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Show Volleyball squads working hard in preparation for openers By PATTY AUER Sports Writer School is scheduled to begin within the next week. And that means time for books, homework ; and learning. It also means it's time : for fall sports and that includes vol-': vol-': leyball. Following is a preview of the Davis County teams which com-: com-: prise part of Region Four. : Last season the region title was : shared by three teams Woods Cross, Bountiful and Highland. : : This season Viewmont appears to : be the preseason favorite, although : ; Bountiful and Woods Cross could : ; contend for the title. The Wildcats will also rely on the Parkin sisters Jamie (senior) and Angie (junior), as well as Julie Eden and Andrea Wilcox. Lacking in height and power, consistency and teamwork will be Woods Cross' strengths. "We have to be consistent to win." Peel explained. "We don't really have a star. Everyone is basically playing on the same level so they have to play together." The Wildcats begin play Aug. 30 when they host Bonneville. Games are scheduled for 6 and 7 p.m. They are also planning to participate in the Bountiful High tournament. This is the Wildcats' last season competing in the 4-A division. Woods Cross will drop to 3-A and join Region Six, along with Bountiful, Bounti-ful, next year. DAVIS For the past few years the Darts have been near or at the bottom of the region volleyball rankings. But, said Davis Coach Jill Barraclough, that could change this year. Armed with a brand new team of untested players, she feels Davis could be in the running for a region crown. of girls' volleyball. It had been years since a team had been a contender con-tender for the state crown, until last year, when the Braves made it to the championship game. They were demolished by Skyline, but a second place finish was the best a team from the area has done in quite a while. Coach Jill Avery returns four starters from last year's runner-up team. Stephanie Reading, Julie Thornley, Robin Ludwig and Andy Harrison all have valuable varsity experience. Avery, however, feels that they are a big step away from last year's accomplishment. "We have to work hard, there are a lot of things to improve on. But, by the end of the season, we could be contenders," she said. The Braves play their first game Friday, at the Box Elder tournament, tourna-ment, which features several of the top teams in the state, including Weber and Taylorsville. Bountiful will host a tournament Sept. 2-3. Teams committed to participate par-ticipate include Bountiful, Woods Cross, Brighton, Bonneville, Olympus, American Fork and Judge. ; VIEWMONT It was unani-::: unani-::: mous among all region coaches, y; Viewmont will be the team to ; : watch. The Lady Vikings, coached ; : by Mike Nemelka, are packed with : : power, defense and quickness. If : predictions hold true, they will not y .only dominate the region but the ; : state competition as well. :: Power will come from Tiffany : : Twitchell, a 5-foot 11 senior; : Kim Blackham, a 5-foot 1 1 junior; ; and Jennifer Jones, a 6-foot sopho-- more. Senior Kim Soberg will be quarterbacking the team as setter. z The Vikings open their presea-z presea-z son play Tuesday at the Bingham High tournament. z WOODS CROSS Graduation z took its toll on the Wildcat vol- 2 leyball program and Deb Peel is ; faced with the formidable task of ; replacing outstanding players Mar- : ci Heaps, Amy Mason and Jodi z Warhurst. The reins of leadership ; fall to Carolyn Knight. Knight bat- ; tied an illness throughout the : spring and summer, but has reco- ; vered, so well in fact that Coach z Peel believes she will become one of the top players in the state by the : end of the season. "I think we'll be in there. They're gutsy enough and they've never been there. At the beginning of the summer I didn't think these kids had a chance, but they've improved im-proved 200 percent by the first of August," she said. The Darts will rely on defense, particularly off the back row and serving. Ace servers are Beth Dodd, Sharla Cook and Marianne Ford. Running the team will be setters set-ters Aimee Tremea and Staci Robison. Coach Barraclough will get her first indication of her team's potential poten-tial Sept. 7, when Davis will play in the Weber High tournament. BOUNTIFUL Davis County has not been known as the hot bed |