FERNDALE

GODLEN EAGLES

Coach: Patti Hoelzle

Last year: Finished first in the Class 3A Northwest Conference standings with a league record of 8-5. ... Ended season after going 0-2 in the Class 3A District Tournament and finished 8-8 overall. ... Karley Eggert and Laurel Erdman were All-Whatcom County selections.

Players to watch: Taylor Reid (sr., DS); Grace Bills (sr., MB); Hannah Pitsch (jr., MB); Abby Reid (so., S); Courtney Brown (sr., OH/DS)

Outlook: The Golden Eagles have six seniors and a host of other returners, but Ferndale arguably lost its two most important players from a year ago in power-hitter Laurel Erdman and do-everything defensive specialist Karley Eggert. Coach Patti Hoelzle said she has been spending time trying to determine what players are going to handle the leadership roles those two held. Ferndale has a lengthy team this season, and it starts with its two middle blockers - Grace Bills and Hannah Pitsch. Taylor Reid, who has set her entire career, is being moved to the all-important defensive specialist spot. Her sister, sophomore Abby Reid, will take over Taylor's old role as setter. Hoelzle has a number of viable options at outside hitter in Elise Larson, Sarah Erdman and Courtney Brown. "I'm excited about this group," Hoelzle said in a phone interview. "We have six seniors who have been in our program and have been playing for a long time."

2012 ROSTER

No. Player Yr. Pos.

1 Tori Fox Jr. DS

2 Abby Reid So. S

3 Taylor Reid Sr. DS

4 Hannah Carlson Jr. S/RS

5 Elise Larson Sr. OH

6 Grace Bills Sr. MB

7 Hannah Pitsch Jr. MB

8 Courtney Brown Sr. OH/DS

9 Linsey Honeycutt So. MB

10 Sarah Erdman Jr. OH

11 Brooke Benson Jr. MB

12 Allie Morgan Sr. RS

13 Lacey Walker Sr. DS

2012 SCHEDULE

Sept. 6 Sehome 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 at Squalicum Tournament 8 a.m.

Sept. 11 at Sedro-Woolley 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 Mount Baker* 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Burlington-Edison* 7 p.m.

Sept. 20 Sedro-Woolley* 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Sehome* 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 Blaine* 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Nooksack Valley* 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 Lynden Christian* 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Meridian* 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 Squalicum* 7 p.m.

Oct. 18 Lynden* 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 at Anacortes Tournament 8 a.m.

Oct. 22 at Anacortes* 7 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Bellingham* 7 p.m.

*NWC match

Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.