Clovis Christian School senior Jennifer Schapp makes a return during Thursday practice session. Schaap is expected to play a big role for this year team.

The wheels kept on a-turning in eastern New Mexico small school volleyball last year as Texico and Fort Sumner vied once again for state crowns.

For Texico, the season ended with the Wolverines capturing the Class 2A blue trophy to cap an undefeated campaign. The other traditional power, Fort Sumner, slipped in the Class 1A tournament by falling to district rival Elida one match short of the finals.

But the area also saw a new member move into the ranks of championship contender last season when upstart Clovis Christian, like Fort Sumner, advanced to the Class 1A semifinals.

As the 2008 season begins, however, only Fort Sumner of the three enters with the same coach. In fact, in a rarity, the Vixens’ players roster is also absolutely identical to last season’s.

Naturally, that’s leading to high expectations for the Fort Sumner team although that’s the norm for Lisa McMath’s squads.

“Knowing that they’re all coming back, they should be favorites,” McMath said. “You’re going to have a senior group of girls and they’ve got to decide that’s what they want to attain.”

Three of McMath’s key seniors — setter Rita Herrera, middle Bree’Anna Lucero and outside Racheal Chavez — were starters for the Vixens team that won state two years ago.

In Texico, the Wolverines have gone more than a year without losing a match, But the team has a new coach after longtime leader Mike Littlejohn was forced to step down as coach in December. Littlejohn took a coaching job in Borger, Texas. His replacement is Kristen Scanlan

Last year, Scanlan — wife of ENMU men’s basketball coach Shaun Scanlan — was an assistant.

Her first Texico team as a head coach has key players back in senior Jaryse Harris and juniors Katlin Luscombe and junior Victoria Richards. The Wolverines have key players to replace, however.

“We kind of have the leadership thing to deal with, because we lost our setter (Bryn Mayfield), our middle (Brooke Bailey) and our libero (Faith Martin). And that’s the heart of the team,” said Scanlan, whose team will have a tough foe to start the new season — tonight at Lubbock Christian.

Two sets of twins should help Texico regroup. Scanlan’s daughters, Fallon and Erin, step into the setter and libero positions while freshmen Jordyn and Jaylyn Cooper provide quality depth on the front row.

At Clovis Christian, new coach Michelle Wallis took over the reins when Lora Hubby unexpectedly moved to Ohio in the offseason. Wallis will have key returnees in 6-foot, 2-inch senior Jennifer Schaap and setters Joclyn Swann and Lauren Dumas.

Those three are the only players back with significant experience and the Eagles will have to build around them.

Melrose also has a new coach in Dana Lewis, 23, who not only enters with no volleyball coaching experience but also without any volleyball playing experience.

“I’m brand new at it,” said Lewis, who was a basketball assistant last year. “One day at a time. I have a young group of girls because six girls graduated last season and they were pretty much the team. I’m new and the girls who are playing are fairly new also.”

Grady coach Missi Glover is back with most of her Bronchos from 2007 in tow. The squad had only two seniors on a district runner-up team to Clovis Christian and, this season, Grady is still young with only one senior — outside hitter Payton Provencio.

“All these girls saw a lot of playing time last year, so we’re really just expecting to go forward,” Glover said.

Team capules

Clovis Christian Eagles
2007 postseason: Reached Class 1A state semifinals (def. by Animas)
Coach: Michelle Wallis
Starting Rotation
Outside Hitters: Vanessa Urioste, Sr., 5-4; Kelvy Bell, So., 5-6; Hannah Godwin, Sr., 5-6, Amanda Schaap, 8th, 5-8
Middle Blockers: Jennifer Schaap, Sr., 6-2; Kacy Crank, Fr., 5-6
Setters: Joclyn Swann, Jr., 5-3; Lauren Dumas, Sr., 5-7
Back row/Libero: Starla Abernathy, 8th, 5-1
According to the coach...
Player most likely to end up as a coach: Joclyn Swann — her brother Jason is the coach of the school’s football team.
Player most likely to take up beach volleyball: Jennifer Schaap ("I know she played beach volleyball when she was little,” Wallis said).
Hardest hitter from another team: Vera Jo Bustos, West Las Vegas — graduated in 2007.
Best setter from another team: Pojoaque’s Jaymie Roybal — led Elkettes to ‘06 Class 3A state title.
Favorite place for the Eagles to eat on the road: Olive Garden in Albuquerque — Clovis Christian got a taste of that during last year’s state tourney.

Fort Summner Vixens
2007 postseason: Reached Class 1A state semifinals (def. by Elida)
Coach: Lisa McMath
Starting Rotation
Outside Hitters: Racheal Chavez, Sr., 5-6; Sarah Stinnett, So., 5-4
Middle Blockers: Bree’Anna Lucero, Sr., 5-8; Courtney Kyle, Sr., 5-6; Masy Miller, So., 5-5.
Setters: Rita Herrera, Sr., 5-6; Justyne McMath, Jr., 5-5
Back row/libero: Candace Lyssy, Sr., 5-4
According to the coach...
Player most likely to end up as a coach: Sarah Stinnett
Player most likely to take up beach volleyball: Bree’Anna Lucero
Hardest hitter from another team: St. Pius’ Jeanne Fairchild — now playing for the University of New Mexico
Best setter from another team: Des Moines’ Chasity Russell — led Demons to 1A state titles in 2001, 2002, 2003
Favorite place for the Vixens to eat on the road: Subway or Sonic ("Even if we’re in Albuquerque,” McMath said).

Grady Bronchos
2007 postseason: Reached 1A first round (def. by Temple Baptist)
Coach: Missi Glover
Starting Rotation
Outside Hitters: Payton Provencio, Sr., 5-8; Skylar Starbuck, Jr., 5-8, Kaitlin Grau, So., 5-5, Mandy Rush, So., 5-5
Middle Blocker: Molly Rush, Jr., 5-9
Setter: Kait Glover, Jr., 5-4
Back row/liberos: Leanna Aguilar, So.; Joni Lampley, Fr.
According to the coach...
Player most likely to end up as a coach: Payton Provencio
Player most likely to take up beach volleyball: Mandy Rush
Hardest hitter from another team: Jennifer Bowman — played for Melrose and Grady from 1997 to 2000.
Best setter from another team: Fort Sumner’s Leslie Wood — senior on Vixens’ 2004 championship squad.
Favorite place for the Bronchos to eat on the road: The concession stand at Mosquero ("They honestly have the best food of any place we go,” Glover said).

Melrose Buffaloes
2007 postseason: None
Coach: Dana Lewis
Starting Rotation
Outside Hitters: Coren Followill, Jr., 5-9; Jordan Beard, Jr., 5-4; Amberlee Payne, Jr., 5-8
Middle Blocker: Lauren Riley, Fr., 5-10
Setter: Kelly Wagley, Jr., 5-6
Back row/libero: Annie Shaw, Sr., 5-3
According to the coach...
Player most likely to end up as a coach: Annie Shaw
Player most likely to take up beach volleyball: Kelly Wagley ("She loves the sport as much as anyone and if she had to do beach volleyball to keep playing, I think she’d do it,” Lewis said).
Hardest hitter from another team: Las Cruces’ Jasmine Hawkins
Best setter from another team: Las Cruces’ Desirae Ceniceros — like Hawkins, just graduated from Las Cruces High last year.
Favorite place for the Buffaloes to eat on the road: Arby’s in Tucumcari (“We’ve only had one road trip together, but they seemed pretty happy,” Lewis said).

Texico Wolverines
2007 postseason: Class 2A state champs
Coach: Kristen Scanlan
Starting Rotation
Outside Hitters: Jaryse Harris, Sr., 5-9; Victoria Richards, Jr., 5-9; Jordyn Cooper, Fr., 5-11
Middle Blockers: Katlin Luscombe, Jr., 5-8; Jaylyn Cooper, Fr., 5-11
Setter: Fallon Scanlan, So., 5-1
Back row/libero: Erin Scanlan, So., 5-1
According to the coach...
Player most likely to end up as a coach: Shay Anderson — a junior who will have time to practice being a coach because she’s out for the year with a torn ACL.
Player most likely to take up beach volleyball: Katlin Luscombe
Hardest hitter from another team: Roswell Chantale Riddle — a senior for the Coyotes this year.
Best setter from another team: Las Cruces’ Desirae Ceniceros ("Her court presence was just terrific,” Scanlan said).
Favorite place for the Wolverines to eat on the road: Texas Roadhouse in Albuquerque, where Texico celebrated last year’s title (“It’s kind of hard not to feel good after winning a state championship,” Scanlan said).
— Compiled by Eric Butler