After four-plus decades of coaching volleyball and 11 state titles, Central Catholic’s Rick Lorenz knows a potential championship team when he sees it.
So he wasn’t too startled when his team was voted No. 1 in the OSAAtoday Class 6A preseason coaches poll.
“I’m glad that people think we’re good. I think we’re good,” Lorenz said. “Our motto going into every season is we want to be in the hunt. And we are definitely in the hunt.”
The Rams lost much of the firepower from last year’s state runner-up with the graduation of Camille Guerrero and Kiora Ridgeway, but they have veteran setters, a sturdy defense and a deep front row that has been bolstered by two transfers.
“Last year we had a real overachieving year, and it was difficult to end the way we did, not playing to our potential,” said Lorenz, referring to a three-set loss to Southridge in the final. “This year I feel real optimistic about our chances.”
The Rams are in good hands at setter with sophomore Kealani Rosa, a first-team all-Mt. Hood Conference pick as a freshman, and senior Grace McElligott.
The front line includes 6-foot-1 senior middle blocker Bella Scarlett, a four-year varsity player. Scarlett missed the first month of her junior season while recovering from a meniscus injury suffered in basketball but came on strong at the end of the year.
“I’m looking for a breakout year from Bella Scarlett,” Lorenz said. “Her primary sport is basketball, but she’s gotten better every year. She’s jumping really well, and I think she’s a lot more confident. She’ll be our primary hitter. I just hope she stays healthy.
“But we’re getting a lot of support from other kids. We’re not just a one-pony show.”
Other holdovers include junior middle blocker Mia Jordan (6-1), senior right-side hitter Paige Cooper (6-1), junior outside hitter Julia Carr (5-8) and junior libero Ava Bruins.
The team also has added two promising transfers in junior middle blocker Marianna Payne (6-0) from Camas (Wash.) and senior outside hitter Tennison Brady-Steen (5-9) from Clackamas.
“I think our two transfers are going to help us a lot,” Lorenz said.
No. 2 Jesuit and No. 3 West Linn also look strong in Class 6A. No. 4 Summit and No. 5 Bend – former Class 5A powers – are wild cards in their Class 6A debut.
Lorenz admitted that he voted for Jesuit as No. 1. The Rams will square off with Jesuit and West Linn on Sept. 8 in the Central Catholic Tournament at The Hoop in Salem.
“We’ve got a pretty good front line. I don’t think it quite matches up with Jesuit, but we’ll know in about two weeks,” Lorenz said. “That’ll be good. That’ll show us what we need to do.”
Jesuit won Class 6A titles in 2014 and 2015 but lost in the quarterfinals of the state tournament the last two years.
“That was a huge disappointment, so that group is seniors and they have quite a chip on their shoulders,” Lorenz said. “So I know they’re going to be ready.”
