Trojan volleyball ready for next step | Prep Volleyball

By Shawn Skager • September 8, 2010 9:13 pm
Auburn's Isia Johnson tries to slip one by Bonney Lake defender Taylor Moss.
Auburn's Isia Johnson tries to slip one by Bonney Lake defender Taylor Moss.

No one expected a lot from the Auburn volleyball team last season.

Except themselves.

With a strong core of returning starters, fully invested in the program and ready to take the team to the next level, the Trojans surprised many in the South Puget Sound League North 4A race. They went 7-2, tied for second place with perennial powerhouse Kentwood and qualified for the West Central District III tournament.

As good as the team was last season, the Trojans fell shy of accomplishing a preseason goal of a state 4A berth, something the program hasn’t done since 2003.

But fifth-year coach Kim Farris says this could be the season the team ends its state drought, despite the loss of several key players to graduation.

“We lost a few seniors,” she said. “But this year I’ve got the strongest group I’ve had since I’ve been here. Overall, I think we have a more hard-hitting team. We’re just lacking a little bit of the consistency in the center.”

A season ago, the Trojans relied heavily on the leadership and distributing skills of Sierra Atkinson, a second-team All-SPSL North 4A selection who graduated.

This year the onus of getting the ball to the team’s heavy hitters will fall on junior Saio Wilson. If she succeeds, the Trojans should be able to overpower teams behind the force of 5-foot-10 junior Isia Johnson, sophomore Brooke Good (5-11) and seniors Nicole Kelsoe (5-9), Skyler Atkinson (5-7) and Erin Fischer (5-11).

“She is one of our strong prospects,” Farris said of Johnson, who was a second-team All-SPSL North 4A pick last season. “She is still a bit young, but she’ll be one of the top players in the league this year.”

Farris also praised Fischer, a junior varsity standout and occasional varsity call-up last season.

“She completely grew over the summer, and she’ll be one of our major hitters,” Farris said of Fischer.

Co-captains Skyler Atkinson, an All-SPSL North 4A honorable mention last season, and fellow senior Peyton Prothero will lead the way.

“We lost six seniors last year, so we have a whole bunch of new girls coming in,” Farris said of the new challenge this season. “It’s just getting everybody to work together until they are comfortable.”

Despite a 3-1 season-opening loss to Bonney Lake on Tuesday, Farris is pleased with the team’s progress.

“Right off the bat, the team has got along off the court. Now, we’re just trying to get that to transfer onto the court during ball games,” she said. “This is definitely a team that can make it to state.”

The Trojans hosted Auburn Mountainview in a nonleague match Thursday, with results unavailable at press time.

Auburn will compete in the Adidas Invitational at Auburn Mountainview beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Auburn-Auburn Riverside rivalry renews for a 7:15 p.m. Sept. 20 match on the Ravens’ court.