WASHINGTON — Volleyball started this week with scrimmages, as area teams prepare for matches in the coming week.

Washington coach Alicia Hand returns for her second year. The area Class A field includes Barr-Reeve, Loogootee, North Daviess and Washington Catholic.

The Vikings and Lions have some parts to replace, but both feel they are on the way.

North Daviess has a new coach in Rebecca Hays, and Washington Catholic is coached by Keith Wild in his first season.

It should be a fascinating season.

Washington

Alicia Hand lost two players from last year’s team, and is looking forward to having a veteran squad returning.

“I think we have great potential with a lot of varsity players returning,” Hand said. “The team has been working hard. We’re looking forward to a great season.”

Seniors Paige Hawthorne and Rachel Chattin lead juniors Lyndsey Carrico and Adraina Fidler.

Sophomores are Amber Taylor, Jordan Carr, Megan Arnold and Lauren Terry. Freshman Emily Sullender also joins.

“Our communication has been much better,” Hand said. “The kids have had a year with me, and I think they understand things better.”

Hand hopes better communication leads to a faster, more aggressive, offense.

“We working on our coverage, but also running a quicker offense,” Hand said. “The kids have worked together for a year, and I think they are more connected.”

Washington Catholic

Keith Wild has watched Washington Catholic volleyball since his two daughters were in grade school.

He now will be coaching.

Wild steps in to the coaching position with daughters Hannah entering her senior season and Sarah her sophomore.

Wild has not coached, and is the first to admit the teaching is going a bit both ways.

“I’m not an X and O guy,” Wild said. “But I can be a motivater. I’m working with the girls and they are doing some teaching of their own. I’m certain there will be some things that I will have to learn as the season begins.”

The Cardinals have several retuning veterans beside the Wild sisters.

Cheyanne Stone, Sarah Wichman, Baily Abel and Elizabeth Brochin are seniors. Juniors are Mary Anne Wichman, Rachel May and Audry Groves.

Former Washington player Josie Ivy serves as the assistant.

“The team went through a tough year last fall without many wins,” Wild said. “I think the girls are improving. They had a tough year last fall. Hopefully, we can add a few wins this year and improve.”

Barr-Reeve

Barr-Reeve spent much of last season ranked first in Class A and ended the regular season undefeated before losing to rival Loogootee at Jack Butcher Arena in the sectional.

The Vikings had a potent offense last fall, but may be more of a defensive unit this time around.

“We lost four good girls last year, but we have a lot of experience back,” Barr-Reeve coach Amber DeCoursey said. “We may have to be a defensive team this year. If you play good defense, that will lead to good offense.”

Major players for the Vikings include seniors Cori Cummings and Tanisha Graber.

Returning juniors include Hania Sisco, Jenna Knepp, Tracy Graber and Allison Hoover. Sophomores are Tiara Kenney, Hannah Bullock, Molly Wallace, Skylar Chestnut and Courtney Lasher.

“We have several underclassmen who are coming back this season, and when you mix that with the experience on the court, we think we’re in for a good season.”

 DeCoursey noted her team needed to get the ball to the net for the offense to be successful.

“We’re working very hard right now on serve receive,” DeCoursey said. “We have to get the pass to get the first attack. We’ve also been working on blocking and our serving.”

With several veterans returning, DeCoursey likes the team’s connection.

“They’re working very hard, they have a goal,” DeCoursey said. “They’ve set some pretty high goals, and they’re taking it a step at a time.”

Loogootee

The Lions spent much of last season ranked in Class A, and won the sectional on their own floor at Jack Butcher Arena.

The offense is intact this time around, but coach Lacey Wade must replace the back row.

Remington Wagler is the lone senior for Wade this season. Juniors are Abby Ackerman, Kelsy Seals, Demi Richardson, Christina Ziegler, Taylor Hayes and Michala Beasley.

Sophomores Waylee Wagoner, Lauren Bowling and Kailye Robbins also return.

“I like that we will be young, and will basically have the same team for the next two years,” Wade said. “Most of our hitters are back, but we pretty much lost our back row. We have veteran players who are stepping up and taking on those roles.”

Wade some players may be found in different positions as time this year, but is confident holes left in the back can be filled.

“We have players who are capable of playing the back, and they’ve been playing well. We just need to get in some game situations.”

The Lions look forward to another successful season.

“Last year we lost in the regional and we thought we could have made it all the way,” Wade said. “It’s a long road with our sectional, but the players are on the same page in wanting to make it as far as we can, and that would be the state finals.”

North Daviess

Coach Rebecca Hays starts her first season at the helm of the Cougars, but she spent two seasons on the staff of retired Ruth Ann Burkhart.

She knows her Cougars and they know her.

“I’m really excited,” Hays said. “I’ve seen a lot of off-season improvement. I think the team is mentally prepared for the year.”

The Cougars have plenty of returning players.

Cari Jo Wilson, Larynda Keith, Alexis Brewer and Janae Wagler are seniors. Morgan Wadsworth, Madison Reed and Jessica Taylor are juniors.

Alexis Reed, Randi Pershing, Nicole Woodruff and Sydnee Haseman are sophomores and Lenzi Brewer is the lone freshman.

“I think our passing and platforms will be good this year,” Hays said. “We’ve really been focused on passing and trying to improve the offense. I think we can get some quicker tempo sets going with the returning players. We need to communicate better. We want to be louder.”

Hays also wants to the team to use its experience.

“We want to set our expectations,” Hays said. “We want to be the team. We want to have expectations of beating more teams.”