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Two years ago, North Branch made it all the way to the Class A State Finals before losing a five-set heartbreaker to eventual State Champion, Livonia Churchill.

Last season, the first in Michigan where volleyball was played as a fall sport, North Branch won ten tournaments during the regular season, but came up short once again in the state playoffs.

This year, a move back down to Class B has the Broncos and coach Jim Fish thinking about another trip to the State Finals, and according to Fish, anything less than that would just be disappointing.

"We want to be the last team standing at the end of the season," Fish said. "Those other tournament wins were nice, but this year, we want to win the last one. We have experience this year in our seniors and we have high goals for the season.

"We want to win it all (in 2008)."

Eclipsing the achievements of the 2007 North Branch team will not be an easy task for the 2008 squad. Last year, the Lady Broncos ran over the competition to a 72-2 record, including a perfect 7-0 record in the Tri-Valley East and a fourth straight conference title. They finished the regular season ranked No.1 in the state in Class A and climbed as high as No. 48 in national volleyball rankings.

So the bar has been raised for the Broncos, but Fish says his team is up to the task.

"We have a brutal schedule this season," Fish said. "But those challenges only make us better and prepare us for the state tournament.

"We have raised the bar and we have a long season to go."

One of the eight seniors on the Broncos Fish will be looking to for leadership will be setter and right side hitter, Olivia Kohler. The 5-5 Kohler is a four-year starter and was named First Team All-State in Class A last season. She was only one of three volleyball players from the state of Michigan to be named to the All-American team by Prepvolleyball.com. Kohler, who has already committed to play collegiately at Grand Valley State University, has also been named First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region in each of the past two seasons.

Fish has two other seniors who were contributing players on the state finalist team of two years ago. Senior middle hitter Taylor Miner had 282 kills a year ago and was named Honorable Mention in Class A at the conclusion of the season. Senior outside hitter Lauren Strich had 368 kills in 2007 and was named First-Team All-Conference and All-Region after her junior season. Other seniors Fish will be looking to for leadership include Caryn Rogers and Samantha Gilbreath, a 6-2 middle hitter who was a three-year starter at Imlay City before transferring to North Branch for her senior season.

Jordan Fish and Catherine Brusie are two sophomores who already start for the Broncos. Both players, according to their coach, are already garnering attention from Division I scouts, which is not surprising when you have been as successful as the Broncos at putting players in the college game.

Every year for the past four years, including last season, North Branch has had at least girl move on to the next level, and last year was no exception. Last season's team leader in kills, Jessica Curtis has taken her game to Aquinas College.

So it would appear that North Branch has all the tools to accomplish their goals of the 2008 season.

"I look for our conference to be very competitive this season," Fish said. "Frankenmuth, Caro and Garber should all be good. We are 208-11-3 over the past three seasons with a 28-0 record in the Tri-Valley East over the past four.

"With a wealth of experience, the Broncos are looking to make a deep run in the Class B state playoffs."

Andrew Selich is Sports Editor at The County Press. He can be reached at (810) 664-0811 ext. 8124 or andrew.selich--lapeergroup.com.

North Branch volleyball 2008 schedule
08/23/08 -- Michigan Elite Tournament 9:00AM
08/26/08 -- East Kentwood 3:30PM
08/29/08 -- Frankenmuth Invite 8:30AM
09/06/08 -- Grosse Pointe South
09/10/08 Freeland, Nouvel, New Lothrop
09/13/08 -- Flushing Invite 09/17/08 -- Millington High School 7:30PM
09/24/08 Caro High School 7:30PM
09/27/08 -- Portage Northern 8:00AM
10/01/08 -- Birch Run High School 6:00PM
10/11/08 -- East Kentwood Inv. 8:30PM
10/14/08 -- Frankenmuth High School 7:00PM
10/18/08 -- Ann Arbor Pioneer Tournament 8:30PM
10/22/08 -- Garber High School 6:00PM
10/29/08 -- Bridgeport High School 6:00PM
11/01/08 -- TVC Tournament