ShawneeDispatch.com

Last year, Holly Davidson was in hardly an enviable position.

As the new volleyball coach at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Davidson inherited a team that had lost five of its six starters to graduation and had little to no extended varsity experience returning. As a first-year head coach, it was about as close to "starting from scratch" as it gets.

In 2008, Davidson has had some time to assemble some ingredients and prepare for a new batch of hungry Cougars, but at least this time, the kitchen is prepared.

"I've learned so much," Davidson said about her first year as the Cougars chief.

One varsity season and a whole offseason of club volleyball have helped her formerly young players gain a new level of seasoning, too.

"Things are going well," Davidson said after the first two weeks of fall practice.

Davidson is looking for inspired play from sophomore Kelli Carver and junior Katie O'Nele to be the keystone of the Cougar attack. Davidson wants the leadership of seniors Grace Findlay (libero), Courtney Schmidt (outside hitter), Sarah Schroeger (middle hitter) and Alicia Watson (setter) to settle the formerly inexperienced team.

"Their skill in leadership has been exceptional," stated Davidson. "Their unity is going to be a key to our success."

Davidson is hoping for a boost from the bench, as well, from first-year varsity player Erica Brand, a junior. Davidson also points to a talented group of new Cougars coming into the program. The Northwest coach believes that some of those players have a chance to make an immediate impact.

"The top half of the league is going to be our main competition," Davidson said. "Our goal is to be playing our best at the end of the season and hopefully get a high seed in the Sunflower League tournament."