A spike in local volleyball talent | Prep Sports

Kentlake hopes for a return to prominence with the help of first year head coach Eduardo Guerrero

By Eric Mandel • September 10, 2014 3:18 pm

Kentwood, Tahoma and Kentlake represented the top, middle and near bottom of the SPSL 4A girls volleyball standings, respectively, in 2013. This year could prove drastically different.

The Conks lost some key graduates from their squad that finished fifth in state, but have a proven track record of success. Meanwhile, the Falcons are starting fresh with a new coach who expects to immediately challenge for a state tourney berth.

Bears head coach Kelly Kim also expects to creep toward the upper tier teams.

“I think we’re going to surprise some people, too,” Kim said. “ I think right now it’s ‘who knows?’”

Kentlake hopes for a return to prominence with the help of first year head coach Eduardo Guerrero, who told The Reporter that he had incredible success for seven years as a coach in his home country of Mexico before moving to Washington four years ago.

Guerrero, a coach and player from the Mexico National Training Center in Mexicali, said he moved up the ranks as an assistant and coached at the Puget Sound high performance camps before accepting the Kentlake job.

He sees talent, balance and a solid group of seniors that he believes can reach the top of the league.

“I’m excited about building a strong program at Kentlake,” Guerrero said. “I’m really confident in my coaching philosophy and my experience.”

Kentlake

2013 record: 5-8, losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Returning starters: Three

Goals: To finish in the top three in conference and advance “as far as we can in the district playoff,” Guerrero wrote in an email.

Key contributors: “I’m going to have a really solid group of players with different skills and I’m hoping to get the best of everyone,” Guerrero wrote.

Newcomers:

• Jordan Fang (freshman, libero) — Guerrero called her a “really smart player” with high confidence and energy.

• Morgan Colston (freshman, MB/Opp) — Skills to be one of the league’s top middle blocker, Guerrero said.

Kentwood

2013 record: 18-3, finishing fifth at the state tournament.

Key graduates: Piper Crabtree (S), Lauren Hackett (OH), Mele Halahuni (OH), Taylin Smail (OH) and Sarah Toeaina (Opp).

Goals: “Our goal this season is the same as every season – get better and compete at our highest level,” head coach Bill Caillier wrote in an email.

Biggest match: “All of them!” Callier wrote.

Tahoma

2013 record: 7-5, losing to Curtis in the second round of the district tournament.

Goals: “I am hoping to make it to districts and hopefully get a birth to the state tournament,” Kim wrote in an email.

Biggest matches: Kentwood and Kent-Meridian.

Key returners:

• Amanda Troxel (senior, OH/MH)

• Natalia Burdulis (senior, OH)

• Maddy Cole, (senior, libero)

• Sierra Stultz (sophomore, RS/OH

Key newcomers:

• Allana McCollum (sophomore, MB/RS)