First-year Carson High volleyball coach Shana Wilkens doesn't believe in the observation that there can be too much of a good thing.
With 14 players on her team this year, Wikens is pleased to have such a deep squad. Wilkens said 14 players "is way too much, but I had so much depth, I couldn't cut them. We're a lot deeper than I thought we would be."
Wilkens said having 14 players will be good for her team because they'll all have to compete for playing time. She also said the entire program is deep, noting that five freshmen are playing for the junior varsity team. "My JVs are going to be strong, too," Wilkens said.
This year's team should be better than last year's squad, said Wilkens, who is taking over for long-time coach Daryl James.
"I see us being a lot better than we were last year, that's for sure," she said. "They worked hard in the off season. They play club and they put in the time. I think we're going to be pretty good."
But Wilkens also had this observation about the rest of the Northern Nevada schools. "I think everybody's gotten better," she said.
The team to beat will be defending Northern 4A champion Galena, Wilkens said. "Galena's going to pretty much run away with the show," she said.
But since Northern Nevada is hosting the NIAA 4A State Championships this year, two teams from the North will advance to state. Wilkens sees a wide open race for the second spot and admitted she would like her team to be in that race.
"That is ultimately, yes, the goal," she said. "We had a lot of work ahead of us to take one of the top two spots."
Carson will go a long ways to finishing in the top two in the North if it can win the Sierra League title. The team which wins the Sierra League title wouldn't likely have to play Galena until the zone finals in the playoffs, meaning a clear path could be paved to a state berth.
But winning the league crown won't be easy as defending league champ Douglas, who lost to Galena in the zone finals, and South Tahoe should again be strong. Along with Galena, Fallon and McQueen should be strong again in the High Desert League.
In addition, the future is bright for Carson as it has five seniors, seven juniors and two sophomores. The five seniors are defensive specialist/setter Melanie Norvell, outside hitter Sydney Parker, right side hitter Colleen Etcheverria, outside hitter Kristi Case and right side hitter Lindsey Kern.
Carson will have plenty of size in returning middle blockers and six-footers, Nicole Scott and Catherine Brekken, both juniors. Scott was an all-league second team choice last year. There's also 5-11 junior Alex McAlman in the middle. Her sister, junior Sandra McAlman will be another outside hitter.
There will be size as well at setter in 5-9 sophomore Lindsay Ford. The other sophomore is defensive specialist Kaitlin Burroughs. Rouding out the lineup are defensive specialists Allison Foltz, Emily Johnson and Michelle Raponi, all juniors.
To take advantage of her size, there may be times where Wilkens will move Scott to the outside and Alex McAlman to the right side.
Kern was also a setter, but with the development of Ford, Wilkens was able to move Kern to a hitter's spot. "Her hitting has gotten good enough for her to hit," Wilkens said.
Norvell should see time at setter along with Ford, who played this past summer for the Sierra Nevada Club. "She's put in a lot of time," said Wilkens about Ford. "She's getting a lot better."
Carson will open the season at home on Sept. 2 against defending Northern 3A and state runner-up Dayton.
LOCALS AT NEVADA
Speaking of volleyball, many local players will be featured on this year's University of Nevada volleyball team, including 2003 Carson High graduate Rachael DeRiemer.
DeRiemer, a 5-10 outside hitter, will join the Wolf Pack as a sophomore after transferring from NAIA Point Loma Nazarene University near San Diego where she played last year as a sophomore.
Another Carson Country standout, who is a returning starter on the team, is Galena High graduate Kellie Burton. Also returning at setter is Fallon's Tristin Adams.
Among other Northern Nevada-area players will be outside hitter Carly Sorensen of Fallon and incoming freshman Teal Ericson, a middle blocker and outside hitter from North Tahoe.
This year's team could be nicknamed "Capital City Volleyball Club North" as DeRiemer, Adams, Sorensen and Ericson were all members of the Carson City based club's 17 and under team coached by Steve George that took third at the U.S. Junior Olympics in 2002.
HATCHETT IN LIMBO
As of Monday, 2001 Douglas High graduate Gabe Hatchett had yet enroll at the University of Toledo. Hatchett was set to transfer from Sacramento City College and enroll as a junior with Toledo and be a receiver for the Rockets' football team.
But Toledo school officials said on Monday that they have yet to receive Hatchett's transcripts from Sacramento City College, so Hatchett is still in limbo. Hatchett, who also received a scholarship offer from Nebraska, signed with Toledo last February.
Charles Whisnand is the Nevada Appeal Sports Editor. Contact him at cwhisnand@nevadaappeal.com.
