Volleyball 2016: Area teams to watch

Area volleyball teams to watch for the 2016 season:

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

* Co-coaches — Michelle Goodall (18th year at Kennedy, 425-219; 26th year overall) and Tim Johnson (1st year as head coach at Kennedy)

* 2015 record — 29-10

* 2015 postseason — Class 5A state qualifier

* Returning starters (5) — MH Kayla Joyner (sr.), DS Emma Boote (sr.), S Madi Palmer (sr.), DS Kendal Meier (sr.), OH Paige Franck (sr.)

IOWA CITY WEST

* Coach — Randy Dolson (3rd year at West, 55-24)

* 2015 record — 27-12

* 2015 postseason — Class 5A state qualifier

* Returning starters (7) — OH Emma Norris (sr.), MH Ali Tauchen (sr.), MH Emily Halverson (sr.), S Maddie Fay (sr.), DS Keimoney Lang (jr.), OH Chandler Haight (jr.), OH Colby Greene (jr.)

LINN-MAR

* Coach — Teresa Bair (4th year at Linn-Mar, 78-36; 27th year overall, 657-176)

* 2015 record — 28-9

* 2015 postseason — Class 5A regional finalist

* Returning starters (6) — S Ellie Anderson (sr.), DS Emilee McGowan (sr.), MH Carly Spies (jr.), OH Ariana Rolle (jr.), DS Isabel Schminke (jr.), MH Megan Renner (soph.)

MARION

* Coach — Roxanne Paulsen (13th year at Marion, 389-146; 17th year overall, 415-207)

* 2015 record — 31-9

* 2015 postseason — Class 4A state qualifier

* Returning starters (4) — L Tanea Westhoff (sr.), S Caitlyn Smith (jr.), MH Isabella Sade (sr.), OH Morgan Swanger (sr.)

MOUNT VERNON

* Coach — Maggie Willems (6th year, 129-62)

* 2015 record — 27-13

* 2015 postseason — Class 3A state semifinalist

* Returning starters (5) — OH Sydney Meeker (sr.), L Libby Ryan (sr.), OH Wynne Vandersall (sr.), MH Katie Wycoff (sr.), MH Kaitlyn Volesky (sr.)

NORTH CEDAR

* Coach — Traci Smith (4th year, 74-38)

* 2015 record — 30-11

* 2015 postseason — Class 2A regional finalist

* Returning starters (5) — OH Aubrey Cady (sr.), MH Morgan Sander (sr.), S Emily Hay (sr.), L Taylor Kress (sr.), OH Darby Hawtrey (jr.), OH LaKaya Lyon (sr.), OH Darian Gray (jr.)

UNION

* Coach — Brian Jesse (7th year at Union; 10th year overall)

* 2015 record — 27-14

* 2015 postseason — Class 3A regional finalist

* Returning starters (8) — MH Megan Hudson (sr.), OH/S Peyton Parker (sr.), OH Jackie Barz (sr.), MH Bri Harvey (sr.), S Maggie Driscol (sr.), DS Cierra Nolan (sr.), OH Haylee Kuene (jr.), DS Hailee Brown (jr.)

WEST DELAWARE

* Coach — Brett Mather (21st year at West Delaware, 672-141; 23rd year overall, 702-168)

* 2015 record — 49-2

* 2015 postseason — Class 4A state champion

* Returning starters (3) — MH Claire Demmer (soph.), OH Lauren Collier (jr.), OH Haley Lyness (sr.)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com