Ready to face new trials

Andrew Palileo isn’t afraid of taking on a challenge.

That’s exactly what faces the new head coach of the Washington State University volleyball program as he tries to return the Cougars to the upper tier of the rugged Pac-10 Conference.

Palileo inherits a program that was last (10th) in the conference a year ago and ninth the previous three seasons. The Cougars haven’t had a winning season since 2002.

“A lot of people tried to talk me out of it, but it’s just one of those situations where I couldn’t pass up the challenge,” said Palileo, who was 154-86 in seven years as head coach at South Dakota State and guided the 2007 Jackrabbits to the school’s first NCAA tournament. “It is a challenge, but I think there are a lot of advantages to be in the conference and living in a town and community like this.”

Palileo replaced Brian Heffernan, who was 39-87 in four years before resigning in February to become an assistant at Wisconsin. Palileo was hired in April, which gave him a late start in recruiting. WSU lost middle blocker Alyssa Hilby because of the coaching change. She ended up signing with Tennessee.

After he was hired, Palileo visited the other three recruits and their families to assure them the program was heading in the right direction. One of those three was Breann Nesselhuf, who is expected to start at setter as a true freshman. Two of Palileo’s players from South Dakota State, Emily Rooney and Annie Adams, joined him at WSU. Adams will sit out this season.

The Cougars have returning experience in senior outside hitter Brittany Johnson, junior outside hitter Jackie Albright and junior libero Kelly Hyder. Johnson, a three-year starter, ranks seventh in school history with 54 career solo blocks. Hyder’s 1,089 digs are sixth on WSU’s career list.

Palileo has installed a new system, which emphasizes ball control and a speedy transition game.

“We’re not as big and physical, especially on the outside positions as I’d like us to be, but the system can negate some of that if we can stay in system,” he said. “Not only learning the system, but understanding the nuances of spacing and timing.”

Palileo hopes to make incremental gains in rebuilding the Cougars, who enjoyed nine NCAA trips under coach Cindy Fredrick from 1989-2003.

“This is how I look at it,” Palileo said. “A lot of people see you playing against Stanford, USC and UCLA; I see us playing against Arizona State, Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State. Are we ready for those teams like Stanford and USC? Probably not, but it’s a building process and those other four, no disrespect to them, they are the ones right in front of us.”

Eastern Washington

The Eagles overcame a difficult non-conference stretch last year to make a serious bid for the Big Sky Conference championship. Their goal is to improve on the former, as well as the latter.

“We have a tough schedule (before conference), but we want to do well, not just to use it to get ready for Big Sky, but we want to do something more than just in our conference,” coach Miles Kydd said. “Our goals are bigger than that.”

EWU is on its third head coach in three years, but the promotion of Kydd provides some stability. He was an Eagles assistant for four years before becoming head coach. Irene Matlock led EWU on an interim basis last season.

The Eagles return six starters (Alysha Cook, Chenoa Coviare, Hayley Hills, Allison Reinstein, Chelsea Ross, Amanda Yausie) and conference libero of the year Mandy Daniels (University High). Hills was one of two unanimous first-team All-Big Sky selections last season. Cook made the second team.

Yausie essentially split time with Ashley Hamilton a year ago, but she’s battling a back injury. Kydd believes altering Yausie’s practice schedule will help her to return to the court.

“It’s going to come down to, ‘Can our big studs get the job done?’ because we’re going to be leaning on them,” Kydd said. “Everyone knows Hayley is going to get the ball in crucial situations. How will she do? Can Alysha take some of the heat off her?”

Gonzaga

The Bulldogs must replace four starters from last year’s squad that won 17 matches, the program’s high-water mark since a 17-win campaign in 1994.

“It’s going to be tough, but we have some good returning players to fill the holes and some good newcomers as well,” coach Kip Yoshimura said.

Returning starters are Elaina Renius, Michelle Boevers and Layne Brosky. Renius was second on the team with 329 kills as a junior and Boevers’ 307 were third. Caitlin Cozad will join Renius as middles and Emily Johnson is expected to fill one of the outside hitting spots. Tianna Tuatagaloa, who missed last season with a torn Achilles tendon, is pushing Brosky for time at right-side hitter.

True freshman Denise Van de Mortel is the probable successor to graduated setter Heather Dunn, who was honorable mention All-WCC last year. Paige Dillingham has converted from middle blocker to libero. Allyson Powell and Laura Day are candidates for time in the back row. Freshmen outside hitters Kaprina Goodwin (Northport) and Kelli Tikker (Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls) have impressed Yoshimura in practice.

“Our goal is to have a winning season and place higher in the WCC standings,” said Yoshimura, whose team was seventh in the eight-team conference last year. “We can’t have letdowns during the season and we have to get better every day.”

Idaho

Name tags and introductions probably won’t be necessary for the Vandals, who return six starters and nine letter-winners as they try to improve on last year’s fifth-place WAC finish.

“They have been around each other the last two years so there’s a lot of comfort and they play well together,” coach Debbie Buchanan said. “They know each other.”

Outside hitter Haley Larsen is a three-time All-WAC selection, including first-team honors last season when she ranked seventh nationally in kills per game (5.39). Right-side hitter Sarah Loney was second-team All-WAC a year ago. Buchanan said outside hitter Sarah Conwell made big strides in the off-season. Alicia Milo, who sat out last season, and freshman Cassie Hamilton will compete for time.

Junior Anna McKinney has earned a starting spot at middle blocker. Debbie Pederson and Kelsey Taylor (Moscow) are also options in the middle. Senior Kelsey James (Sandpoint) has a slight edge over sophomore Katie Tribley at setter. Kelsey Yonker returns at libero.

“Haley’s playing a much bigger role as far as being an all-around player in practice,” Buchanan said. “We’re definitely at a point where we’re spreading the offense. Last year we were pretty much an outside-dominated team. We’re pretty much able to set any option as long as the ball control is there.”

Whitworth

The Pirates, attempting to bounce back from two consecutive sub-.500 seasons, have 11 freshmen and head coach Steve Rupe projects as many as four could be starting when the Northwest Conference schedule begins Sept. 19. Whitworth was picked fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll.

“I think we’ll be very tough (on defense) and we’ll be in the mix because we have a little more offense than what we’ve had the last couple years,” Rupe said. “It’ll be interesting to see how fast we mature.”

Seniors Jill Solbrack (Colfax), Nikki Bardwell (Colville, North Idaho College) and Holly Tomlin and junior Bethany Castilleja provide starting experience. Setters Bree Riddle (Freeman) and Jordon Hoffnagle (Mt. Spokane), twins Ka’ipo and Kaimi Rocha, and Alli Giusti (Central Valley) highlight the freshmen class.

CC Spokane

The Sasquatch, second in the NWAACC East Division last season, are poised to make a run at the top spot with a balanced roster featuring six sophomores, including Western Oregon transfer Nicole Solum (Mead), and five freshmen.

“Columbia Basin finished ahead of us with a bunch of sophomores that graduated,” CCS coach Jenni Rosselli said. “We feel we have a step up as far as having more returners.”

Key returners are outside hitters Brynn DeLong (Shadle Park) and Molly Blankenship (Priest River), middle blockers Lisa Steinbach (Post Falls) and Grethe Vogel (Pullman), and Meghan De La Rosa, who takes over setting duties.

North Idaho College

The 18th-ranked Cardinals, who list seven players at 6-foot or taller, went 4-4 at a tournament last week, including narrow losses to No. 3 Southern Idaho and No. 6 Salt Lake.

“We look stronger because we’re a very tall team,” new head coach Chris Kosty said. “I’m just concerned with experience and possibly serve-receive, but overall we’re a strong team. I’m quite happy where we are right now.”

Adrielle Dunn, a second-team All-Region selection last year, and Emily Callaway anchor the middle. Outside hitters include sophomores Kaylen Meredith (Lake City) and Tarra Tymesen (Timberlake) and freshman Kendra Wayling. Freshman Maddie Dolny (Moscow) and sophomore Lauren Boyd are competing at setter.