Even though the Douglas volleyball team was going to have to replace a starting setter for the first time in three years, coach Suzi Townsell was feeling pretty good about her team's ability to fill the defending Sierra League Player of the Year's shoes.
Jackie Harper had been a suitable backup last season, dishing out 132 assists to go with 64 service points and 15 aces, and was primed for a strong junior season.
Then Harper tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during tryouts, setting Townsell's plan for the position on its ear.
"She had a knee injury during summer basketball and then she messed it up again during tryouts," Townsell said. "I was going to keep three setters anyway, but then I wasn't sure if she would be able to go or not, so I ended up adding one more."
As it turns out, Harper plans on playing through both the volleyball and basketball seasons with the help of a hefty brace. She's scheduled to have surgery on the knee in the spring.
"She'll try to hang," Townsell said. "It's incredible that she is willing to work that hard."
The situation, though, leaves Douglas with an abundance of setters on its roster. It's a theme that actually permeates the entire team as Townsell kept an abnormal 15 players this year.
"It's really a good crew," she said. "It's a bloody big crew, but they are a great group of kids.
"We have a tremendous amount of depth at every position. We are looking at being three deep across the entire front row. That's a real luxury for a coach and as a player it forces you to work your butt off for your playing time. I have a ton of choices at each position and the nice thing is that it is a real depth choice. I know that whoever I put in will do a good job.
"I gave some girls the option to stay down on junior varsity where they would get more playing time, but they wanted the varsity experience, so here we are at 15."
Even though almost half of the roster (seven players) is new to the varsity level, Douglas returns eight players, including three starters, who saw significant playing time during last year's league title run.
"We have a lot of firepower," Townsell said. "We just need to have some leadership step up and pull the whole thing together.
"A lot of these kids haven't been at the varsity level yet, so there is that period where they are all kind of saying, 'Oh wow,' and just getting used to the level of play."
The position battle at setter will be replicated at a number of top schools in the Sierra League, Townsell said.
"Manogue is out there, they want to repeat their championship last year, but who is their setter?" she said. "So many teams have lost setters. Carson, Galena, everyone is kind of scrambling to fill the position. It'll be a very interesting year that way. I can't wait to see what is going to happen."
The battle to run the offense at Douglas will be between Harper, junior Nikki Chavez and sophomore Hailey Sclafani. Dani Trujillo is listed as the No. 4 setter, but Townsell said she hopes to use her more on the right side.
"Jackie saw a lot of time last year and she's looking really good," Townsell said. "Nikki played a lot at our first tournament and we're hoping for some big things from her. Nikki and Jackie are really fighting for it. They'll probably switch back and forth a few times this year.
"I wanted to bring Hailey up knowing that we'd have two senior setters next year, so I wanted someone who knew the program really well for the year after. She has time to grow into the role this way. We relied on Megan so much last year that we knew we would be a little shallow experience-wise this year. Dani is our fourth setter just in case something horrible happens but the right side is her natural position."
The Tigers will be loaded across the front row, particularly at the outside hitter position, where Shannon Dugan (131 kills, 99 blocks, 21 aces) and Jourdan Burke (274 kills, 80 blocks, 41 aces) are the projected starters.
"Shannon actually came out of the preseason as our No. 1 on the outside," Townsell said. "She has worked very hard in the offseason and came in very focused. She's an all-around player. She's hitting, she passes really well and she serves well.
"Jourdan will be on the other side. She's looking good, but she had some problems with her knee over the summer and had to take some time off. She's a captain out there. She played the entire Vegas tournament and she got better every time out."
Juniors Brenna White and Carly McCullough will also figure into the mix on the outside.
"Brenna is kind of our utility player," Townsell said. "We used her in the middle over the weekend. She's only 5-7 but she jumps like no other. She just wants to play, her energy is so great. She has to be on the floor for us. She's No. 3 on the outside, that's her natural spot, but she'll be filling in on the right side and in the middle for us.
"Carly is another one that can slide into the middle. She has a lot of potential and we're hoping to see a lot of growth from her this year."
Emily Garcia (92 blocks, 23 kills) is the top returner in the middle and will share time with Erin Allison.
"Emily is doing really, rally well and she had a very strong offseason," Townsell said. "I see good things for Erin too."
Rebecca Antti (24 kills, 39 blocks) returns on the right side while Christine DuPuis (53 kills, 18 blocks) will move from the outside to the right.
"Christine is really blocking well and she and Rebecca are going to be in a fight for that spot."
Keely Latham will also see time on the right side for Douglas, but Townsell said she could be another combo player that slides into the middle.
Rounding out the lineup are defensive specialists Mysta Townsell (379 digs, 37 aces, 21 assists) and Mia Townsell (117 digs, 10 aces, 12 assists).
