NOOKSACK VALLEY

PIONEERS

Coach: Jenny Simmons

Last year: Finished in a tie for second in the Class 1A Northwest Conference standings with a league record of 4-9. ... Ended season after going 0-1 in the Class 1A Tri-District Tournament and finished 6-12 overall. ... McKinna Larson was an All-Whatcom County selection.

Players to watch: McKinna Larson (sr., S); McKenzie Impero (sr., OH); Lindsay Hayes (jr., MB); Taryn Tenkley (jr., OH); Lindy Swanson (sr., MB)

Outlook: The Pioneers took a major step forward by reaching the Class 1A Tri-District Tournament last season, and Nooksack Valley appears poised to take another step closer to the Class 1A State Tournament this year. Timing seems to be in place for NV, which touts one of the best setter-hitter combos in the Northwest Conference with McKinna Larson and McKenzie Impero, respectively. Combined, the two have six years of varsity experience together. Only one senior is gone from a year ago. Taryn Tenkly should complement Impero on the outside and give Larson another strong option. Lindsay Hayes and Lindy Swanson in the middle and Mariah Perry at libero give coach Jenny Simmons more experienced players to work with. "I think defense and balance have been the keys so far," Simmons said in a phone interview. "We want to go to state this year, and that is our overall season goal."

2012 ROSTER

No. Player Yr. Pos.

1 Taryn Tenkley Jr. OH

2 Candace Rinehart Jr. MB

3 McKenzie Impero Sr. OH

4 Kylee Dekoekkoek Jr. RS

5 Avery TenKley So. MB

6 McKinna Larson Sr. S

7 Lindsay Hayes Jr. MB

8 Lindy Swanson Sr. MB

9 Bri Turner Fr. MB

11 Abbi Steele So. S

12 Hailey King-Hunt Jr. RS

13 Taylor Sletvik Jr. DS

16 Mariah Perry Fr. L

2012 SCHEDULE

Sept. 7 at SunDome Invite 9 a.m.

Sept. 11 Squalicum 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 at Meridian* 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 Blaine* 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 at South Whidbey Invite 10 a.m.

Sept. 25 at Mount Baker* 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 at Lynden* 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 at Friday Harbor TBD

Oct. 2 Ferndale* 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Squalicum* 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 Burlington-Edison* 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 Anacortes* 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Sehome* 7 p.m.

Oct. 18 Bellingham* 7 p.m.

Oct. 22 at Sedro-Woolley* 7 p.m.

Oct. 24 Lynden Christian* 7 p.m.

*NWC game

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