The nets are up and the silence in the gyms around the East Bay are being filled with the familiar squeaking of shoes and the cheers that go up with a big kill or a monster block.
That’s right, it’s girls volleyball season. So let’s take a look at what last year’s top teams, the contenders, bring back for 2010.

North Coast Section volleyball starts with Bishop O’Dowd with the time being, so let’s see how it looks for last year’s No. 1 team, the Division III champ and NorCal runner up.

The Dragons, who have petitioned up to Division II this year, suffered a few losses to graduation, namely libero Rachel Stier. Her value cannot be overstated and her impact will surely be missed. However, they return the pre-season front runner for East Bay player of the year in Lindsey Parrott, who will likely set more this year than last year, but is an incredible outside hitter as well. Alex Lynch and Jordan Pehanick return to make a very solid front line for the Dragons.
Bishop O’Dowd coach Mike Gee said that this year’s installment of the Dragons, when playing their best, is better than last year’s team when it played its best. He also stressed how important the serve receive and passing game are as far as them playing to their highest level.

Staying in Division III, where several of last year’s top teams play, the Campolindo Cougars have high expectations with the return of Abbie Noland and Kim Condie, as do the Miramonte Matadors.
The Mats were the top seed in Division III last year, and had the best player in the East Bay in Juliana Stivanicevic, but this year will be a bit of a rebuilding year. Miramonte lost 10 seniors with Mary Diamantidis being the other very big loss.
Mats head coach Shannon Ross is looking forward to the team rebuilding and getting better as the season goes and she has the talent to do just that with Audrey Breitweiser moving from middle to outside and setter Sarah Vaccaro returning. Kristin Rutledge and Jane Siri return as well.

We’ll move to Division I, with the defending champion Amador Valley High Dons.
AV returns the best setter in the East Bay in Kelsey Williams, along with a very talented outside hitter in Rachel Kinnard. After that the team is very young, but coach Rich Cortez says they are very talented. Rebecca Malmrose will be key as a libero and freshman Marisol Tracy (OH) and sophomore’s Kristin Dunworth, Nicole Powers and Brianna Day will all be impact players.
Granada, the runner up to Amador Valley, will have to replace Devin Shaver, a player that was the heart and soul of the program. Her sister, Kelly Shaver will lead a group of talented outside hitters that also include Chelsea Amaral and Lydia Smith while Melissa Summers may be one of the East Bay’s top libero’s.
Jane Petricka, who is nearly an entire foot shorter than Devin Shaver, has big shoes to fill at the setter position, but Granada coach Toni Templeman says she is very, very talented.
Foothill, perhaps the most dangerous team in Division I this year, returns six seniors which includes a phenomenal talent in outside hitter Caitlin DeWitt. Coach Dusty Collins coached this group when they were freshman in 2007 and has been looking forward to this group being seniors.
DeWitt is joined as a co-captain by opposite Alexa Borg and middle Kara Schott while setter Sarah Holmgren, setter/opposite Kristen Desperz and libero Casey Curtis return.
Let’s not forget Deer Valley, shall we? The perennial champs of the Bay Valley Athletic League, are the clear frontrunners again, and will be looking to get back to the D I semi’s, and even further, in 2010.
The Wolverines return a talented setter in Keesh Tolentino as well as senior middle Tyler Harper. Kara Stark, who will move to the opposite side to replace departed senior Sandra Foster, is playing her third position in three years, but will likely make her biggest impact this season.

In Division II, and East Bay team didn’t make too much noise in the playoffs as Carondelet reached the semi’s but will have to replace some talented seniors, which includes a stud in Meghan Cooney.
Northgate lost in the quarterfinals, and has to replace some talent with only two returning varsity players in Kelli McCurdy and Maddie Hagenboth. Sophomore Michelle Lawrence, usually a middle, is moving to the outside, and she is very talented but making a transition.

In Division IV, the most dangerous East Bay team could very well be Berean Christian. The Eagles are looking for a third straight league title, and despite losing league MVP, libero Jillian Matsuoka as well as middle hitter Mariah Boelk, they have a talented group returning led by middle hitter Jessica Vestal and setter Brooke Fraser. Outside hitter Sarah Sauter is joined on the outside by Farrah Carlson while Lisa Fraser takes over at libero.
Defending champion Salesian will have to replace Malina Terrell, a very rare talent, who was first team All-East Bay a season ago.

Other notable teams include Albany returning setter McKenzie Giblin, Irvington returning a stud in the middle in Katie Lopez and Washington returning perhaps the most dangerous outside hitter in Konami Yokoyama.

San Ramon Valley was a very young team last year and could be quite dangerous this year, while Heritage made big strides as a program last year and will look to keep it going.

Rankings

As we know, the first installment of the rankings will be up for much debate. There is always a lot to get worked out, so don’t worry about it too much early on.
But for now, Bishop O’Dowd has to be No. 1 until somebody from the North Coast Section takes it from them. Foothill, a team returning six seniors, including a very talented Caitlin DeWitt, might be a surprise to some while Amador Valley checks in at No. 3 after winning last year’s Division I title.

1. Bishop O’Dowd
2. Foothill
3. Amador Valley
4. Granada
5. Campolindo
6. San Ramon Valley
7. Miramonte
8. Deer Valley
9. Carondelet
10. Albany
11. Berean Christian
12. Northgate
13. Heritage
14. Washington
15. Irvington