>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

BOBCAT ON THE LOOSE: Union’s Jessy Reynolds returns to lead the Bobcats in her junior year. - Observer file photo

Of the 14 all-league selections only five return -- eight graduated and one is injured.

Weston-McEwen, 40-5 overall and 13-1 BMC, finished second at the state tournament in 2007, losing to Portland Christian 3-1.

The Tiger-Scots return two second team all-state players in senior Noel Griggs and Presley Pahl.

Union finished right on their heels — taking fourth at the state tournament.

The Bobcats fell 3-0 to Weston-McEwen at the conference tournament to take the No. 2 seed.

“It’s going to be a competitive league,” Elgin head coach Twila Ivins said. “There are a lot of big players gone from last season. I don’t think there’s going to be a division with the top four teams.”

Union in unfamiliar territory

UNION — When people talk about Union volleyball, height doesn’t roll off their tongues very easily.

However, this year is a little different. Despite losing Carrie Stratton, first team all-conference and all-state, along with Shoshoni Walker, Shelbi Williams and Megan Tanaka, the Bobcats are poised to play for the conference title again.

Junior Jessy Reynolds, a first team all-state selection, will anchor the frontline for Union.

Junior Brenna Miller and transfer Shalee Kimball add a different dimension to the Bobcats front row.

“We do have some height this year,” Union co-head coach Rhondie Kohr said. “It’s different territory then we are usually in.”

Don’t sell the front line short, though.

“These girls can do a little bit of everything,” Kohr added. “They’re not just going to pound the ball over the net.”

Reynolds will help set along with Ali Anderson.

Anderson returns for her senior year along with Jessie Poe, Shanna Riomondo and Sara Longwell.

While Union may have height, there is one noticeable missing piece — a libero.

Union’s line of defensive specialists is now in question. That leaves the question who will fill the role filled by Talia Bunkers and Walker over the last five years?

“We’re not sure yet,” Kohr said. “No one has really stepped right in. There are a couple of girls who might be there soon. We’ll just have to see.”

Union will play Sherman County Sept. 12 before opening the conference slate against Heppner Sept. 18.

Huskies loaded with depth

Some coaches fear losing six players to gradation, but Elgin head coach Twila Ivins has high hopes for Huskies volleyball this season.

Ivins and the Huskies already received feedback from the Pendleton tournament last weekend. Elgin finished in the top-five in pool play among Class 5A, 4A and 3A schools.

“It was a great experience for the girls,” Ivins said. “They were a little worried about how to play against those teams. I thought the girls played extremely well.”

Senior Ashley Burgess leads the returning core, followed by senior Brandi Campbell and  junior Tara Ludwig.

Campbell and Ludwig head up Elgin’s potent frontline along with junior Chantelle Malone.

“Those two girls are going to lead us,” Ivins said. “I was really impressed  with how well they both played in Pendleton.”

Campbell paced the team with 14 kills and Ludwig finished with 11.

Newcomers Jade Silver, Karley Knapp and Bejia Robins will help fill in the gaps created by graduation.

Silver, a senior first-year varsity player, will play middle and provided defensive support.

Knapp will fill in all over the court.

Robins filled the biggest void left by libero Sam Perez.

“(Bejia) is doing an awesome job,” Ivins said. “The girls are already counting on her to pick up every thing in the back row. That was our biggest question mark coming into the season. It’s nice to have it taken care of that quickly.”

Elgin finished 15-10-1 overall last season, and 6-8 in conference.

Next on the slate is a date with Umatilla Thursday, followed by two tournaments — Saturday at Cove and Sept. 13 at Sherman.

The Huskies open the BMC schedule against Enterprise Sept. 19.

Outlaws set for scrappy play

ENTERPRISE —  The Outlaws battle every day from a bad hand dealt before the season started — the loss of a classmate and friend.

“The girls are doing a great job of staying together,” Outlaws head coach Amy Stangel  said. “Losing a close friend isn’t an easy thing to deal with. It’s really brought the girls closer together.”

Enterprise is dealing with another loss. Senior outside hitter Andrea Shaefer will miss the season with a knee and ankle injury.

The loss of Shaefer leaves a huge void at he net.

“She was our big hitter Stangel said. “You can’t just go out and replace someone like that.”

The Outlaws finished last season 14-14 overall and 8-6 in the BMC will need to find another way to win.

Stangel plans on outlasting opponents with a scrappy style of play.

Led by four seniors Jenna Harbeck, Tonya Neil, Kayla Foster and Heather Bruce, Enterprise will try to frustrate the opposition with defense.

“We just need to pick every thing,”  Stangel said. “Hopefully we’ll develop someone who can but the ball away.”

Enterprise opens the season against Joseph today.

The Outlaws open the BMC schedule against Elgin Sept. 19.