Lady Braves open net season with big early tests

It’s a big week for the La Conner High volleyball team.

Big matches against big schools to help launch a season filled with big dreams.

And the Lady Braves, a perennial State title contender, are used to turning those dreams into reality — in a big way.

La Conner is coming off a third place State 2B Tournament finish a year ago, and while having lost Skagit area Player of the Year Emma Christianson to graduation, the Lady Braves return a solid nucleus — including five All-League players — to the fold in 2015.

Head coach Suzanne Marble’s charges open the campaign with a tough slate. But that’s by design.

The Lady Braves debuted last night at home opposite Woodinville, a KingCo 4A school situated on a 40-acre Northshore campus and whose schedule includes the likes of Seattle Prep, Shorecrest, and Inglemoor.

La Conner is at Burlington-Edison today, Wednesday, for a jamboree featuring Skagit and Whatcom counties entries before returning to Landy James Gym for a Thursday date with 3A Squalicum of Bellingham.

“We have a tough non-league schedule,” noted Marble, whose club went 21-4 last season while taking a similar grinding path to Yakima.

Marble is committed to playing non-league heavyweights in preseason, knowing that 2B foes will give La Conner their best shot once they begin sparring for the conference crown.

The Lady Braves have had their guard up for quite some time, including summer camps and tourneys prior to hitting the gym for good in late August.

“We’ve been hard at work the past two weeks,” Marble said Monday, “and we’re ready to get playing. This group has worked incredibly hard in the off-season.”

That group includes five battle-tested seniors.

All-League setter Olivia Hedlund will run the La Conner attack. The front row features senior middle blockers Leanne Swan and Kamea Luna, the latter of whom was an All-NW2B pick in ‘14.

Twins Heather and Nicole Henriksen, both of whom are returning All-League performers, are back as well. Heather, a WIAA State Player of the Week selection last season, will patrol the perimeter as an outside hitter. Nicole directs the La Conner defense as its libero and specialist in serve reception.

Right side hitter Ashley Watkins, an All-League choice last year, leads a talented junior trio for the Lady Braves. Classmates Lindsay Lowry and Jayne Whited are ticketed for playing outside hitting spots.

Sophomore setter Michelle Kim joins the mix, as does senior defender Emma Lagerwey and freshman middle blocker Matty Lagerwey.

“We have a lot of experience in our junior and senior classes,” said Marble, “and they’ve been pushed every day by an amazing group of underclassmen.”

Her players don’t look so much to strength of schedule as a barometer of progress, Marble stressed, but rather how well they improve on a daily basis.

Be that in workouts or in matches.

“They have a focus and intensity,” she said, “that makes them better each time out.”

That being the case, Marble’s goal is for the Lady Braves to peak in mid-November — on the other side of the mountains.