a surprising run to the state playoffs in 2003 and a school record finish in 2004, Astoria stumbled a bit in '05 with an inexperienced, albeit talented roster dominated by sophomores. The Fishermen lost a best two out of three game league playoff at Banks, with two games going to extra points, so they were very close to their third straight trip to the state tournament despite a fourth place finish and .500 league record. The league is still competitive, but Astoria should be primed for a strong run in '06 if attitudes don't get in the way.
CURRENT COLLEGE/PRO ATHLETES: Shyra Merila (Humboldt State track), Shelby Cullen (Cascade College volleyball)
KEY GRAUDUATES/LOSSES: A.J. Johnson (RS/OH-hon. ment. Cowapa), Brooke Arndt (DS)
A young squad loses just one starter, but A.J. was a positive force in an often negative atmosphere. Arndt saw limited duty as a serving specialist. The Fishermen need a floor leader to emerge this season.
RETURNING ALL-STARS: Wendi Agalzoff (Sr., MB-1st team Cowapa), Sophie DeWitt (Jr., MH-1st-team Cowapa), Rachel Gascoigne (Sr., S-HM Cowapa)
RETURNING STARTERS: 5-Hilary O'Bryan (Jr., OH), Kristin Saulsbury (Jr., OH)
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 8
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Amelia Hernandez (Sr., DS), Meredith Barnes (Jr., MH), Sara Cullen (Jr., DS)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Alex Hillard (Jr., MH), Erica Johnson (So., S)
On paper, this could be the most talented volleyball team Astoria has ever put on the floor. The question is will it translate to production on the floor in the tough Cowapa League.
A heralded athletic class enters its junior year and the hope is that maturity, physical and emotional, will take hold. Expectations may have been unrealistic for this group last season in a loaded Cowapa League, but key players need to show that they are ready to respond to the challenge.
While the juniors garner the majority of attention, it is senior Wendi Agalzoff who returns with the most experience. A third-year starter and all-league middle blocker and the only player who saw significant action during Astoria's state run two years ago, Agalzoff is a 6-foot presence in the middle who has added a more forceful kill shot to her array of tips and dinks. Agalzoff is a good server, providing important versatility to that position. There weren't a whole lot of smiles on the team last year, but "Wonder Wendi" looks like she's always having a good time!
Junior Sophie DeWitt is the protege. A volleyball-only athlete, DeWitt polished her game on junior varsity as a freshman and got the invite to suit up with the varsity at state, taking it all in from the bench. DeWitt emerged as Astoria's primary offensive threat as a sophomore in '05. DeWitt, another 6-footer, works hard on her game and is probably the top college prospect Astoria has produced in awhile. This is the player the Fishermen must look to for leadership, but her relationship with the Astoria coaching staff was strained in a turbulent season. Unquestionably Astoria's most polished all-around player, DeWitt must relax and focus on being a better team player, not necesarily a vocal leader but a positive presence who leads by example.
Senior Rachel Gascoigne probably faced the most pressure in 2005, taking over for all-state setter Shyra Merila, a 3-year starter and team leader. Gascoigne was up to the task, performing at an all-league level and proving to be the equal of talented senior setters Debra Bohren from Tillamook and Melissa King from Seaside. Gascoigne could get an all-state nod this year, but on a team desperate for leadership, Gascoigne needs to grab the reigns and keep everybody focused on team goals.
Juniors Hilary O'Bryan and Kristin Saulsbury are both returning starters. O'Bryan is a gifted athlete and a fearless player. A bit undersized on the outside, her leaping ability, exemplified by a runner-up finish in the high jump at the state track and field meet, gets her over the net for the power hit. O'Bryan will give up the body for the dig, is a good server and has impressive floor coverage defensively. A top student and natural leader, look for more consistent play from O'Bryan in '06. Saulsbury may be the barometer of this team's success. A wild card, the 5-9 junior has athletic gifts the equal of anybody in the school. But she must be able to overcome bumps and bruises and stay on the floor and mentally focused in clutch situations. If Saulbury has a breakout junior season, this team could go very far in the playoffs.
Astoria's most improved player may be junior Meredith Barnes, another tall jumper who has been killing the ball this summer. Sara Cullen gave the Fishermen a big lift off the bench in the playoffs when Saulsbury left the game with an injury at Banks. Cullen, another junior, swung between varsity and junior varsity last year and will be full time as a defensive specialist this year. Amelia Hernandez, a senior DS, will battle for playing time against some emerging sophomores who will start the season on J.V.
Alex Hillard, an explosive junior athlete coming off winter ACL surgery, will swing along with sophomore Erica Johnson, who will likely assume the varsity setting duties in 2007.
TEAM STRENGTH: experience, athletic talent, height
WEAKNESS:chemistry, must have trust and togetherness to succeed
TOP COWAPA CONTENDERS: BANKS, Tillamook
PROJECTED FINISH: contend for league playoffs
Coach Hunt may have the most athletic talent on the floor this year, but a successful team is built on more than just athleticism. Friction between players, parents and coaches last year produced an unpleasant atmosphere and hindered the progress of a young team. There were too many cooks in the kitchen and some key players lost focus as a result. If everybody is on the same page this year, this team has the potential for a deep playoff run, perhaps playing meaningful games on the final day at the state tournament and eclipsing the mark set by the 2004 squad, which we tend to forget, also had some "coach-killers" on board. If everybody understands their roles this year--coaches coach, players play and parents cheer and offer positive encouragement from the stands--look for Astoria to contend for a second Cowapa League title in three years. Banks, also no stranger to team dissention, returns much of its team, but has a new coach. Tillamook, which took the league's top seed last year, returns the league's top player in Stephanie Beeler. Seaside graduated most of its co-league champion squad and has a new coach. Scappoose and Y-C look like middle-of-the-pack teams at best.
The Cowapa League loses Rainier, which stays at the 3A level in the new Lewis & Clark League. This would have been cause for celebration a couple of years ago, but the Columbians dominating program has dropped back in the pack. Yamhill-Carlton joins the Cowapa League and should compete for a playoff berth.
HEAD COACH: Angee Hunt (4th year, 23-20)
ASST COACHES: Nikki Gascoigne, Sara Oien
Ex-Oregon Duck player Hunt and J.V. coach Gascoigne return after a stormy 2005 campaign. Veteran coach Oien joins the staff after seven years as head coach of the Warrenton track team.
2005 RECORD: 8-6 (5-5 Cowapa League 4th place)
PLAYOFFS:lost at Banks in 3-game league playoff final
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2004-first Cowapa League championship
LAST PLAYOFF WIN: 2004-tied for 7th at state, best ever finish
After a surprising run to the state playoffs in 2003 and a school record finish in 2004, Astoria stumbled a bit in '05 with an inexperienced, albeit talented roster dominated by sophomores. The Fishermen lost a best two out of three game league playoff at Banks, with two games going to extra points, so they were very close to their third straight trip to the state tournament despite a fourth place finish and .500 league record. The league is still competitive, but Astoria should be primed for a strong run in '06 if attitudes don't get in the way.
CURRENT COLLEGE/PRO ATHLETES: Shyra Merila (Humboldt State track), Shelby Cullen (Cascade College volleyball)
KEY GRAUDUATES/LOSSES: A.J. Johnson (RS/OH-hon. ment. Cowapa), Brooke Arndt (DS)
A young squad loses just one starter, but A.J. was a positive force in an often negative atmosphere. Arndt saw limited duty as a serving specialist. The Fishermen need a floor leader to emerge this season.
RETURNING ALL-STARS: Wendi Agalzoff (Sr., MB-1st team Cowapa), Sophie DeWitt (Jr., MH-1st-team Cowapa), Rachel Gascoigne (Sr., S-HM Cowapa)
RETURNING STARTERS: 5-Hilary O'Bryan (Jr., OH), Kristin Saulsbury (Jr., OH)
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 8
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Amelia Hernandez (Sr., DS), Meredith Barnes (Jr., MH), Sara Cullen (Jr., DS)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Alex Hillard (Jr., MH), Erica Johnson (So., S)
On paper, this could be the most talented volleyball team Astoria has ever put on the floor. The question is will it translate to production on the floor in the tough Cowapa League.
A heralded athletic class enters its junior year and the hope is that maturity, physical and emotional, will take hold. Expectations may have been unrealistic for this group last season in a loaded Cowapa League, but key players need to show that they are ready to respond to the challenge.
While the juniors garner the majority of attention, it is senior Wendi Agalzoff who returns with the most experience. A third-year starter and all-league middle blocker and the only player who saw significant action during Astoria's state run two years ago, Agalzoff is a 6-foot presence in the middle who has added a more forceful kill shot to her array of tips and dinks. Agalzoff is a good server, providing important versatility to that position. There weren't a whole lot of smiles on the team last year, but "Wonder Wendi" looks like she's always having a good time!
Junior Sophie DeWitt is the protege. A volleyball-only athlete, DeWitt polished her game on junior varsity as a freshman and got the invite to suit up with the varsity at state, taking it all in from the bench. DeWitt emerged as Astoria's primary offensive threat as a sophomore in '05. DeWitt, another 6-footer, works hard on her game and is probably the top college prospect Astoria has produced in awhile. This is the player the Fishermen must look to for leadership, but her relationship with the Astoria coaching staff was strained in a turbulent season. Unquestionably Astoria's most polished all-around player, DeWitt must relax and focus on being a better team player, not necesarily a vocal leader but a positive presence who leads by example.
Senior Rachel Gascoigne probably faced the most pressure in 2005, taking over for all-state setter Shyra Merila, a 3-year starter and team leader. Gascoigne was up to the task, performing at an all-league level and proving to be the equal of talented senior setters Debra Bohren from Tillamook and Melissa King from Seaside. Gascoigne could get an all-state nod this year, but on a team desperate for leadership, Gascoigne needs to grab the reigns and keep everybody focused on team goals.
Juniors Hilary O'Bryan and Kristin Saulsbury are both returning starters. O'Bryan is a gifted athlete and a fearless player. A bit undersized on the outside, her leaping ability, exemplified by a runner-up finish in the high jump at the state track and field meet, gets her over the net for the power hit. O'Bryan will give up the body for the dig, is a good server and has impressive floor coverage defensively. A top student and natural leader, look for more consistent play from O'Bryan in '06. Saulsbury may be the barometer of this team's success. A wild card, the 5-9 junior has athletic gifts the equal of anybody in the school. But she must be able to overcome bumps and bruises and stay on the floor and mentally focused in clutch situations. If Saulbury has a breakout junior season, this team could go very far in the playoffs.
Astoria's most improved player may be junior Meredith Barnes, another tall jumper who has been killing the ball this summer. Sara Cullen gave the Fishermen a big lift off the bench in the playoffs when Saulsbury left the game with an injury at Banks. Cullen, another junior, swung between varsity and junior varsity last year and will be full time as a defensive specialist this year. Amelia Hernandez, a senior DS, will battle for playing time against some emerging sophomores who will start the season on J.V.
Alex Hillard, an explosive junior athlete coming off winter ACL surgery, will swing along with sophomore Erica Johnson, who will likely assume the varsity setting duties in 2007.
TEAM STRENGTH: experience, athletic talent, height
WEAKNESS:chemistry, must have trust and togetherness to succeed
TOP COWAPA CONTENDERS: BANKS, Tillamook
PROJECTED FINISH: contend for league playoffs
Coach Hunt may have the most athletic talent on the floor this year, but a successful team is built on more than just athleticism. Friction between players, parents and coaches last year produced an unpleasant atmosphere and hindered the progress of a young team. There were too many cooks in the kitchen and some key players lost focus as a result. If everybody is on the same page this year, this team has the potential for a deep playoff run, perhaps playing meaningful games on the final day at the state tournament and eclipsing the mark set by the 2004 squad, which we tend to forget, also had some "coach-killers" on board. If everybody understands their roles this year--coaches coach, players play and parents cheer and offer positive encouragement from the stands--look for Astoria to contend for a second Cowapa League title in three years. Banks, also no stranger to team dissention, returns much of its team, but has a new coach. Tillamook, which took the league's top seed last year, returns the league's top player in Stephanie Beeler. Seaside graduated most of its co-league champion squad and has a new coach. Scappoose and Y-C look like middle-of-the-pack teams at best.
posted by Matt Richert at 7:55 AM
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