Girls volleyball preview: Landstown, Grassfield, Granby, Cape Henry are favorites

PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Landstown: The future is now for the Eagles.

2. Princess Anne: The Suzanne Lasseigne-led Cavaliers pursue a return to the state tournament.

3. Kellam: The Knights boast a wealth of experience and depth.

4. Cox: How fast will the Falcons’ new faces jell?

5. Grassfield: Courtney Sump-Allison Munter tandem drives the Grizzlies.

6. Great Bridge: With Alex Jones, the Wildcats will keep up.

7. First Colonial: Improved depth and offensive balance helps the Patriots.

8. Ocean Lakes: The Dolphins should pass their rebuilding test.

9. Western Branch: New coach, continued quality.

10. Granby: Comets should thrive after a busy offseason.

DON’T COUNT OUT

Cape Henry Collegiate: This veteran cast remains hungry.

Maury: Six seniors will fuel the Commodores.

PICKING THE LEAGUES

Beach District

1. Landstown

2. Princess Anne

3. Kellam

4. Cox

5. First Colonial

6. Ocean Lakes

7. Bayside

8. Tallwood

9. Kempsville

10. Salem

11. Green Run

Eastern District

1. Granby

2. Maury

3. Churchland

4. Norview

5. Lake Taylor

6. Booker T. Washington

7. Norcom

8. Wilson

Southeastern District

1. Grassfield

2. Great Bridge

3. Western Branch

4. Hickory

5. Lakeland

6. Deep Creek

7. King’s Fork

8. Indian River

9. Lakeland

10. Nansemond River

Tidewater Conference

  1. Cape Henry Collegiate

2. Norfolk Collegiate

3. Peninsula Catholic

4. Greenbrier Christian

5. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

6. Norfolk Academy

7. Hampton Roads Academy

8. Walsingham

9. Bishop Sullivan Catholic

10. Norfolk Christian

Metro Conference

1. Portsmouth Christian

2. Denbigh Baptist

3. Broadwater Academy

4. Isle of Wight Academy

5. Atlantic Shores

6. Alliance Christian

7. Hampton Christian

8. StoneBridge

DEFENDING CHAMPS

State Group AAA: Deep Run.

Eastern Region: Cox.

Beach District: Cox, regular season and tournament.

Eastern District: Maury and Granby, regular-season co-champions; Maury, tournament.

Southeastern District: Great Bridge and Western Branch, regular-season co-champions; Great Bridge, tournament.

Tidewater Conference: Peninsula Catholic, regular season; Norfolk Academy, tournament.

AROUND THE NET -- The departure of seven of the top eight players at Cox, a state semifinalist last year, should trigger at least a three-team scramble for the Beach District title. Landstown, with Player of the Year candidate Hannah Hugeback; Princess Anne, led by Player of the Year hopeful Suzanne Lasseigne; and Kellam are the chief combatants.

-- Hugeback, a 6-foot hitter who has committed to Seton Hall, can play any position, according to Landstown coach Cheryl Smith. “She’s smart and strong offensively, and very consistent on defense.” Smith is pleased with the progress of middle Andrea Rodriguez and outside hitter Jenny Pry.

-- Princess Anne’s Lasseigne, a 5-10 senior hitter, was the key force in the Cavaliers’ march to the 2007 state quarterfinals, the best finish in program history. Power and consistency are her strengths. “I’ve never seen so many girls look up to one individual,” Princess Anne coach Craig Dooren said of Lasseigne. nKellam, with Caleb Adams joining Janice Johnson as co-head coach, should benefit from a championship at a recent UNC camp. Hitter Jamie Bartz heads a veteran Knights lineup, with the lone question mark at setter. Kristi Cascio and Shelby Wilkins are competing for that spot.

-- Cape Henry Collegiate should challenge for the Tidewater Conference championship, with help from Morgan Freeman. Not the actor but the returning junior middle, a first-team All-TCIS selection in 2007. Freeman led the Dolphins in kills and blocks. Hitter Paige Wheeler, who opted out of an invitation to try out for a California Junior National Beach team to stay with Cape Henry, is another key returnee.

-- Grassfield coach Sarelda James-Green is confident setter Allison Munter will prosper after attending several setter camps this summer. Her progress means more opportunities for hitters Courtney Sump, Danielle Terry and Mallory Obenour. Munter and Sump both started their careers at Great Bridge before Grassfield opened in 2007.

-- Great Bridge coach Chris Lessick is most concerned about the graduation of several key defensive players. He’s counting on middle Ally Karol and setter Jana Little to complement the efforts of Southeastern District Player of the Year candidate Alex Jones.

-- Rebuilding Cox, winner of the last four Eastern Region championships, should get an immediate boost from sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Blanford, a transfer from Hickory.

-- At Western Branch, Joel Schlabach replaces Beth Lett, who coached the Bruins to 145 victores in eight seasons. Schlabach has served as a Western Branch boys assistant as well as a girls club coach for Coastal Virginia. He said the Bruins’ fortunes will hinge on the success of their defense, led by libero Kelley Logan.

-- The Eastern District race likely will be a repeat of last year’s dogfight between Maury and Granby. The pair split their regular-season meetings, then Maury won a playoff and the tournament. Granby coach Tim Maynard likes his team’s title chances, especially with Caitlin Jeter’s move from the middle to outside. He also predicts breakout seasons for middles Alex Nash and Kama Zardee. The Comets logged good experience playing in an adult league during the offseason. Maury returns six seniors, led by setter Anna Lewis. Coach Drew Stephenson feels the Commodores are capable of an unbeaten district run.

-- Seven South Hampton Roads teams will compete in the annual Ukrops Showcase on Friday and Saturday in Richmond. Cape Henry Collegiate will join Beach District entries Kellam, Princess Anne, First Colonial, Landstown, Cox and Ocean Lakes at the event.