NOTE: This 2011 girls volleyball preview covers the area from north Scottsdale west through Phoenix, the southwest and northwest Valley, northwest Arizona, northern Arizona and northeast Arizona, including Native American communities.

By Don Ketchum

It doesn’t seem that long ago when Phoenix Xavier Prep, Phoenix Horizon, Phoenix Sunnyslope, Chandler Seton Catholic, Kayenta Monument Valley, Phoenix Northwest Christian and Phoenix Veritas Prep were being crowned state volleyball champions.

But a fresh new season has begun with realignment, and that should add to the excitement.

Xavier will be looking for a fifth straight title, and Horizon will join the Gators in new Division I.

Here is a look at some of the other teams in the area, in no particular order . . .

Peoria Sunrise Mountain has only two returning starters, but eight returning players overall with a significant amount of experience.

The top five players for coach Tony Gale are junior Alyssa Baca, sophomore Dina Buzimkic, senior Emily Clark, senior Brianne Glidewell and junior Kemrie Nash.

Glendale Ironwood could make some noise. Kathy Wilson, in her 10^th season as coach of the Eagles, features senior middle blocker Sara Baumgartner, junior middle blocker Megan Powers, senior setter Brooke Bunker and sophomore setter Sydney Bunker.

Monument Valley must adjust to the retirement of long-time coach Lucinda Nash and the graduation of her daughter, Bradley, but has a lot of talent returning.

Just down the road from Monument Valley is Tuba City, and the Harlan Barlow-coached team returns its top six players from its state Class 3A semifinalst. They are Jamie Rose, Kristen Becenti, Shiniya Henry, Kamia Yazzie, Tiona Huskie and Tristan Tsosie.

Payson once was one of the larger schools in Class 3A and now is one of the smallest in the new Division III, meaning the Longhorns must face some bigger Phoenix-area teams.

“We are going to have a lot of tough matches,’’ said Payson coach Arnold Stonebrink.

His top players are third-year setter Rachel Creighton, middle/outside hitter Katelyn Curtis, the team’s blocks leader, and junior identical twins Megan and Kaitlyn Wessel.

Whiteriver Alchesay coach Nancy Brown has one of the area’s most versatile players in Robyn Pailzote, and a good blocker/hitter in La Sondra Hopper.

Goodyear Estrella Foothills has a new coach (Shelly Kubicek) and will attempt to reverse its 5-13 record from a year ago.

The leaders include Kori Byers, a senior left-hander who moves to middle hitter, and Malika Murphy, a solid blocker. Kubicek will get a better idea where her team stands after it hosts the Wolves Classic on Sept. 16-17, featuring 16 teams.

Glendale Joy Christian features one of the top small-school players in Alana Kempf, who is in her fourth year as a starter. She will get assistance from sophomore Kennedie Henige, junior Marissa Boelter, a transfer from Northwest Christian, and junior Mariah Kempf.

Chino Valley finished 14-14 in Shawna Ruiz’s first year as coach, and now looks to show considerable improvement. The team is led by middle blocker Olivia Johnson and all-around player Celeste Camargo.

Wickenburg also has a new coach, Brian Olig. The team went 11-6 a year ago and has a strong all-around player in senior Hanna Willis. Sophomore Ashley Jacobs started as a freshman and is one of the team’s most improved players.

Glendale Raymond S. Kellis showed promise with a 19-12 record in Vicky Bauler’s first year as coach.

Leading the team are senior Kellie Hose, who has smart placement of her shots; junior Kency Kundrat, who has quickness that leads to a lot of blocks; freshman Megan Derr, who reads the ball very well along the back row; and senior Heather Rhoads, one of the team’s best defensive players.

Page always seems to have good basketball teams, and the volleyball team would like to play at that level of quality. Delphina Yazzie has coached the program for 17 years, and this could develop into one of her best teams. Senior Kristina Secody is only 5-feet-6, but is one of the best outside hitters in the north. Senior Marian Seschilie is a top-notch setter and at 6-2, junior Jessica Anderson is developing into an aggressive hitter.

Williams, coached by Jennifer Carter, has two good players to anchor the team – senior Paige Parenteau and middle blocker Jillian Brown.

At Glendale Copper Canyon, new coach Peter McGloin faces a challenge – the team won just one out of 16 matches last season. Improvement will fall on the shoulders of these young players – juniors Camille Fisher and Shanelle Collins and sophomore Evelyn John.

Cottonwood Mingus always has its share of all-around athletes and this year appears to be no exception for first-year coach Brian Herman. The leaders are junior setter Delaney Scanlan, sophomore outside hitter Angel Chavez senior libero Cortlin Sandoval.

An 11-7 record was a good stepping stone to 2011 for ninth-year coach Brad Bode and Phoenix Arizona Lutheran.

His top players are junior Emily Neeb, junior Morgan McClellan and senior Lindsey Warskow.

Glendale Mountain Ridge has a new coach, Jen McGauley. She will be working with nine players who have national-type experience in club ball, and will see how it all sorts out with nine juniors, one sophomore and four seniors. The team has good chemistry and is athletic, McGauley said.

Other teams to watch are Peoria Centennial, Peoria Liberty, Prescott, Glendale Cactus, Phoenix Greenway, Phoenix Thunderbird, Phoenix Cortez, Holbrook and Wickenburg.

To find out which division and section your team is in, go to AIA365.com, click on the “Sports/Activities’’ line on the left side of the page and then AIA Divisions and Sections – Final Placement by Sport – 2011-2013.