Volleyball returns eight from '09 team

The Lady Outlaws volleyball team heads into the 2010 pre-season ready for battle with their minds set on defending their state title.

Eight return from the 2009 championship team and will lead the Outlaws toward that end.

Three seniors, Kaity Douglass, Mary Jane Schulte, and Marissa Calavan are back for their final season and all will contribute leadership to the team.

Douglass returns as setter and will quarterback the Outlaws' offense. Kaity returns with a lot of experience under her belt; she is a natural floor leader.

Shulte is back as an outside hitter and utility player. MJ (as she's known by her teammates) is a solid, smart player and will be a big factor in the chemistry of the squad.

Calavan returns to the back court in a defensive specialist role. Marissa is very quick and always a positive leader both on and off the court.

Returning juniors include: Lizzy Carhart, Chelsea Reifschneider, and Sydney Stoneback. Coach Diane Bremer told The Nugget that each of these players will have a real opportunity to step up in a big way for the Outlaws and she is confident they will. Stoneback will get her shot at libero and the colored jersey this year.

Megan Minke, a sophomore, will return at middle for the Outlaws and Kristina Sparling, a left-handed outside hitter and setter, will step in full time. Sparling moved up from JV last year in the post-season to join the squad.

New to the team this year are junior Samantha Williamson, sophomore Kristina Johns, and freshman Bailey Bremer.

The Lady Outlaws will play without one of their star players, junior Hannah Harrer. Harrer suffered a knee injury in early August on a sand volleyball court and will be out for the season.

"It is disappointing not to have Hannah with us right now," said Bremer. "Hannah was the Qwest Player of the Game in the championship match last November. Her level of play at Gonzaga at camp this past summer excelled beyond her sophomore year. Hannah will be supporting us from the sidelines as she rehabs. I am just so glad that she is only a junior and will be back with a vengeance for her senior year."

The Lady Outlaws will play in the IMC Jamboree at Summit High School on Friday, September 3, at 9 a.m. Sisters' first home match will be against Stayton on September 9. Freshman and junior varsity matches will begin at 5 p.m., and varsity will take the court at 6:30 p.m.