It’s that time of year again. School has already started, and students, coaches and fans have begun to gear up for the fall sports season.
The Reporter caught up with each of the Mercer Island High School fall teams before heading out to watch the Islanders in action.
Don’t overlook Mercer Island volleyball
Members of the Mercer Island volleyball program want the rest of the KingCo league to know that they aren’t to be underestimated. The program is coming off one of the best seasons in school history — undefeated in the regular season with two consecutive league titles, including a fourth-place state finish in 2008. Despite all that, the team lost several key players to graduation last spring; however, that doesn’t mean they are down and out.
New head coach Susan Rindlaub, who was an assistant last year, fully expects the team to be competitive on the court.
“We have enough experience on the team, and the new girls bring a lot of talent,” she said. “I think actually it’s a strength that some teams might see us as underdogs. They will take us out of the count because we lost so many good players last year.”
This year, for the first time, the varsity team will have two freshman making the lineup, helping the younger crowd earn experience for later on.
“We returned a wonderful setter, and all around we’re a good defensive team. MI never is usually the tallest team, but we make up for it in defense,” said Rindlaub.
Rindlaub said she fully expects the first league game, which also happens to be at home, to be one of the best matches of the year against Mount Si.
“The girls are really fired up about it,” she said. Overall, Rindlaub said it is her hope that the girls can retain some of the swagger from last season.
“My personal goals are for them to always believe in themselves,” she said. “There’s always going to be good teams that they play, and I want them to know they can beat anyone, any time when they are on and focused — for them to always feel like they can do it.”
The first home game of the season is Thursday at 7 p.m. in the main gym against Mount Si.
Schedule
9/10 vs. Mount Si
9/15 at Juanita
9/17 vs. Woodinville
9/22 at Bellevue
9/24 vs. Liberty
10/1 at Sammamish
10/6 vs. Interlake
10/8 vs. Juanita
10/13 at Mount Si
10/15 vs. Bellevue
10/20 at Liberty
10/27 vs. Sammamish
10/28 at Interlake
