THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 12, 1996 TAG: 9609110113
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
SOURCE: BY BRIAN J. FRENCH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 110 lines
The recent realignment of the Eastern District has coaches in every sport and every school buzzing. But for all the talk of the balance of district power changing with the infusion of three Portsmouth schools, that may not be so obvious for girls' volleyball.
It's still Maury's game here.
The Commodores - despite losing most of their starters from last year's 15-1 Eastern District championship team - are the consensus pick to win their third district crown, newcomers or no newcomers.
Russian immigrant Oskana Boukhsina led Maury in kills and made the all-district squad as a sophomore, and Richel Valdez also made the all-district team as a second-year player.
Helping Maury's cause is its surroundings. The Norfolk schools are lacking in experience and/or depth. Both Portsmouth schools (Norcom does not field a girls volleyball team) have a number of returning players, but not much of a history with them, as both finished in the second division of the Southeastern District.
If any team in the district can unseat Maury, it might be Booker T. Washington. The Bookers hold the distinction of being the only team to defeat a Margaret Carlson-coached Commodore team, doing so last season. Three returnees - including Junior Olympic team member Jill Layug - form the Bookers' nucleus and constitute their best hope at catching Maury.
Granby, which lost to Booker T. Washington in the district tournament finals last season, has only one returning starter and will be dependent on newcomers to have any shot at a regional berth.
Churchland finished 7-8 last season, but did so in the tougher Southeastern. The move to the Eastern makes the Truckers the district wild card. Four starters come back, but lack of depth may curtail a title run.
Don't let the abysmal record over at Wilson fool you. With five returning starters and the move to the Eastern, Presidents coach John Thomas thinks his group may be ``the best team Wilson has had.''
Norview and Lake Taylor both sport new coaches and depth problems. The Pilots return two starters from last season, while Lake Taylor has had only four players attend recent practices.
A capsule look at the Eastern District teams in order of predicted finish:
MAURY
The Commodores are still the best team in the district, but Carlson acknowledges that Boukhsina and Valdez won't be enough to guarantee success, particularly outside the Eastern District. Boukhisa will again start - and star - as an outside hitter, and could generate interest from college scouts next year. Depending on how the younger players develop, Valdez might return as an outside hitter, though she may have to go back to setter if her replacement possibilities don't pan out. Whether that happens or not, a lack of experience among Maury's primary rivals will probably make the Commodores a good choice for Eastern District frontrunner.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
Oct. 23, 1995. For Bookers' partisans, this date represents something of a inspiration.
That's when Booker T. Washington created the ``1'' in Maury's 15-1 district record for the past two years, a 15-8, 8-15, 15-8 upset which ended the air of Norfolk invincibility for the Commodores and gave Booker T. Washington a jumping-off point for this season.
There's just one problem. The Bookers only return three starters from last season - not crippling in an experience-depleted district, but that could be a problem.
What won't be a problem is Layug. The senior outside hitter, fresh from playing on the Junior Olympic team and in the Tidewater Volleyball Association, could be battling Boukhisa for player-of-the-year honors. With her and senior setter Raquita Washington, the Bookers may be in contention for a return trip to the regional tournament.
CHURCHLAND
The Truckers, a .500 team in a tougher district, could be a contender for a regional playoff spot in their new district. Four starters return, led by senior setter/outside hitter Megan Snyder. Twin sisters Kim and Kayt Keefer, both juniors (naturally), will play the outside hitter position. What could determine how far the Truckers go might end up on the shoulders of senior Stacey Hundley, an outside hitter who played in 1994 before not playing last season. Churchland is weaker up the middle.
GRANBY
Though the Comets were in contention for a regional playoff berth last year, losing to Booker T. Washington 15-10 16-14, they may have a harder time getting that far this season. Only one returning starter (senior hitter Michelle Mina) puts the onus of the Comets' future on the newcomers. The setter role will either go to senior Rowena Erguiza or sophomore Jessica Osborne. If the newcomers mesh early, Granby could avoid being a middle-of-the-pack team.
WILSON
An old joke that usually makes the rounds among sportswriters: The good news is that the team returns all their starters from last year's winless team. The bad news is that the team returns all their starters from last year's winless team.
For Wilson, returning five starters is not a joke. The wealth of experience from senior outside hitter Carrie Holley, junior outside hitters Lynsey Ellis and Kate Jacobsen, junior middle hitter Hattie Willett and junior setter Nikki Gora would have made them competitive in the Southeastern. The move to the Eastern District gives them a fair shot at not finishing last. And with four of the starters (possibly five) juniors, the Presidents could throw their weight around next year. But they probably won't be close enough to the upper division to seriously think about a regional playoff spot.
NORVIEW
With only two starters and a new coach, the Pilots are not likely to be a contender. Senior setter Shana Thompson will lead the team, but at this point, there isn't a whole lot to lead. Most of the positions were not set as of press time, and if the Pilots are to surprise, that will have to be taken care of.
LAKE TAYLOR
Times are tough for the Titans. No certain starters and a new coach spell trouble for a team which finished in the lower reaches of the Eastern last season. Recent practices have reportedly only had four participants, and any hopes for the Titans not to finish last will hinge on improved attendance at practices and a solid core of starters. by CNB