BELLINGHAM
RED RAIDERS
Coach: Kim Bjorklund
Last year: Finished eighth in the Class 2A Northwest Conference standings with a league record of 1-12. ... Did not qualify for postseason and finished 2-12 overall.
Players to watch: Olivia Halverson (sr., Opp.); Cari Pearsall (sr., S); Alicia Romero (jr., OH); Anna Zeegers (so., MB)
Outlook: Bellingham's success the past five years is nothing to brag about, but there is plenty of reason for optimism in the Red Raiders' camp heading into the new season. "I've been waiting for this team to get through the system," Bellingham coach Kim Bjorklund said in a phone interview. "This team is really focused on getting better this year, and they look like it." Upperclassmen make up 82 percent of Bellingham's roster, which includes two 6-foot-1 players in senior opposite Olivia Halverson and sophomore middle blocker Anna Zeegers. Cari Pearsall has proved she's one of the top setters in the Northwest Conference, and junior outside hitter Alicia Romero should reap the benefits. Bjorklund said her Red Raiders are exuding a "new competitive spirit" and should be in most matches till the end.
2012 ROSTER
No. Player Yr. Pos.
1 Tess Owen Jr. L/DS
3 Kellie Hofstetter Jr. S
4 Catie Welch Jr. L/DS
5 Sage Ferguson Jr. Opp./OH
6 Cari Pearsall Sr. S
7 Olivia Witt Jr. OH/DS
8 Izzi Roberts Jr. MB
9 Anna Zeegers So. MB
10 Olivia Bjorklund So. OH
12 Alicia Romero Jr. OH
13 Olivia Halverson Sr. Opp.
2012 SCHEDULE
Sept. 8 at Squalicum Tournament 8 a.m.
Sept. 11 at Mount Baker 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Lynden* 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 Lynden Christian* 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Meridian* 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 at Sequim 4 p.m.
Sept. 25 Blaine* 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Squalicum* 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 Sehome* 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Sedro-Woolley* 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Anacortes* 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 Burlington-Edison* 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Nooksack Valley* 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 at Mount Baker Invite 9 a.m.
Oct. 22 Mount Baker* 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 Ferndale* 7 p.m.
* NWC match
Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.
