State finalist Chateaugay in rebuilding mode

Every team must rebuild.

For the past three seasons, the Chateaugay volleyball team kept rebuilding a state powerhouse.

But this season, the Bulldogs will have to grow and gel quickly if they want to return to the state volleyball semifinals in Glens Falls.

"Our big hitters have graduated, but we are in the gym working hard," said head coach Chris Reynolds, whose 2009 team fell to eventual state champion T.S. Edison in a tiebreaker game last fall in Glens Falls. "We will be improving week by week and hope to be competitive in every game."

After three straight trips to the state semifinals, Reynolds knows his team will be targeted by opponents despite having holes throughout the lineup.

And now the holes must be filled quickly.

The biggest departure the Bulldogs must replace is two-time Northern Athletic Conference East Division Most Valuable Player Annie Smith, who has taken her game to SUNY Potsdam. Smith, who had started every match for Chateaugay since her freshman year, led the Bulldogs in all offensive categories except sets in the last three seasons.

Smith was also named to the state All-Tournament team for the past two seasons.

But the replacing doesn't stop with Smith.

Fellow striker Cindy Harrigan, a first team All-Northern selection for two straight seasons, has also graduated and did everything for the Bulldogs.

Harrigan was first on the team in blocks, second in both kills and assists, and third in points.

Harrigan and setter Erika LaBombard will leave a major hole at the net for the hitters this season. LaBombard was second in Section 10 in assists as the Bulldogs once again had the best offense in the NAC.

Three seniors will look to provide Reynolds with the experience to help push along the newcomers. Tri-captains Amanda Woodward (setter), Kiersten Zeldenrust (libero) and Allison Soulier (outside hitter) saw some time last year for the Bulldogs.

Mikaela Patnode (setter), Megan Barnes (outside hitter) and Katelyn Legacy (outside hitter) make up the junior class, while Megan Wood (defense), Caroline Stumpf (hitter/defense) and Desiree Stumpf (hitter/defense) make the jump to the varsity squad as sophomores.

Not only will the rest of Section 10 be gunning for Chateaugay, but now Section 7 has moved volleyball to the fall, giving them a shot to play for the state title with other sections in New York. Section 10 made the move to fall in the 2006 season.

For the second straight season, 12 teams will vie for two regular season division titles (East and West) and three Section 10 titles (Class B, C, D) over the next two months.

The East Division consists of Chateaugay, Brushton-Moira, Malone, Massena, Salmon River and Tupper Lake, while Canton, Edwards-Knox, Gouverneur, Madrid-Waddington, Ogdensburg and Potsdam will compete in the West Division.

Chateaugay and OFA both had perfect 10-0 records in their divisions and the only local team to beat the Blue Devils was Chateaugay, which won a regular-season contest against OFA and also beat the Blue Devils in the Section 10 overall championship game.

Massena may receive a boost from the return of former coach Mary Arcadi.