It will be interesting to see if 2008 can return the serve from 2007.

After a season for the record books, volleyball in Central Oregon is — even before the celebratory screaming after every point — loud with anticipation.

Crook County High and Sisters High are the reigning Class 5A and 4A state champions, respectively. And Summit is coming off its best season in school history after finishing second to the Cowgirls.

In Class 5A, look first at Crook County. There is no denying the Cowgirls’ dominance. For the rest of the Intermountain Conference, it could again be a race for second place.

Last season, the Cowgirls not only went undefeated (14-0) in IMC play, but they did not lose a single game during those 14 matches. Then they ran through the postseason, sweeping three out of four matches, one of them the state championship final against Summit that lasted the minimum three games.

Which means that Crook County finished the year 3-0 (9-0 in games) against Summit, the second-best 5A team in Oregon.

But since four of the Cowgirls’ six 2007 all-IMC players have graduated, there could be a crack or two in the armor.

“We aren’t quite as deep this year, but the girls are so mature,” says 13th-year Crook County coach Rosie Honl, the reigning 5A coach of the year, whose team will go for its 10th consecutive playoff appearance and its third straight state title.

Then again, as Honl says, the Cowgirls could be even better than last season. This year’s roster includes seven seniors.

And headlining that senior slate is middle blocker and 2007 first-team all-IMC and all-state selection Krissi Kemper. She and big-swinging junior outside hitter Casey Loper have opposing coaches already devising special defensive strategies.

“We’re just pounding the ball,” says Honl, who touts her young players as much as her veterans.

“Sophomore Courtney Michel hits the ball harder than I’ve ever seen,” she claims. “Watch out.”

The Sisters Outlaws also are looking to defend a state crown.

The Outlaws capped last season with a thrilling upset over La Grande in a five-game championship match for the Class 4A championship. Their trophy season, marred by just one loss, was the culmination of brilliant prep careers for a number of seniors. In 2007, Sisters said goodbye to five graduates, four of whom were second-team all-state honorees.

This year, the polished all-around game accented by the 24-inch vertical leap of senior outside hitter Felicia Pledger will be Sisters’ focal point.

“She has taken her game to an even higher level than last season,” says Outlaw coach Diane Bremer. “She could very well be the dominant player in the Sky-Em League.”

Backing up Pledger is junior Haylee Schaab, who blossomed into a kills machine last postseason and earned an all-state honorable mention.

“We are once again very deep and versatile,” says Bremer. “We have powerful hitters, a quick and accurate back row, and our team chemistry is coming together.”

In Class 5A, Summit is the coaches’ favorite to repeat as the IMC runner-up. The Storm lost six seniors from last year’s state runner-up team and might be without junior Kelsey Zimmerman, an all-IMC and all-state first-team selection a year ago, due to a knee injury.

“We’ve got young, energetic and talented girls,” says second-year Summit coach Jill Waskom. “We just haven’t played together.”

Junior libero Becky DeFoe looks to lead a Storm squad that will rely heavily on sophomores Jacqueline Reber (setter) and Calli Prestwood (middle).

“We’re just trying to bring it all together now,” says Waskom, who sees the race for the IMC title as up for grabs. “It’s going to be wide open. Mountain View played well (at Friday’s season-opening jamboree). Crook County and Pendleton will be tough. … It’s the toughest league in 5A.”

With a promising core of young players and program numbers up from years past, second-year Bend High coach Kristin Cooper is excited about her team’s chances of making another trip to the playoffs this season.

In 2007, the Lava Bears earned the fourth and final IMC playoff berth by posting an 8-6 conference record. Returning all-league senior outside hitters Makenzie McIntyre and Natalie Scheller, along with middle blocker Taylor Torkelson, will be the glue to a squad that is rebuilding after losing eight seniors to graduation.

“The girls are looking to make it to the state tournament this year,” says Cooper. “We want to better our finish in the IMC. … Both are realistic goals.”

Intracity rival Mountain View High is rebranding itself as the team that works the hardest.

First-year Cougar coach Mallory Larranga — a 2001 graduate of Bend High and former standout volleyball player at the University of Alaska — had her team doing “daily triples” during the preseason, practicing three times, five hours in all, each weekday.

“It’s a whole new game,” says Larranga (formerly Bergstrom), who is taking on a team that finished 4-10 in IMC play last season.

“Other teams are going to think, “Oh, it’s just Mountain View.’ But it’s going to be a big shock for them.”

Seniors Sara Steria (outside hitter) and Shelby Hollister (middle hitter) will lead the Cougars, alongside juniors Bethany Durre (libero) and Shelby Broberg (outside hitter).

For Madras High, which last year finished 6-8 in the IMC, inexperience will present a challenge. Third-year coach Caron Smith looks to seniors Hansina Martin and Marisa Hulsey to step up as leaders.

“The strength of this team will be their unity,” Smith says.

In Class 6A, Redmond High coach Lisa Pom-Arleau is optimistic after a frustrating 2007 season.

The Panthers won just a single Central Valley Conference match last season, but the third-year coach says this is the team that could turn the program around.

Second-team all-CVC middle blocker Taylor Rodby will lead the Panthers, alongside fellow seniors Kurin and Brook Matter and junior Laurel Welborn.

La Pine, of Class 4A, will look to improve upon its 2-10 Sky-Em League record from last season.

Tom Wilkerson is entering his first season as the coach of a Hawks team deep in varsity experience. Though La Pine lost four seniors to graduation after last season, eight other players are returning.

Culver, Gilchrist and Central Christian also are trying to bounce back from disappointing seasons.

The Bulldogs finished eighth in the Class 2A Tri-River Conference with a 4-12 record. But returning for her senior season is standout outside hitter Maria Ruiz.

Gilchrist returns all-league junior setter Cera Scevers after a 3-9 season in the Class 1A Mountain Valley League. Scevers is just one of the five returners whom second-year coach Beccie Sakraida expects to lead the team.

As for Central Christian of the Class 1A Big Sky West Division, it would take just a single victory to top last year’s total. The White Tigers this year are under the direction of first-year coach Brooke Smalstig.

Prep volleyball outlook

Redmond Panthers

Bend Lava Bears

Mountain View Cougars

Summit Storm

Crook County Cowgirls

Madras White Buffaloes

Sisters Outlaws

La Pine Hawks

Culver Bulldogs

Gilchrist Grizzlies

Central Christian White Tigers

A closer look at the area’s high school volleyball teams:

Head coach: Lisa Pom-Arleau (third season).

2007 record: 1-11 CVC (seventh).

Returning all-league player: Taylor Rodby, sr., middle hitter.

Season opener: Bend High at Redmond, Sept. 2.

Central Valley Conference opener: McNary at Redmond, Sept. 9.

Head coach: Kristin Cooper (second season).

2007 record: 8-6 IMC (fourth); advanced to the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

Returning all-league player: Makenzie McIntyre, sr., outside hitter.

Season opener: Bend High at Redmond, Sept. 2.

Intermountain Conference opener: Crook County at Bend, Sept. 9.

Head coach: Mallory Larranaga (first season).

2007 record: 4-10 IMC (sixth).

Key returning players: Sara Steria, sr., outside hitter; Shelby Hollister, sr., middle hitter; Bethany Durre, jr., libero; Shelby Broberg, jr., outside hitter.

Season opener: Mountain View Invitational Tournament, Sept. 6.

Intermountain Conference opener: Summit at Mountain View, Sept. 9.

Head coach: Jill Waskom (second season).

2007 record: 11-3 IMC (second); advanced to the Class 5A state final.

Returning all-league player: Kelsey Zimmerman, jr., middle hitter.

Season opener: Mountain View Invitational Tournament, Sept. 6.

Intermountain Conference opener: Summit at Mountain View, Sept. 9.

Head coach: Rosie Honl (13th season).

2007 record: 14-0 IMC (first); won the Class 5A state championship.

Returning all-league players: Krissi Kemper, sr., middle hitter; Casey Loper, jr., outside hitter.

Season opener: Crook County at Bend, Sept. 9.

Intermountain Conference opener: Crook County at Bend, Sept. 9.

Head coach: Caron Smith (third season).

2007 record: 6-8 IMC (fifth).

Returning all-league players: Marisa Hulsey, sr., outside hitter; Hansina Martin, sr., outside hitter.

Season opener: Madras at Sisters, Sept. 2.

Intermountain Conference opener: Pendleton at Madras, Sept. 9.

Head coach: Diane Bremer (second season).

2007 record: 11-1 Sky-Em (first); won the Class 4A state championship.

Key returning players: Felicia Pledger, sr., outside hitter; Haylee Schaab, jr., outside hitter.

Season opener: Madras at Sisters, Sept. 2.

Sky-Em League opener: Pleasant Hill at Sisters, Sept. 11.

Head coach: Tom Wilkerson (first season).

2007 record: 2-10 Sky-Em (sixth).

Key returning players: Karli Smith, sr., outside hitter; Jessica Hunt, sr., libero.

Season opener: La Pine at Burns, Sept. 2.

Sky-Em League opener: La Pine at Pleasant Hill, Sept. 9.

Head coach: Wendy Thompson (fifth season).

2007 record: 4-12 Tri-River (eighth).

Returning all-league player: Maria Ruiz, sr., outside hitter.

Season opener: Culver at La Pine JV Tournament, Sept. 6.

Tri-River Conference opener: Western Mennonite at Culver, Sept. 9.

Head coach: Beccie Sakraida (second season).

2007 record: 3-9 Mountain Valley (fifth).

Returning all-league player: Cera Scevers, jr., setter.

Season opener: Gilchrist at Paisley, Sept. 4.

Mountain Valley League opener: Gilchrist at Paisley, Sept. 4.

Head coach: Brooke Smalstig (first season).

2007 record: 0-6 Big Sky West division (fourth).

Season opener: Central Christian at Dufur, Sept. 9.

Big Sky League opener: Central Christian at Dufur, Sept. 9.