It’s a year of change for Kentridge High School’s volleyball team. Nine seniors from last year’s squad graduated, and the team is adjusting to its third coach in three years.
But, veteran players, as well as first-year coach Eric Han, are confident the team has what it takes to make a deep run in the Class 4A West Central District 3 playoffs.
“I really want to get past going to (district) playoffs because every year we’ve made it to the second day of playoffs and to just come short of that one game,” senior LaDrea Ford said about failing to make the state tournament. “So this year I am really hoping we can get past that because I think we can do it. We are really a strong team this year.”
Han agreed.
“As an outsider, if I were to see these girls, yes, I see a state-bound team,” Han said.
But, he doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself.
“As a coach, I want us to take it one step at a time,” he said. “I want us to focus on the first nonleague game, then I want to focus on the next league game.”
Last year, the Chargers tied for first place in the South Puget Sound League North Division 4A with an 8-1 conference record before they were eliminated in the district playoffs.
Ford said the team has a strong front row and excels at serving.
“We need to work a lot on defense,” senior Alaina Rhee said. “We have a lot more hitters.”
Han plans to focus on improving the team’s defense.
“We’ve got a big front row but because I am more of a defensive-oriented coach, I want us to work on that a lot, because I have had a lot of success by defense,” he said.
Han described himself as primarily a club volleyball coach, coaching the Lake Tapps Volleyball Club for the past eight years, with five of those as a head coach. Han has some experience with high school volleyball, having spent four years as a junior varsity coach at Rogers High School and one year with Stadium High School.
When the coaching position at Kentridge opened, Han said it was the right fit.
“I think with the experience I have and the coaches I’ve learned from, it was a good opportunity for me to just go up, grab it and take it and run with it,” he said.
Han became interested in volleyball after transferring to Auburn Riverside High School from Curtis High School his sophomore year and taking a volleyball class.
“I fell in love,” he said. “From then I managed the team there (at Riverside).”
Han credits longtime Auburn Riverside volleyball coach Chris Leverenz with teaching him the basics of volleyball during his time managing the team.
“Lev had me do a couple things drills and stuff that she would teach me,” he said. “I learned a lot from her.”
Han started playing volleyball on club teams when he was 15 and got his first coaching job at 18.
Now 26, Han still plays volleyball but coaching is his passion.
“I 75 percent love coaching and 25 percent love playing,” he said. “I’m still competitive, but I love coaching more.”
Han said his passion for the sport, as well as what he has learned from his mentors, will help him to run a successful program at Kentridge.
“I have an idea in mind of what kind of culture I want to create with this program,” he said. “I think No. 1, we want to be competitive. I want Kentridge to be on the map but at the same time I want it to be a loose environment and I want the girls to have fun.
“The goal is for them to love volleyball. If you hate volleyball, why be here? Why play? There’s no reason. I want them to love volleyball and create that kind of culture at the same time is competitive.”
Elsewhere:
KENT-MERIDIAN
• Coach: Michael Christiansen, 10th year
• Last year’s record: 7-4 South Puget Sound League North 4A, 20-10 overall
• Returning starters: Diana Faamausili, senior, First-Team All-League 2014, 2013; Jayshil Oatley, sr., Honorable Mention All-League 2014; Shanaya Baladad, sr., Honorable Mention All-League 2014; Eugenia Faamausili, sophomore, Second-Team All-League 2014
• Top Newcomers: Nica Sy, junior; Brianna Kamran, soph.; Chante Jacobs, soph.
• Strengths: Strong leadership
• Weaknesses: Loss of three seniors from last year’s team
KENTLAKE
• Coach: Eduardo Guerrero, second year
• Last year’s record: 6-3 SPSL North, 8-8 overall
• Returning starters: Zoe Gaines, sr. 5-foot-11; Madoline Semoula, sr., 5-6; Ryleigh Burdick, jr., 5-9; Jordan Fong, soph., 5-7; Morgan Colston, soph. 6-0
• Top Newcomers: Madison Marko, freshman, 5-6; Morgan Marko, fresh., 5-6; Erin Bedry, fresh., 5-7
• Strengths: Defense and serving
• Weaknesses: Height
• Outlook: “We will be working hard to become a strong team toward the end of the season,” Guerrero said.
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