KSAC will be a tough row to hoe

By MIKE KILROY Eagle Staff Writer

September 04, 2009 Last Updated: September 04, 2009 03:40 PM High School

The Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference is trying to buck the stigma.

Often considered weak in high school volleyball, the KSAC has turned into a power conference on the court.

"I think this is the toughest, most even league since I've been here," said A-C Valley coach Doug Knox, who is entering his fourth season at the helm. "You have Union, who is going to be good. Redbank Valley, Karns City, North Clarion and Clarion. Clarion is going to be a powerhouse."

Clarion has dominated the league for several seasons, but the gap between the Bobcats and the rest of the KSAC is closing.

Karns City placed third in District 9 last season. Union won 13 matches and has a strong core returning. A-C Valley won 12 matches and gets its injured setter back, and Moniteau has seven seniors competing for first-year coach Tracy Rankin.

"The competition this year is going to be intense," said Karns City coach Halee McCance. "We've really gotten lucky in the fact some good coaches have come in and have really turned around volleyball in this league."

• Coach: Meghan Lucas, seventh season• Last year: 11-5• On the attack: Abbie Druschel (senior), Brynn Maxwell (senior), Marina Gracik (senior• Setting up: Amanda Huey (senior)• Outlook: The loss of two all-state performers to graduation would cripple most teams. But the Golden Tornado are not most teams.Butler has eight seniors and they are hungry to improve on a successful 2008 campaign."They'll be able to continue what we started," Lucas said. "People ask me, 'How is life without Becky (Smith) and Rachel (Doutt)?' But the kids we have have a lot of experience and played in a lot of high pressure situations. They can stand on their own."

• Coach: Karen Martini, fourth year• Last year: 17-3• On the attack: Cate Semani (sophomore), Meghan Drambel (sophomore), Megan Condit (senior)• Setting up: Alex Karika (sophomore), Alyssa DiMaria (junior)• Outlook: The Raiders lost a lot to graduation, but that doesn't mean there is a dearth of playmakers."They are very talented," Martini said. "We just have to build and peak at the right time. We're little, but we're tough."

• Coach: Tom Phillips, ninth season• Last year: 19-1• On the attack: Carlie Bieranowski (senior), Ashley Massart (senior), Alyssa Vigliotti (senior)• Setting up: Madison Rotto (senior)• Outlook: The Yellowjackets are 32-2 in the last two season, but both years ended with disappointing losses in the WPIAL quarterfinals.With a team led by four seniors, including all-state performer Carlie Bieranowski, Freeport is poised to take it a step further: the state playoffs."I certainly hope so," Phillips said. "I am very pleased and happy with the team I have this year. These girls just have awesome chemistry."

• Coach: Diane Geist, 23rd season• Last year: third in section• On the attack: Tori Lark (junior), Julia Kleinfelder (junior), Hali Gill (senior), Brooke Armahizer (sophomore), Stephanie Eagal (senior)• Setting up: Jessica Gross (senior), Taylor Smith (senior)• Outlook: The Knights are as deep as any team in the section.But will that be enough?"Our middle (hitters) are promising this year," Geist said.

• Coach: Dan Mountain• Last year: 16-3• On the attack: Camblin Leonard (senior), Chamille Plesniak (senior)• Setting up: Madie Hudac (senior), Ann Beipler (senior), Taylor Boice (senior)• Outlook: It's state playoffs of bust for the Planets. Mars has come tantalizingly close to reaching that goal the last two seasons, only to fall short."The goal is to advance to the final four and qualify for the state playoffs," Mountain said. "I think this is the team that can do it."

• Coach: Greg Dugan• Last year: 6-6• On the attack: Bre Northcott (sophomore), Megan McCune (junior), Caitlin Jones (junior), Stormie Hockenberry (sophomore)• Setting up: Kelcey Schaum (senior), Marie Tackach (sophomore)• Outlook: There is a plethora of talented youth on the Rockets' roster. Dugan is trying to amplify the talent by shuffling things around.The veteran coach moved Schaum from setter to libero and installed sophomore Marie Tackachat setter."(We have) lots of young talent," Dugan said. "Passing has improved. If we can keep our passes in system, we have the setter and attackers to compete this year."

• Coach: Barry Divins, 15th season• Last year: 13-7• On the attack: Lepha Logue (senior), Tina Lipps (junior), Ashley MacKinlay (junior)• Setting up: Mariah Winchester (junior)• Outlook: The Damsels are always contenders in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference. But the road to the playoffs is getting tougher along with the competition in the league."We have to be prepared to play every night," Divins said. "But I'm looking for big things."

• Coach: Halee McCance, 2nd season• Last year: Third in District 9• On the attack: Kara Sypulski (senior), Brooke Hiles (junior), Sarah Fiscus (senior), Brittany Lessner (junior)• Setting up: Shirley Trimbur (junior)• Outlook: The Gremlins took a hit with the loss of standout Ashley Campbell, but there is enough talent remaining to give McCance reason for optimism."I see us doing as well, if not better, as last season," said McCance, who watched her team come one match short of making the state playoffs.

• Coach: Tracy Rankin, first season• Last year: N/A• On the attack: Kathleen Harding (senior), Ashley Lominski (senior), Ashley Hasychak (senior), Rachel Young (senior)• Setting up: Jaryn Beatty (senior), Kara Baxter (senior), Tiffany Zang (senior)• Outlook: Rankin, who served as an assistant with the Warriors for the past three season, has a veteran team."I have high hopes," Rankin said. "I truly think they will be good as long as they play as a team and have fun."

• Coach: Doug Knox, fourth season• Last year: 12-5• On the attack: Erika Roethen (senior), Lauren Snyder (senior), Samantha Kerlin (senior), Erin Larimore (senior)• Setting up: Katie Quaill (senior)• Outlook: The Falcons are coming off a highly successful season and get their setter, Quaill, back from an knee injury that wiped out her junior season."She was ready to play in the playoffs last season, but it's hard to come back as a setter that late in a season," Knox said. "She played all summer and she's ready to go."