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New La Conner High School head volleyball coach Pam Keller is succeeding a legend and her young team is following in the footsteps of the four-time defending state 2B net champions.

But optimism was clearly in the air – and on the freshly painted floor at Landy James Gym – when the Lady Braves opened pre-season workouts last week.

"This crew is working pretty dang hard," Keller, who assisted retired state Hall of Fame coach Suzanne Marble for more than two decades, told the Weekly News prior to leading her charges out for conditioning runs up the Benton Street stairway.

To keep pace with prior powerhouse teams, Keller will have to overcome major graduation losses from a year ago, starting with the departure of Washington State 2B Player of the Year Ellie Marble, now a key addition to the Central Washington University roster.

This year's nucleus consists of seniors Abby Udlock, Morgan Huizenga and Natalee Koch.

Udlock was the setter for the 2022 state title winners, while Huizenga joined Marble and now graduated Makayla Herrera as a primary scoring option on the front line. The versatile Koch, able to swing between the front and back rows, could well see more time as a hitter this fall.

Sophomores Maeve McCormick and Addie Keller figure to be in the mix, with the latter likely to anchor the defense as its libero.

Keller, a 1999 alum and former Lady Braves net standout, might rotate into the lineup several of the half-dozen eighth graders in the program this season.

"I think some people might underestimate this group because we're so young," she said, "but so far we've been excited to see what this team can do."

She said La Conner made a strong impression at summer camps and tournaments.

"They did really well at the Central Tournament (in Ellensburg) in June," said Keller. "They've had some great camps. This team is young, but it has a great volleyball IQ."

As a student, Keller played club volleyball, competing in the off-season with and against some of the Skagit Valley's top prospects. She played for Marble, who was then at the front end of what would be a remarkable 30-year run.

Following graduation, Keller moved alongside Marble on the La Conner bench and served as an assistant during the program's string of deep playoff runs, resulting in seven state crowns.

"I really liked my role as a JV (junior varsity) coach," Keller reflected. "It was great being able to teach fundamentals and help players develop their skills."

Those duties will now be embraced by assistant Kamea Luna, also an alum and former stellar Lady Braves player.

"I couldn't do this," said Keller, a self-employed business owner, "without Kumea."

Marble's influence remains evident with another challenging non-conference schedule designed to prepare the team for the regular season and playoffs.

The Lady Braves are slated to break in the revamped Landy James Gym floor, which sports the school district's new logo, with a Sept. 5 home match with 1A Meridian.

La Conner visits 1A Lynden Sept. 6, then hosts Neah Bay Sept. 13.

Two early season home pairings, in particular, stand out. La Conner entertains 4A Glacier Peak Sept. 20 in a non-league clash. Coupeville, expected to be an NW2B/1B contender, visits Sept. 26.