Coe-Brown
Division: II
Coach: Rick Veno (7th year)
Last year: 10-7, reached first round
Returning starters: Emma Dubois, sr., OH; Molly Swansberg, sr., L; Domminique Depianti, sr., RS; Amaya Newport, sr., MB; Samantha Schroeder, sr., RS; Drew Ceppetelli, jr., L
Top newcomers: Anneliese Wade, fr., MB; Maggie Sylvester, fr., OH; Danielle Landry, sr., OH
Outlook: The simple goal for the Bears is to end the regular season as a top-eight team in Division II. Even without Shannon Riley, a Division II All-State First Team selection last year, Coach Veno believes this group is capable of even more than that. With nine upperclassmen on the roster along with the additions of two talented freshmen in Wade and Sylvester, learning how to play as a unit – and doing so quickly – will be the biggest key for the Bears. “I can see a lot of potential in this team with so many girls having a great deal of individual talent,” Veno said. “The quicker we jell together, the more success we will have.”
Teams to beat: Windham, Gilford, St. Thomas, Somersworth, Oyster River
Division: II
Coach: Joan Forge
Last year: 14-4, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Karly Sanborn, jr., S; Maggie McNeil, jr., OH; Lexi Boisvert, jr., MH
Top newcomers: Abby Warren, so., RS; Abby O’Connor, so., MH; Samantha Holland, so., DS; Lindsey Sanderson, fr., RS
Outlook: There will certainly be some big holes to fill for the Golden Eagles this season. Gilford lost four starters to graduation, including 6-foot-2 outside hitter Stevie Orton. “It’s tough to replace those players, but the 2017 team has embraced the challenge of filling the vacant positions,” Coach Forge said. The good news for Gilford is it does return Sanborn, McNeil and Boisvert, who are all leaders on the court, as well as senior Brooke Beaudet, a returning starter from the 2015 state championship team who missed the entire season last year due to injury. “Brooke is the heart of this team and one of the most talented all-around players in the history of Gilford volleyball,” Forge said. “She is truly an inspiration to her teammates and amazes us every day with her athleticism.”
Teams to beat: Coe-Brown, Kingswood, Oyster River, Milford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, St. Thomas, Windham, Somersworth
Division: II
Coach: Jeff McClellan (4th year)
Last year: 13-5, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Hannah Chartier, sr., OH; Sara Medvetz, sr., RS; Haley Philibotte, sr., L; Sydney Story, sr., MH; Sara Wagner, sr., MH; Nicole Yelle, sr., S
Top newcomers: Ila Heino, jr., OH; Riley Lord, fr., OH
Outlook: With six returning starters, the main focus for the Generals is to build off last season’s success. Just making it to the postseason likely won’t fulfill the lofty goals the team has set for the upcoming campaign.
“The girls have high hopes and solid team goals,” Coach McClellan said. “This team will be working on going deep into the playoffs. To do that, we’ll need every player doing their best each and every match.”
Teams to beat: Windham, Gilford, St. Thomas, Milford, John Stark
Division: II
Coach: Jeff Twombly
Last year: 8-7, reached first round
Division: III
Coach: Adam Gaulin (1st year)
Last year: 11-6, reached first round
Franklin
Division: III
Coach: Stephanie Shepard (6th year)
Last year: 2-14, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Lexy Lynch, sr., MH; Sydney Ericson, sr., DS; Sarah Sorette, jr., DS; Addie Granger, sr., DS; Fayth Kaspczak, so., S/OH
Top newcomers: Mikayla Ireland, so., OH
Outlook: The Golden Tornadoes took their lumps last season, but are hoping the return of five starters and the experience from a year ago can translate into more wins and a higher place in the standings.
“The team is looking very strong this year,” Coach Shepard said. “We have been working on faster transitions and focusing on our offense.”
Teams to beat: Sunapee, Moultonborough
Division: III
Coaches: Nicole Laroche and Shannon Synan (3rd year)
Last year: 3-13, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Kaelyn Snair, sr., MH; Eva Evans, sr., S
Top newcomers: Madee O’Brien, jr., OH; Mackenzie Murdough, jr., S; Kimmie Rodier, jr., OH; Meg Wheeler, jr., OH
Outlook: The Hillcats will be forced to reload quickly after the loss of seven seniors to graduation, but do have some continuity across the roster with a core group of girls who’ve played together at the JV and varsity levels for two years. “The varsity team is dedicated, hardworking and motivated to improve on their record from last year,” Coach Synan said. “Individually, they spent a lot of time this summer focusing on their skills and endurance to prepare for this season.”
Teams to beat: Farmington, Winnisquam, Sunapee
Division: III
Coach: Randy Mattson (25th year)
Last year: 13-5, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Jordan Durand, sr., RS; Sarah Seeley, sr., DS; Jessalyn Brown, jr., S; Hailey Hart, jr., OH; Emma Wheeler, so., MH
Top newcomers: Ava Duymazlar, so., OH; Aria Shufelt, so., MH; Delaney Smith, so., MH; Madisyn Wilson, jr., DS
Outlook: Under the tutelage of longtime Coach Mattson, the Lakers advanced all the way to Division III quarterfinals a season ago before bowing out to eventual champion Moultonborough. The Lakers will be without the hard-hitting Amanda Kurowski this season, but with five returning starters, including team captains Brown, Durand and Seeley, as well a young talent in Wheeler at the front of the net, Inter-Lakes has the same athletic ability and experience back on the roster that allowed them find so much success in 2016.
Teams to beat: Moultonborough, Winnisquam, Farmington, Campbell
Division: III
Coach: Amy Fairbank
Last year: 7-10, reached first round
Division: III
Coach: Paul Strickhart (7th year)
Last year: 2-14, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Arianna Cyr, jr., L; Emily Dunagin, sr., S; Lily Dunagin, fr., DS; Emma Smith, sr., OH; Shelby Averil, fr.
Top newcomers: Abby Smith, 7th grade, S
Outlook: While five of the six starters for the Cougars this season are returning players, the team is still very young. The oldest athlete on the team is only 16 and Pittsfield added Smith and Prentice from the middle school level to help out. Still, expectations remain high for Coach Strickhart in his 11th season. “We’re looking for a much better record over last year,” Strickhart said. “We hope to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005.”
Teams to beat: “I think this year we will see an open field with more contenders,” Strickhart said.
Division: III
Coach: Mike Livernois (22nd year)
Last year: 16-2, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Shannon Goodwin, jr., OH; Talia DeBlasie, jr., S; Aubrey St. Onge, jr., DS; Madisyn Skeats, sr., OH
Top newcomers: Gabby Isabelle, so., OH; Olivia Dill, so., DS; Alli Foster, jr., OH; Hannah Blackburn, jr., OH/DS
Outlook: The return of DeBlasie, who needs just 49 assists to reach 1,000 in her career, and Goodwin – a player with a chance of reaching 500 kills this season – keeps a team who reached the semifinals a year ago in the title conversation. In total, the Bears return eight players and four starters that should mesh well with the influx of new players. “Many of the players on the team participated in the (Junior Olympics) program over the winter and played in the summer program,” said Livernois, the reigning Coach of the Year in D-III. “The team is working hard to prepare for the upcoming season, focusing on improving the offense and teamwork.”
Teams to beat: Moultonborough, Campbell, Mascenic