Both 2016 Times News district volleyball champions Marian and Panther Valley are returning a ton of talent and will look to defend their titles this season.

LEHIGHTONGAINING EXPERIENCE… Lehighton graduated six seniors from a team that went 11-7 a season ago, including All-State player Katie Higgins. Head coach T.J. O'Connor is taking a "moneyball" approach to the season, hoping that he can use a string of players to replace the production from Higgins. "We're not going to replace Katie with one player, it's going to take a combined effort on offense, defense, and from the service line. We're going to spread the ball around as much as we can."MAKING AN IMPACT… The Indians expect big things from Emily Miller (MH) and Isabelle Meckes (OH). Sarah Bradley (OH) will provide versatility, while Lillian Brown (L) will serve as the player that will handle the dirty work in between the lines. The Indians will go as their setter will go, and that will be Emily Haberman (S). Vanessa Ahner (OH), Sydney Vincent (OH), and Samantha Benning (DS) will also be counted on to make plays during the season.TEAM CHEMISTRY… Experience can sometimes be made up with chemistry and communication, which is what O'Connor is hoping for this season. He thinks this is one of the tightest knit groups he's ever coached. "It might sound cliché or it might sound like coach speak, but these girls really enjoy playing with each other. These girls are all good kids, and most importantly, they're nice kids. They all get along and want each other to do well, and that can go a long way."PANTHER VALLEYBACK-TO-BACK… Panther Valley turned in a stellar 17-3 season a year ago, capturing a District 11 AA Championship. The Panthers return a strong nucleus from their championship-winning squad as they look to put gold around their necks again in 2017. "The girls, like they do every year, had a strong offseason," said Panthers head coach Nancy Filer. "What's nice about our team is that we have so many girls that can make a difference. Everyone that is on the floor will be involved, we just don't have to depend on one or two people."RETURNING TALENT… Seniors Christina Dacey (OH) and Sydney Clouser (L) will be leading a host of talented Panthers. Jenna Dubosky (OH/S), Sarah Zabrosky (OH/S), Emilee Kwaak (OH), Rachelle Filer (MH), and newcomers Erica Dubosky (MH), and Olivia Dacey (OH) will all be in the rotation.GAME PLAN… The plan this year will be to spread the ball around as much as possible. Offensively and defensively, the Panthers are skilled at every spot on the floor, making it hard for the opposition to focus on just one side of the floor or a specific individual. "Working as a group at all times, making sure everyone is a part of the plan is the key for us this year," said Filer. "We have just need to keep getting better each day."TAMAQUALOOKING TO IMPROVE… The Raiders will be looking to improve on a 6-10 season a year ago. A busy offseason will aid in their hopeful resurgence. "We had a busy offseason, a lot of our girls played club and a lot of our girls played for me in offseason tournaments," said Tamaqua head coach Emilie Baker. "I can see the girls growing and getting better. Practice has been competitive, so we just have to put it all together once the season starts."COMING BACK… Tamaqua has a solid core returning led by seniors Kaitlyn Stauffenburg (S) and Amy Hadesty (MH). Emily Amershek (OH) and Brynn Gigli (DS) will also make an impact, while freshman Ella McLaughlin is also expected to see time and help out (DS).FINISHING STRONG… Coach Baker believes the Raiders will improve on their record if they do a better job finishing both sets and games this season. "We have to kind of learn how to win games, especially games that go into the fifth set," she said. "Anytime the score is close late, we must pull through there and finish strong. That's something that if we improve on, it can really turn things around for us in the win and loss department."MARIANIN THE MIX FOR SIX… The Fillies will be looking to bring home their sixth-straight District 11 Class A Championship this season. In fact, Marian has won nine of the last 14 Class A titles. "If we're lucky enough to get back to the postseason, that's what it's all about," said Marian head coach John Fallabel. "Our goal is to get to the leagues and the district playoffs every season. We hope to do that again this year and the girls have sure put in the work to accomplish those goals."ALL STATE PLUS MORE… The Fillies return two-time all-state player Jasmine Mooney (OH) and 2016 all-state setter Gianna Agosti. Tamaqua transfer Carly Kosciolek (OH) will bring more size and athleticism to the front line and Olivia Karchner (MH), Antonina Zeleniak (OH), Antonia Galasso (L), Macey Mazaluski (OH), Elena Tuckett (MH), and Emily Myer (DS) will all be a part of the powerful Fillies lineup.TWIN TOWERS… As noted 6-1 Jasmine Mooney has proved her ability over the past two seasons, but transfer 5-10 Carly Kosciolek will bring even more power and athleticism to the outside hitting position. Mooney on one side and Kosciolek on the other will be a pretty tough tandem to stop in the Schuylkill League this season. "It's a beautiful thing to see with both of them on the outside," said Fallabel. "I think everyone is excited to see what we can do. All our girls are competing every day. We just need to focus on one day at a time, improving each day, getting better each day."PLEASANT VALLEYTHE TOUR FOR FOUR… Since the establishment of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Mountain Division three years ago, the Bears have been a dominant force. Pleasant Valley has come away with the Mountain Division crown each season, and its hope is to make it four straight in 2017. "It's always our goal to win our division, to put ourselves in position to win a league title," said Pleasant Valley head coach John Gesiskie. "We just need to compete, play hard, and keep grinding every day. Our numbers are a little low this year, but our girls play hard, so we're excited to get out there and compete."PLAYMAKERS… The Bears bring back 6-1 middle hitter Renee Mapa (MH) this season and she's expected to make a huge difference on both the offensive and defensive side of the floor. Desi Powell (OH), Katie Frankunas (OH), Deslyn Beade (DS), and Arianna Weaver (OH) will also make an impact. Cameron Caffrey (S) will be a team leader from the setter position.UP FRONT… Pleasant Valley, per usual, will be strong on the frontline. Mapa will lead that group with Powell, Frankunas, and Weaver bringing burst and athleticism to the outside hitting positions. Feeding the front line will be a prerogative for the Bears' offense. "Our front line is athletic and a definite strong point of our team. That group I think is going to continue to get better as the season goes on as well," said Gesiskie. "We just have to make sure we play fundamental volleyball, we play good defense, and get the ball to our setter. We need to set up our front row if we're going to be successful."JIM THORPEREPLACING THE MIDDLE… A big question mark coming into the 2017 season for head coach Victoria Nichols was who was going to replace veteran middle hitter Jillian Peterson. Nichols was pleasantly surprised when freshman Autumn Snyder hit the court, a 6-0 freshman that is expected to help in the middle along with Jordan Waselus. "It was a big relief when Autumn came in and showed her ability in the middle," said Nichols. "Autumn paired with Jordan will give us stability there, which is something I was definitely worried about before the season started."VERSATILITY… The Olympians are deeper this season than in year's past with a host of players that can play multiple positions. It's a luxury that Nichols plans to take advantage of. "We have so many things we can do with this group, because they're so versatile," said Nichols. "We can move girls around and we can change up our offense because of their skill level. It's going to be exciting to see what we can do."HITTING THE COURT… Kelsey Carroll (S/OH), Autumn Snyder (MH), Mackenzie Rosenberger (OH), Alex McGinley (L), Brandy Montemuro (S), Tamara Encarnarcion (DS), Emma Dunbar (DS), Jordan Waselus (MH), and Anna Shigo (DS) will all be in the main rotation for Thorpe.PALMERTONSTARTING OUT… This is the first ever season for the Palmerton volleyball program with head coach Marsha Thomas leading the way. The excitement and interest in the program has been very positive, as 34 girls tried out for the squad. "I think it's great to see a lot of interest from the students and the community in the volleyball program. I'm really excited to start competing. We had 34 girls try out and we have about 30 girls attend our open gym sessions before the season. We're going to build this thing form the ground up, it's going to be fun."IMPACT PLAYERS… The players expected to make an impact from the jump are Madison Beahm (S/OH) and Erica Messics (MH). Both Beahm and Messics are the most experienced on the team, having played CYO and club volleyball. Grace Constenbader (DS) and Ella Cronk (S) are also expected to make plays on the season for the Bombers.BUILDING… This season is all about building the foundation for the future of the Bombers program. "There's no doubt we're going to take our lumps this season, but the important thing is to grow and get better each day. We need to build our skill set and focus on the fundamentals, so in 2-3 years from now we can be a competitive program."WEATHERLYSTARTING OVER… First year head coach Nicole Hinkle is wiping the slate clean for the Wreckers program. She's changed some things around in 2017, which she is hoping puts some more "W's" in the win column. "We have a lot of athletic girls and we've changed some positions around, there's definitely been a lot of turnover," said Hinkle. "We're definitely figuring some things out still and the girls are getting used to their new spots. I think if we can continue to work hard, we can be strong."MAIN STAYS… Weatherly will hit the court with their main playmakers Samantha Andruzzi (OH), Necarlly Serrata (S), and Emily Zoscin (MH). Andruzzi is expected to be the leader for the Wreckers this season with Serratta leading the offense from the setting position, and Zoscin using her athletic ability to make some noise in the middle.WINNING ATTITUDE… Hinkle has been most impressed with her team's attitude. Her squad always seems to stay positive and has a good work ethic on and off the court. "I really like our attitude, it's been great to see. If we make a bad play, our heads don't go down, we just work to be better on the next play. It's something you can't really teach."NORTHWESTERNTIGERS RETURNING… Northwestern graduated six seniors a season ago, but first year head coach Lexi Ashburne is excited about who's coming back for the black and yellow. Senior middle hitter Katie Smith was a Colonial League honorable mention selection. The Tigers also have a bevy of underclassmen that are expected to make a difference this season. "Katie is dominating on the court as one of our middle hitters," Ashburne said. "She has been a leader on the court from the minute that I met her. I can always count on her to set an example for her teammates with her excellent work ethic and communication."COMPETITION… A lot of starting spots are up for grabs for the Tigers this season. The competition has created a great atmosphere and helped improve the depth of the Tigers. "The strength of our team this year is that we have a lot of depth on our roster," Ashburne said. "I can call on anyone on my roster and trust that they will leave it all on the court and perform. This depth helps promote an extremely competitive environment in practices, which simulates a gamelike competition."PICKING IT UP… One thing that has impressed Ashburne the most is how fast the Tigers are picking up her new scheme and skill set she is teaching them. "I am impressed with how quickly the team is picking up complex aspects of the game. In one week, we were able to introduce or review defensive positions, our rotations, hitter coverage and all different types of footwork."