By Tim Tassa -- Daily Staff Writer

STRASBURG —The first day Rams junior Jenna Smoot came out for practice in August, she peered around the Strasburg gym, feeling like the whole team wasn't accounted for.

That's because a new year has brought new faces and new expectations for the program. What remains the same, however, is the motto: One day, one goal, one game at a time, according to head coach Suzanne Mathias.

"It's definitely weird not to have the other girls there," Smoot said, referring to the stable of graduated seniors from last season's undefeated Group A state championship team.

But within the first week, Smoot said the team spoke of embracing the current season's opportunities rather than rest their laurels on 2007's accomplishments.

"I think for the girls returning it's always going to be in the back our minds," Smoot said of the unbeaten streak.

"But we're trying not to put that pressure on us; we're just trying to make this season a year of its own and see what happens."

Among the departed from Strasburg's 28-0 title team were first-team all-state selections Kaitlin Smoot and Katie Baker.

Mathias said returnees Stephanie Conde, Jenna Smoot and senior Bethany Doman will help fill the void left by Baker, Jo Owens and Kaitlin Smoot on offense.

Conde provides powerful hits, according to Mathias, while Jenna Smoot supplies the Rams a net-minding presence. Lauren Agnew and Jaclyn Ayers will take over the setter position as the Rams open the regular season against Central tonight.

Shanna Devers, Rebecca Coffman and Doman are the team's lone seniors.

"They want to win, we've not talked about any streak," Mathias said.

"I've told them last year was a blessing; we enjoyed last year but this year is a new year, new season, new group of young ladies, and we're starting fresh and starting our own trend. I don't want them comparing everything to last year."

A capsule look at area teams, listed alphabetically:

Central:

Leading up to tryouts, newly named head coach Allison Huckstep's knowledge of Central's volleyball talent was acquired from only eight open-gym sessions since mid-June.

"I kind of got a gist of who could do what, but I wasn't exactly sure," Huckstep said.

But with seven seniors and six juniors, Huckstep inherits a veteran Falcons squad, which she considered to be "well rounded."

A former middle hitter herself, Huckstep looks for the position to carry the team. Six of her seven seniors return from last year, including Margot Gurganus, Kayten Stroop, Emily Riffe, Megan Loving, Kayla Livesay and Allie Lonaf.

Huckstep expects junior Brea Hindgardner to be a force in the middle, as well.

"I think the group of girls that we have on varsity this year," Huckstep said, "they just play really well together, they get along well and they really know each other, so that really adds to them being able to play well together."

Clarke County:

When asked her goals, Eagles head coach Mary Brune observed the school's bare volleyball championship banner. However, Brune, in her first year at Clarke County, said she and the Eagles will take the season one point at a time, as she works to incorporate quick sets, shoot sets and jump serves, and attempts to specialize the backcourt.

The Eagles return seniors Misty Munson, Megan Nelson, Monica Mongold, Tierra Underwoood and Bri Smith, and junior Amy Hagerdon. Smith will be the team's libero and Mongold and Leslie Conner will be the Eagles' setters. Clarke County's roster includes three sophomores and three juniors.

Brune said most of her players do not partake in "travel ball," adding greater importance to the preseason as team chemistry develops. But as the Eagles hope to turn one or two consecutive possessions of "good ball" into seven or eight, even Brune is finding herself smiling during practice.

"Every day they just keep getting better," Brune said, "and I guess that's a good thing."

Handley:

By only her job title is Lindsay Hazelette new to the Judges' varsity program. The team's first-year coach, taking over for Vaughan Kusko, inherits a group she's developed as the leader of the school's freshman and junior varsity teams the previous four seasons.

With eight returning lettermen, there's hardly an acquainting process.

"It might be a little bit easy on the girls because most of these girls are ones that I coached at the freshman level so we kind of know each other that way," said Hazelette, referring to seniors Danielle Brown, Stephanie Rudolph, Pam Phillips, Ryan Hudson, Kara Dixon and Taylor Hoffman.

Hazelette, who said she's branched off and tweaked former coaching disciplines, while implementing her own style, hopes the Judges can finish among the top three teams in the Northwestern District.

James Wood:

When the Colonels take the floor this season under new head coach Jill Lester, expect a swifter offense, chock-full of jump serves and quick attacks from its outside hitters.

"It has been very fulfilling, very exciting; it's been very rewarding," Lester said of being a head coach. "I think that the players that I have have far exceeded my expectations with their talent."

Lester expects "big things" from middle blocker Haley Smith and senior setter and captain Sara Michael, who combines offensive leadership with court awareness.

Supplying power from the outside, according to Lester, are sophomores Emily Shannon, Emily Tierney and Megan Crabtree.

Millbrook:

Just a year ago the Pioneers went unscathed in the Northwestern District and cruised to a postseason tournament title. This season, Millbrook returns seven varsity players, including Gennie McGuirk, Jordan Orndoff, Anna Comer and Devon Courneya.

However, the current outlook is all relative to the competition Millbrook faces. Just ask head coach Jennifer McCullough, who said she realizes with each season comes a different set of strengths and weaknesses.

"I don't think it'll be any different than any other year before it. I think that there's certain teams that are definitely consistently pretty tough and I think that'll happen again this year," McCullough said.

"We'll miss our seniors, but ... always new opportunities for a kid to come in and do a great job."

Orndoff, who is one of two setters on the team, will be assisting outside and middle hitters McGuirk, Comer and Courneya, who McCullough said can hit from any position on the floor.

Sherando:

The administrative tasks have been overwhelming for newly named head coach Chuck Ashby.

He cited picture day — making sure the freshmen, junior varsity and varsity teams were present on-time with correct paperwork — as an example of directing an entire program, not just the freshman team as he had done the previous five seasons.

While facilitating office work may be a challenge, seniors Haley Jacobsen, Lauren Carter and Alexis Ruths provide for a much more seamless transition courtside, helping Ashby steer one of the Northwestern District's most-promising teams.

"I'd like to think we're going to be in the top half of the district," said Ashby, who coached his three seniors as freshman.

Taylor Henshaw, Brooklyn Wilson, Lauren Wilkins and Ashleigh Tanis return from last year's squad, complementing the net advantage the Warriors possess due to the height of Carter and Jacobsen.

"We've got a good mix of a bunch of girls who have been here and know what to expect," said Ashby, whose first two matches as head coach are against Northwestern District champion Millbrook and Group A state champion Strasburg. "That makes it a lot easier for me."

Skyline:

The Hawks may be the shortest and one of the least experienced teams in the Northwestern District. Skyline lost five seniors from last season's 5-14 team and return just two starters — Ashley Gue and Hannah Graham.

But in making up a size disadvantage, head coach Mirsad Mehic hopes quick sets and a high-percentage service game will mature as the team's strength this fall.

"We have to teach players how to approach the new system," Mehic said. "They take it great, they're hard workers, they're improving a lot."

Olivia Newton will play the libero position for Skyline, while Kaitlin Robinson will assume setting duties. In Gue and Graham, Mehic said he return's last year's best hitter and blocker, respectively.

Junior Brooklyn Steele will play opposite Graham at middle blocker and, according to Mehic, will form the core of the team with Gue and Robinson.

Stonewall Jackson:

With defending district champion Wilson Memorial returning its core players from last season, second-year head coach Sophie Stout noted the Generals' wealth of experience, too, led by Molly Beall, Nadene Pence, Brittany Smith, Lindsey Hoover, Heather Stout, Jessica Shenk and Brittany Wimer.

"As far as our hitting, we'll solely depend on Heather, Molly and Brittany Smith," coach Stout said.

"Brittany and Heather both are 6-foot, so I mean it's going to help us a great deal."

Stonewall Jackson, which was second in the Shenandoah District last year, lost just three seniors from last year. Pence and sophomore Whitney Wilkins, the youngest varsity member, will maintain the Generals' setting duties, and Hoover, Shenk and Wimer are defensive specialists.

Despite some early-season rust, coach Stout believes the Generals can parlay their experience into a successful season.

"If we don't get in our way," she said, "We'll be fine."

Warren County:

The Wildcats are a bit more experienced and, importantly, a bit taller.

Now head coach Cathy Brill hopes for a spike in wins, as well.

Warren County returns five players to its varsity squad in 2008, led by co-captains Taylor Walton and Megan Williams.

This is Walton's third year on varsity, and, according to Brill, she is the school's best hitter. In addition, the Wildcats return a pair of setters, senior Stephy Keller and junior Katie Robinson, and 5-foot-11 sophomore Robin Mikulak, who was on junior varsity last season, provides height up front for the Wildcats,

"We have very good team unity," Brill said. "We've got a year experience from last year so we're looking to improve on our season from last year."

Warren County will be without starting libero, Andrea Ochsenbine, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament during a basketball open gym this summer.

*Contact Tim Tassa at ttassa@nvdaily.com