COAL TOWNSHIP - 'New' is the operative word for Shamokin Area and Lourdes Regional's volleyball teams this season.
'New' as in both teams have new head coaches.
And 'new' as in both teams will be very, very much on the young side.
Former assistant coach Andrew Arnold takes over as head coach at Shamokin, replacing Wanda Cook a year after the Indians went 16-3 and were District 4 AA runnerups.
Tara Bregensir takes over for Tom O'Brien at Lourdes, and will try to jump start a program that struggled in a rebuilding season last year.
Arnold served as junior varsity coach at Shamokin the past three seasons, which means he'll be pretty well acquainted with his varsity lineup this season, since the Indians graduated almost all of their regular lineup. Olivia Bonshock, Brie Bonshock, Stef Hile, Caity Pancher, Cheyenne Popewczak, Helana Supsic and Ashley Huxta were all big contributors who graduated.
"It's definitely going to be a rebuilding year," Arnold says. "We lost seven seniors from a district runner-up team. We do have three returning girls but they weren't really starters."
Middle hitter Carley Nash, libero Kourtnie Chapman, both seniors, lettered as reserves, as did junior outside hitter Sofia Pearson. After them, the lineup will almost be all new.
Senior Brittany Pope will be in the middle. Juniors Kelsey Rogers, Evelyn Madrak and Lillie Fidelman, and sophomores Madison Rodarmel, Alaina Pearson, Kayla Baney and Sara Popewczak will round out the varsity.
"Sofia Pearson and Carley Nash are both very good athletes and will have to help carry us, at least early," Arnold said. "The rest will be players up from the JV team who we're going to mix in as best as we can. I still have high hopes for the year. I hope to put together a solid team."
Lourdes has struggled the past two seasons and Bregensir hopes to get the Red Raiders back on track.
"I look to turn the program back around into a successful, positive program for the girls," she says. "With my college volleyball experience, I offer a lot of knowledge and understanding of the game."
Caity Funk and Amber Kogut are returning starters for the Red Raiders, and will have to be anchors of the team.
Bregensir says starting setters Carmella Bickel and Tyra Ericson, both sophomores, have the potential to be breakout stars. Other starters will likely be juniors Maya Yoder and Jessy Stankavage, and sophomore Elizabeth Alexander.
"A few freshmen show great potential to be great volleyball players and will see time on the varsity team," Bregensir says.
Following are capsule looks at each team:
LOURDES REGIONAL
Head coach: Tara Bregensir, 1st season
Assistant coaches: John Yoder, Tina McClay
Roster: Seniors - Caity Funk, Amber Kogut; Juniors - Jessy Stankavage, Maya Yoder; Sophomores - Carmell Bickel, Tyra Ericson, Sara Nicola, Julia Ballard, Haley Weidner, Elizabeth Alexander; Freshmen - Mary Komara, Morgan Zarko, Katianna Lapotsky, Kourtney Honicker, Alyssa Karycki, Jordyn Radziewicz, Kelsey Conner, Kiley Kashner, Carly Jurasich, Emma Gownley.
SHAMOKIN
Head coach: Andrew Arnold, 1st season.
Assistant coaches: Emily Witt, Tom O'Brien
Last year: 16-3, District 4-AA runner-up
Roster: Seniors - Carley Nash, middle; Kourtnie Chapman. libero; Brittany Pope, middle; Juniors - Sofia Pearson, outside; Kelsey Rogers, opposite; Evelyn Madrak, outside; Lillie Fidelman, defensive specialist; Sophomores - Madison Rodarmel, setter; Alaina Pearson, outside/defensive specialist; Kayla Baney, setter; Sara Popewczak, outside/middle; Annie Richardson, outside; Kelsie Stewart, libero; Carson Quinn, opposite; Freshmen - Anna Delbaugh, outside/opposite; Madison Pancher, middle; Mackenzie Young, middle; Kenna Markowski, outside/libero.