The 2008 season was a special one for senior setters, and the coaches of the top teams in Howard County don't need any convincing as to just how crucial those players were to their teams.

Centennial is coming off a characteristic outstanding season, going undefeated and winning the Bulldog tournament, as well as county, region and state titles. They did it all with Jackie Hawkins running the powerful offense. Now that Hawkins has graduated, setter is about the only question on the Eagles' team. Senior Lindsay Sneller and junior Katelyn Brehm will both be setting for the Eagles and while talented, neither have done it at the varsity level.

"They can set, but can they run an offense?" coach Larry Schofield asked.

River Hill coach Sybil Modispacher will be asking herself the same question. The Hawks have offensive weapons, including Sarah Okey, Sarah Gordon and Megan Rosburg, a transfer from Atlanta. Sophomore Caitlin Davis will be feeding them the ball.

Davis, who will be setting alongside Carolyn Kleinberger, will be trying to fill the shoes of Becky Paynter, one of the greatest players River Hill has had. Paynter led her team to the state tournament and was named Player of the Year last year after a career in which she recorded 1,715 assists.

"I can't ever imagine replacing her," Modispacher said after last season.

Modispacher says, though, that Davis is a natural at the position and could go on to have a memorable career like Paynter before her.

At Glenelg, which made it to the Class 1A state title game, Casey Schmidt could be the best all-around player in the county. Last year she started the season as setter and finished as hitter. Although she sets for her club team, she will start this season as a hitter for the Gladiators. Luckily for coach Don Beall, setter Hannah Gaw has varsity experience.

"All she has to do is set Casey," Beall said.

Courtside

Here's how the county's volleyball teams look as the season begins:

Atholton

2008 record: 8-5 county, 11-6 overall

Coach: Dave Decker, third season.

Top players: Seniors Jamie Frank (L/OH), Aerica Jackson (OH/MH) and Tyler Browning (MH/OH); junior Gabby Sheltraw (S).

What you need to know: Frank emerged as one of the county's elite defensive players last season when she was named second-team all-county. She will be used for her hitting ability as well. The Raiders lost quite a few of their big producers to graduation, including hitter Kat Flanagan. Jackson and Browning will be counted on to fill that void, and Sheltraw has experience running the offense: she was the junior varsity setter as a freshman and got her feet wet at the varsity level last year. She is also an exceptional server.

Centennial

2008 record:13-0, 20-0, 3A state champion

Coach: Larry Schofield, third season.

Top players: Seniors Sarah Hall (MH), Michelle Klima (RS) and Victoria Rain (L/OH); juniors Liz Brown (OH/RS) and Samantha Brostrom (OH); freshman Trisha Mockapetris (OH/RS).

What you need to know: Even before Centennial ran the table and won its fourth state title in five seasons, people were talking about how good they would be in 2009 (and 2010). The Killer B's (Brown and Brostrom) are getting better each season after combining for almost 300 kills last year. Sarah Hall (125 kills, 39 blocks) is a great senior leader.

Another senior, 6-foot-2 Michelle Klima, played club volleyball for the first time and is ready to be a starter. Mockapetris, the younger sister of 2006 Player of the Year Tehya Mockapetris, is a freshman. Tehya, who stood 5-foot-3 as a senior, led the Eagles to the 2006 state championship. Trisha is already 5-foot-10 and starting as a freshman.

Glenelg

2008 record: 4-9, 10-11, Class 1A state finalist

Coach: Don Beall, sixth season.

Top players: Seniors Casey Schmidt (OH), Eliza Bittner (OH) and Hannah Gaw (S); juniors Kasey Couch (DS); sophomore Katrina Cary (MH).

What you need to know: Things are a little more settled for Glenelg this year with Schmidt starting on the outside and Bittner in the rotation. Bittner, one of the team's top hitters in 2007 as a sophomore, missed the second half of last season, causing Schmidt to move from setter to outside. Now Beall has both of their powerful arms where they should be and Gaw is an established, reliable setter. Couch emerged as a top defender in 2008. In Cary, Beall thinks he has found the power-hitting young middle he has been missing the past few seasons.

Hammond

2008 record: 5-8, 8-10

Coach: Ken McLaughlin, 16th season.

Top players: Seniors Brandone Roberts (MH), Kelsie Hitesman (RS) and Melissa Delia (OH); juniors Sasha Pletnikova (S) and Kelly Haile (OH).

What you need to know: The Golden Bears won eight matches in 2008, five more than the year before. Roberts recorded 63 blocks (44 of them for points), best in the league. Pletnikova returns as starting setter and Hitesman could be one of the team's top hitters.

McLaughlin is counting on a pair of newcomers -- sophomore Madeline Chervenak (L) and junior Camden Pipgrass (OH) -- for significant contributions.

Howard

2008 record: 5-8, 7-9

Coach: Grant Scott, 10th season.

Top players: Seniors Lindsey Kostkowski (MB) and Allison Seeley (RS); juniors Jennifer Whitacre (S) and Makenzie Mikesell (OH).

What you need to know: Kostkowski and Seeley have been starting for the Lions each of the past three seasons. They were key to the offense last year, combining for 170 kills and 63 aces, second and third on the team in both categories, and will also be important as senior leaders trying to get the Lions over the hump and into the top half of the county standings.

Whitacre recorded 82 assists last year as the secondary setter, but is ready to take the wheel as the starter. With Kostkowski moving to middle from the outside, Mikesell looks to be Whitacre's go-to outside hitter.

Long Reach

2008 record: 1-12, 1-13

Coach: Jacqueline Armstead, third season.

Top players: Senior Awashima Diwa (MH); juniors Sarah Holland (L) and Sandy Johnston (OH); freshmen Shelby Frederickson (S) and Cailin Frederickson (MH).

What you need to know: Holland, one of the team's few club players, and Johnston are a year older and a year wiser after playing key roles as sophomores. Freshman twins, Shelby and Cailin Frederickson, have also played club ball and Shelby will jump right in as starting setter. They're not even the only set of twins on the team: seniors Dayna (RS) and Diane Ukwuoma (OH) should also make an impact. Whereas the past two years Armstead basically had to start with the basics each September, this team is ready to hit the ground running.

Marriotts Ridge

2008 record: 8-6, 9-7

Coach: Amanda Olsen, second season.

Top players: Seniors Megan Lucas (OH), Angela Fischbach (RS) and Marybeth Poulton (MH); junior Meredith Krzys (S); sophomore Hannah Springer (MH).

What you need to know: The Mustangs have only three seniors, but they have a lot of juniors who are playing varsity for the first time. Krzys is an exception though. She played middle hitter and setter on last year's team. Poulton, who is 6-foot, is capable of dominating the net no matter which side of it the ball is on. Springer is the team's top newcomer.

Mt. Hebron

2008 record: 7-6, 9-8

Coach: Michael Moynihan, eighth season.

Top players: Senior Megan Frey (S); juniors Maddy Birus (S), Katie Huston (MH/OH), Taylor Baldwin (L/DS), Cally Mackrell (L/DS), Lauren Scepura (L/DS) and Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola (OH/MH).

What you need to know: The Vikings have a lot going for them: a strong returning setter (two of them actually), a deep, talented junior class (that means they should be good next year, too) and a surplus of excellent defensive players (Baldwin, Mackrell and Scepura). Huston will likely be the team's best hitter, but Aderenu-Ibitola is an exciting newcomer to watch.

Oakland Mills

2008 record: 0-13, 1-14

Coach: Dan Tucci, third season.

Top players: Seniors Gigi Grey (OH) and Ashley Rogers (S); junior Erin Walton (UT); sophomore Taylor Kent (S/DS/RS); freshman Allie Cable (L/DS).

What you need to know: Rogers is experienced and Walton is a versatile athlete who can play almost any position. The Scorpions have looked good in two scrimmages hanging tough against some highly competitive teams.

Reservoir

2008 record: 9-4, 11-6

Coach: Carole Ferrante, fourth season.

Top players: Seniors Julie Poston (OH) and Jasmyne Cummings (L/DS); junior Paige Calvert (RS); sophomore Vashti Burke (DS).

What you need to know: Poston led the league in kills last season and looks to join the 1,000 kill club this year. She is quite simply one of the hardest hitting and serving players this league has seen in some time. Burke burst onto the scene as a quick, smooth-handed defensive player as a freshman, playing club ball with 17-year-olds. Defense and serve receive shouldn't be a problem for the Gators. Junior Victoria Edwards has also played strong defense, and outside hitters Liz Lee and Grace Monroe will provide depth on offense. Junior Shelby Morris will handle the setting duties after playing part time last year.

River Hill

2008 record: 11-2, 15-3, 2A South region champion

Coach: Sybil Modispacher, 14th season.

Top players: Seniors Laura Whitney (L) and Sarah Gordon (MH); juniors Sarah Okey (OH), Melody Nazari (H) and Megan Rosburg (OH); sophomore Caitlin Davis (S).

What you need to know: Okey, already one of the tallest outside hitters in the county, grew another inch to 6-foot-2 and looks to improve on her 182-kill, second-team all-county campaign as a sophomore. Gordon (72 kills, 46 blocks) gives the Hawks another force at the net and a senior leader. Whitney was one of the league's top defensive players last year. One Hawks' change is at setter, vacated by Player of the Year Becky Paynter, but Davis, who ran the JV offense last year is a capable replacement. Rosburg could be the X factor that pushes the Hawks over the top and back to the state tournament. She moved here from Atlanta recently and is said to be an explosive player.

Wilde Lake

2008 record: 11-2, 13-5, county finalist

Coach: Caitlin Geoghan, second season.

Top players: Seniors Jan Duncan (MH) and Christina Neidlinger (S/RS); juniors Shana Nelson (MH) and Jessica Turner (DS); freshman Michaela Tummings (MH).

What you need to know: If not for Centennial constantly getting in the way, accounting for four of Wilde Lake's five losses last season, the Wildecats could have been state tournament bound. They've since lost a trio of heavy hitters to graduation, but they return a solid core. Duncan has played varsity since her sophomore season. At 6-foot-4, Nelson is an imposing hitter and blocker. Turner is an excellent back row player who plays club volleyball year round.

Tummings is already 5-foot-9 as a ninth grader and comes into high school an experienced player.

Chapelgate

2008 record: 2-8, 2-11

Coach: Chris Moxley, 14th season.

Top players: Seniors Lauren Landis (OH) and Emily Martin (OH); sophomores Amy Trageser (S) and Amanda Hammett (MH).

What you need to know: Landis is only 5-foot-4, but has great leaping ability. Martin's move from middle to outside was facilitated by the arrival of Hammett, a 5-foot-10 sophomore who is already up to speed from playing club ball. Trageser takes over at setter, but like Hammett, has played club volleyball.

Glenelg Country

2008 record: 4-10, 8-13

Coach: Davis Bolsteins, first season.

Top players: Seniors Maria Sloan (S), Hannah Leone (RS) and Emily Sandford (L); sophomores Lauren Dawson (OH) and Lauren Phelps (OH).

What you need to know: Bolsteins takes over for Andrew Ranson who led the team for three seasons. Bolsteins played club volleyball at Juniata College and has coached at summer camps. His younger sister, Laila, is on the team. He will be getting senior leadership at three key positions from Sloan, Leone and Sandford. Dawson and Phelps were key contributors as rookies, and should be counted on even more in their second season.

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