If change is growth, then Renton volleyball is flourishing.
Lindbergh, Hazen and Renton High all welcome new volleyball coaches for the 2010 season. Each with its own unique challenges to work through.
After eight years and a successful run at Lindbergh, Bob Stewart resigned. The Eagles replaced Stewart with Tom Muckerheide. Muckerheide spent the past 25 seasons at Kennedy Catholic, where he led the Lancers to 19 Seamount titles and four second-place finishes in state.
At Renton, Rhemy Delfin steps in. At Hazen, Cari Britt is the new coach.
Combine the coaching hires with a league shift from 3A to split (Lindbergh and Renton both dropped to 2A) and the 2010 season should have plenty of interesting action.
Renton
Delfin is Renton’s third head coach in the past three years and the Indians must come together quickly in order to find themselves near the top of the Seamount this season.
“There’s a really great foundation here,” Delfin said. “The hardest part now is getting everything settled. Just letting all the dust settle.”
Delfin, who is 25, played volleyball at Lindbergh and Johnson Wells University.
The Indians must fill a big role from losing standout outside hitter Sarah Nelson to graduation. Delfin said that hasn’t been a problem with the Indians as a number of players are eager to follow in Nelson’s footsteps and be the next offensive leader of the team.
“I walked onto this team and there were definitely a few stars ready to take the reins,” she said.
The team revolves around senior setter Aira Jose.
“She really runs the team,” Delfin said. “She knows exactly what to do and where everyone should be.”
Two other key seniors are middle blocker Maria Young and outside hitter Nhu-san Nguyen. Junior Alina Chuong is at the other outside hitter spot.
Delfin said sophomore Jazzlyn Joshua is also forcing her to re-think her strategies. Joshua is a setter, but Delfin would like to get her more playing time than being a backup to Jose would allow.
“We might try to run a 6-2 because Jazzlyn has really been phenomenal since she’s moved up from JV,” Delfin said.
The biggest point of improvement for the team will be cohesiveness. After so much coaching upheaval, the team needs to work to get on the same page.
Renton started the season 2-3 overall and 2-2 in Seamount play.
Lindbergh
After 25 years mostly winning league championships at Kennedy, Muckerheide took on a new challenge at Lindbergh. Hired three days before the season started, he has set his sights simply on winning.
“I’d like to have a winning season,” he said. “I’d like the kids to feel success and have fun. That’s much easier with a winning season.”
If the Eagles can pull down a winning season, Muckerheide isn’t sure what that will mean for playoff chances for the newly 2A school.
“That’s the X factor is everybody is adjusting to what that’s going to mean for playoff opportunities,” he said. “I think if we were 3A we would be looking up at Kennedy and not have much of a chance.”
Sophomore setter Shayna Magat will be the team’s key player. Magat got extended time as a freshman last season and impressed. Junior Kelsey Nolan will lead the team’s offensive attack at outside hitter.
Lindbergh started the season 2-5 overall and 1-1 in Seamount play.
Hazen
Britt steps in at Hazen also as the third head coach in three years. Her main goal is to bring some stability to the program.
“That is the tough part,” Britt said. “My assistant and I are just working on being positive role models and good mentors for the girls.”
The Highlanders have just one senior on a young and athletic roster. Bella Reid is the senior and she’ll play at one of the setter spots.
“Bella has great leadership on the court,” Britt said. “It would be nice to have one or two more seniors for the experience part of it though.”
Sophomore Lena Chindamany plays at the other setter position in Hazen’s 6-2 formation.
Britt previously coached at Arlington High School. Before that she was an assistant at Kennedy Catholic for 11 years.
The Highlanders have started 0-3 on the season, but Britt has seen a lot of improvement in the team.
“Each week we’ve gotten more competitive,” she said. “And despite what the record is, we’ve gotten a lot better. This is a young group with a lot of potential.”
