Volleyball: The poll

September 3, 2008

1. Centennial

Last season: 11-5, ranked No. 10

•After a down year (by their standards) last season, the Eagles return a loaded team that graduated only one starter.

2. Mount de Sales

Last season: 16-3, No. 8

•The Sailors return five starters, including All-IAAM performers Katy Buck and Kasey Mercier. Their depth makes them the preseason favorite.

3. Severna Park

Last season: 15-2, No. 4

•Senior Christi Laite leads an experienced team that handed Class 4A state champion Broadneck its only loss in the regular season last year.

4. St. Paul's

Last season: 22-1, No. 2

•The Gators have the area's best player in Bailey Webster and a good supporting cast. Still, they lost some key pieces from a team that won the IAAM A Conference and MD-DC Private Schools Championship.

5. Reservoir

Last season: 20-0, No. 1

•The Gators went 20-0 last year and won the school's first state championship. Reservoir lost some key players but still returns a quality group that will push Centennial in Howard County.

6. Catonsville

Last season: 12-2, No. 12

•Always competitive in Baltimore County, the Comets return a good nucleus from last year's team that lost to Towson in the regional final.

7. Dulaney

Last season: 17-2, No. 5

•The three-time Baltimore County champion and Class 4A semifinalist lost most of its leadership in Danielle Parker and Maria DiPietro, but enough talent remains for the Lions to make a run at another trip to College Park.

8. Archbishop Spalding

Last season: 16-4, No. 6

•The Cavaliers are always a factor in the IAAM A Conference. Most of the starters are back, but coach Scott Rombach will have to replace All-IAAM hitter Kelly Galligan.

9. Broadneck

Last season: 21-1, No. 3

•The defending Class 4A state champs lost several key players and have a new coach in Scott Graf.

10. South Carroll

Last season: 12-6, No. 14

•After winning the Class 1A state title, the Cavaliers return an experienced lineup led by senior Lindsay Will.

11. Fallston

Last season: 18-2, No. 11

•The Cougars return most of their roster from a group that lost only to Class 3A state champion Reservoir and Class 2A state champion Rising Sun.

12. River Hill

Last season: 15-5, No. 7

•Senior setter Becky Paynter leads a talented group of returning players, but the Hawks need to fill the huge void left by the graduation of hitter Maddi Lee.

13. Towson

Last season: 14-5, No. 9

•New coach Emily Berman has a lot of talent returning from a team that advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals.

14. South River

Last season: 9-6, unranked

•The Seahawks are almost always one of the better teams in Anne Arundel County, and this could be the year that they challenge county foes Broadneck and Severna Park.