LANCASTER-LEBANON SECTION 2 GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL CAPSULES
COCALICO Eagles
Coach: Jere Kimmich (14th season)
2012 league record: 7-5
Top players: Gina Glass (sr MH), Kayla Young (sr OH), Katie Styer (sr OH), Olivia Tuel (sr OH).
2013 outlook: Kimmich offers a mantra heard in just about every corner of Volleyball Land, but it's always so true: "If we pass well, we should do well." Good experience and quality leadership, Kimmich says, so ball control will determine the Eagles' success.
ELIZABETHTOWN Bears
Coach: David Pittman (2nd season)
2012 league record: 0-12
Top players: Kendra Bailey (jr OH), Jordan Brown (jr MH), Collene Mentzer (sr DS), Rebekah Good (sr DS), Olivia Nolt (so S).
2013 outlook: In Year 2 of a rebuilding project, what does a coach want? Fresh faces at open gyms and tryouts. And Pittman, the former Columbia coach, got it. So not only does he return most of last year's starting lineup, he added some new pieces, too. Trending upward.
EPHRATA Mounts
Coach: Melissa Witmer (1st season)
2012 league record: 6-6
Top players: Julia Witmer (jr MH), Katie Witwer (jr OH), Nicole Saylor (sr S).
2013 outlook: Focusing the previous three seasons on the art of coaching as an assistant with Ephrata, Witmer has taken over and is ready to display what she calls "young but talented players." And, yes, there are Witmers and Witwers here. Mom says Wow.
GARDEN SPOT Spartans
Coach: Denny Werner (16th season)
2012 league record: 10-2
Top players: Maddy George (sr MH), Katelyn Snader (sr S), Danita Sauder (sr LIB), Alexi Booth (jr OH/OPP), Ashley Sweigart (jr MH/OPP), Caroline Beohm (so OH), Erika Wandel (sr DS), Brittany Eberly (sr DS).
2013 outlook: Don't let Werner make your dessert, because he sugarcoats nothing. The veteran coach, with many talented players back from last year, boldly says he expects to win Section 2, reach the L-L final and compete for that title, then reach at least the D3 semifinals and qualify for states.
LAMPETER-STRASBURG Pioneers
Coach: Al Krofroth (5th season)
2012 league record: 2-10
Top players: Megan D'Imperio (sr OH), Kelsey Floyd (jr S), Julianna Follmar (sr DS), Katie Maser (sr MH), Kelsey McNaul (jr OH), Sam Mitchell (sr OH), Kari Strouse (sr OH), Cortney Tantala (sr S).
2013 outlook: Youth and inexperience can haunt you in these parts, and Krofroth is fighting an uphill battle. But with the above girls meshing with some even younger talent, there's hope. Krofroth wants to build volleyball players as opposed to athletes who play volleyball.
MANHEIM CENTRAL Barons
Coach: Laurie McClure (3rd season)
2012 league record: 9-3
Top players: Lauree Wiegand (sr S/OPP), Janae Nolt (sr OH), Evie Dunagan (jr OH), Brooke Witmer (jr MH).
2013 outlook: McClure, a former assistant under Garden Spot's Werner, is building her own dynamite program and says there's fiery competition for playing time, which should benefit her team in the long run. Her focus is on finishing matches strong, playing consistent D and serving well.
SOLANCO Golden Mules
Coach: Kathy Roenne (5th season)
2012 league record: 8-4
Top players: Sammie Brown (sr OH), Gabby Redcay (jr MH), Maribeth Ault (jr LIB/OPP), Autumn Keller (jr OH), Angie Forentino (jr MH), Taylor Wagoner (jr OPP/S), Michaela Trimble (jr S), Becka Borky (so OPP).
2013 outlook: Losing five key players from last year's squad means a lot of juniors for Roenne this season. "A year to do some moving and regrouping for our program," she says. It might take a week or more to find the right lineup, but the Golden Mules should be OK once they do.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Garden Spot; 2. Manheim Central; 3. Cocalico; 4. Solanco; 5. Ephrata; 6. Lampeter-Strasburg; 7. Elizabethtown.
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