FALL SPORTS PREVIEW
THE ASTORIAN
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2019 • 17
‘DEFENDING LEAGUE CHAMPS’
LABEL FITS JUST FINE
WARRENTON
VOLLEYBALL
Coach: Staci Miethe, 3rd year
2018: 14-6 (6-2 Coastal
Range League)
Playoff s: Defeated Taft,
Willamina and Rainier in
league playoff s,
lost state playoff at Santiam
Christian, 0-3
All-league losses: Claire
Bussert (MVP), Fernanda
Alvarez
All-league returners:
Melia Kapua, Sr., Avyree
Miethe, So.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 29 Knappa 6 p.m.
Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian
Players line up on the court and practice setting to one another.
By GARY HENLEY
The Astorian
or the fi rst time in exactly 40 years,
the Warrenton volleyball team heads
into a season carrying the title,
“defending league champions.”
Warrenton’s fi rst place fi nish in the Coastal
Range League last season was the fi rst league
title for the school since 1978.
The Warriors were swept in a fi rst-round
state playoff match at Santiam Christian,
bringing their season to a quick end.
But a league title’s a league title. And the
Lady Warriors have plenty of size, experience
and athleticism to repeat the feat.
At least Warrenton coach Staci Miethe is
thinking along those lines.
“My goal for the team is to have them
ready to compete for the league title,” said
Miethe, in her third year. “We have the abil-
ity to be league champions again and return to
the state playoffs. I will be focusing on team
chemistry and defense.”
And replacing some key personnel lost to
graduation. That goes without saying, as the
F
Warriors lost league Player of the Year Claire
Bussert, along with Fernanda Alvarez, the
league’s top middle blocker.
On the plus side, Warrenton returns senior
libero Melia Kapua and sophomore outside
hitter Avyree Miethe. Both were all-league
selections in 2018. (Avyree Miethe could
miss a few matches at the start of the season,
due to a ruptured appendix late this summer.)
“We are returning fi ve players from last
year who all played a huge part in our suc-
cess,” coach Miethe said. “We have senior
Natalie Oseguera, a hitter who combined
with sophomore Leah Schiewe to be our most
effective defensive net tandem.
“We are also returning Melia Kapua, who
was an all-league selection last year and
anchors our defense ,” said the coach. “Lastly,
our offense will be anchored by (junior out-
side hitter) Mia McFadden and Avyree
Miethe.”
And there will be a few new names in the
Warrenton lineup.
“We are planning on fi lling the voids left
by Claire Bussert and Fernanda Alvarez with
the talents of Annie Heyen, junior in the mid-
Aug. 31 Warrenton
Tournament, TBA
Sept. 3 Yamhill-Carlton 6 p.m.
dle position, and Grace Fritz, sophomore set-
ter. Additionally, there is a good group of
sophomores and incoming freshmen who will
be looked at to potentially contribute to the
varsity program.”
There was a pretty clear dividing line in
Coastal Range League volleyball last year,
the fi rst for the new fi ve-team league.
Warrenton was the only team with an over-
all winning record (14-6), while the Warriors,
Rainier and Willamina all fi nished 6-2 in
league.
The remaining teams, Clatskanie and Taft,
were both 1-7 in league, and a combined 3-29
overall.
“The league looks to be comparable to last
season,” Miethe said. “I believe we have the
ability to challenge for the league champion-
ship again, but it won’t be a given.
“Rainier is returning a majority of their
players from last year,” she said. “Willamina
graduated several key players (four of their
six all-league players), but their program is
always solid, so they both will be challenges.”
The Warriors picked up 13 votes in a pre-
season coaches poll.
Sept. 5 Portland Christian 6 p.m.
Sept. 10 Rainier 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 Seaside 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 at Amity 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Toledo Noon
Sept. 14 Creswell, at Toledo
2 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Taft 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Clatskanie 6 p.m.
Sept. 26 Willamina 6 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Rainier 6 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Banks 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 Taft 6 p.m.
Oct. 10 Clatskanie 6 p.m.
Oct. 15 at Willamina 6 p.m.
Oct. 17 Rainier 6 p.m.