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Two thousand-six.

That is the last year a Montgomery County team won a state girls volleyball championship at the state's highest classification. But that has not been due to a lack of prime opportunities.

In 2007, Wootton advanced to the title match. In the past two seasons, Magruder was a state semifinalist and runner-up, respectively. This fall, the county's Class 4A field is as wide open as ever.

"If you go back and look at the last couple of years, at the beginning of the year, people said it was wide open," Magruder head coach Scott Zanni said. "Then a team ended up winning [most of the matches]. This year may end up a little different."

Sherwood, guided by 25-year-old, up-and-coming coach Brian McCarty, is a trendy pick to step up and vie for the 4A West Region title this fall. Despite the relaxed nature of the Montgomery County summer league, the 2006 state champions took a small step by capturing the title in July. The Warriors mesh underclass talent with senior leadership in the starting lineup.

"None of the girls here were in school when the state championship happened," McCarty said. "They see the banner, so they know that it happened, but we haven't really talked about it. I just see them playing better volleyball every day."

After posting the best record in school history a season ago (24-1), Magruder is in reloading mode. Keeping their streak of seven consecutive 20-victory seasons alive will depend on how the young players develop.

"Nobody cares how old you are," Zanni said.

Gaithersburg, whose only setbacks were to the Colonels last fall, lost a ton of talent and leadership to graduation. If hitters Erika Steagall and Kirby Buttry and libero Mackenzie Cockerill can find consistency, it could be a contender.

Walter Johnson, the season's surprise a year ago with an 8-0 start, should be solid again. Wootton and Paint Branch suffered massive graduation losses, but have enough pieces to remain competitive. Also keep an eye on Bethesda-Chevy Chase, which has a solid nucleus of talent after a rebuilding campaign.

In 3A, state semifinalist Damascus may take a step back with the graduation of a solid senior class, but do not count out a return trip to College Park if the young talent gels for former junior varsity coach Becky Ronquillo. Blake could also be in the mix for the regional crown.

The Class 1A state champion two seasons ago, Poolesville should be strong again after a rebuilding season — relatively speaking — a year ago. After reaching the Class 2A West Region final, every key contributor is back with the exception of All-Gazette setter Kelly Rosenberg.

"There's just some underlying feeling I have about them," DuVall said. "It's something. I don't know what to call it, but I feel good."

A stellar senior class headlines Karen Kart's perennially high-quality Good Counsel program. The top-ranked Falcons should have no trouble winning the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference for the fifth consecutive year and extending their 76-match in-conference winning streak through the end of 2010.

kzakour@gazette.net

Fast facts

Players to watch: Alicia Russo, Meredith Powers

Outlook: "I feel that we are definite contenders for the region, if not the state, and we look forward to a very competitive season." — coach Beth Radovsky

Players to watch: Nika Lilley, Kathlyn Skolnik

Outlook: "Our goal for 2010 is to develop into a solid volleyball program. We are a very young squad with a lot of potential." — coach Chris Klein

Players to watch: Franchesca Kuhney, Meagan Lagerlef

Outlook: "Every year I'd like to win and get to at least .500. The nice thing about 3A is, it is more wide open. My expectations can be a little bit higher." — coach Leigh Tinsley

Players to watch: Kristie Moy, Clara Sze

Outlook: "We are a young team this season with only four returning players. This is the first season that I have put a freshman on varsity." — coach Amanda Mafinejad

Players to watch: Anna Williams, Susan Yang

Outlook: "I think realistically we are looking to go. 500. ... We have five returning players with only three being seniors." — coach Terri Tippett

Players to watch: Autumn Jenkins, Natalie Bonturi

Outlook: "We graduated a whole lot, so I need everyone to contribute. Our goal is to get back to states." — coach Becky Ronquillo

Players to watch: Giovanna Sanchez, Ali Vallespin

Outlook: "My team is old in the sense that it's all juniors and seniors, but half-new in the sense that many of them are coming up from junior varsity." — coach Emily Hallam

Players to watch: Kirby Buttry, Mackenzie Cockerill

Outlook: "We are not flying under the radar because I don't think the radar is even detecting us. We have to be good by the end of October." — coach Michele Staymates

Players to watch: Frankie Emmanuele, Maeve Drummey

Outlook: "The team is really focused on competing with Flint Hill after losing to them. Inconsistency should not be a problem like the beginning of last year." — coach Karen Kart

Players to watch: Malaika Ismail, Rachel Clayton

Outlook: "With six seniors ... we believe we can be very competitive in our A Division ISL League." — coach Francis Cornejo

Players to watch: Taylor Gallart, Gyasi Gomez

Outlook: "We finished third in the WCAC last year and believe we can be in the top three or four teams again this year." — coach Dave Geiser

Players to watch: Eleanor Janhunen, Jennie Zelenko

Outlook: "I think this year we may start out a little slower than last year, but I am thinking we may be a stronger team at the end of the year." — coach Bill Morris

Players to watch: Sarah Park, Yaa Ofori

Outlook: "Fairly young this year, so we probably won't be contending for the regional title. We expect some great moments, however." — coach Wanda Hsiung

Players to watch: Molly Hirrlinger, Xiaoyi Li

Outlook: "We may not be able to do some of the things offensively we have in the past, but we have good volleyball players." — coach Scott Zanni

Players to watch: Jackie Nelligan, Eve Kronzek

Outlook: "The goals are to continue to improve as a team and to advance beyond the first round of the regional playoffs." — coach Elmer Matlock

Players to watch: Rachel Townsend, Emily Forst

Outlook: "We are a pretty young team, our goals this season are to always play our game, and always do our best, whether it is in practice or a game." — coach Stephanie Withers

Players to watch: Natalie Hessler, Abbey Sauber

Outlook: "We've got a lot of experience on our side this year, and we're looking to put it all together ... and reach to at least a two-to-three game improvement over last season." — coach Ray Trail

Players to watch: Lisa Schell, Teynia Shepherd

Outlook: "I lost a very strong group of kids last year, so it will probably be a rebuilding year." — coach Nicole Shields

Players to watch: Paige Sekerak, Sarah Kenneweg

Outlook: "If the girls can learn how to play together, we have a chance to become a really good team and surprise people. ... I am going to have a fun job this year." — coach Fran DuVall

Players to watch: Kayla Johnson, Sara Trach

Outlook: "We're a pretty young team. ... This is kind of a building year for me, with good-looking juniors and sophomores. They'll get up to speed." — coach Cynthia Hollies

Players to watch: Chloe Verroye, Emma Levine

Outlook: "We are moving in the right direction, but it's still a building process. This year, we would like to play solid and consistent ball." — coach Noel Okoye

Players to watch: Maddie Moyer, Alex Holston

Outlook: "We are still very young, but this is the best opportunity we've had since I've been here to win. After a year under their belt, I think we are ready." — coach Brian McCarty

Players to watch: Brytni Crist, Whytni Crist

Outlook: "I'm excited to see the growth and development of these players put into action throughout this season." — coach Alexis Reed

Players to watch: Kayla Van Scoy, Lillian Anderson

Outlook: "The goals and expectations for 2010 are for us to compete for the Independent School League A division." — coach Jason Monjes

Players to watch: Millie Pryphun, Andrea Falcon

Outlook: "We definitely have an opportunity down in 3A to be competitive, but I don't want to get lazy. We are focusing on improving." — coach Jody Tyler

Players to watch: Shali Zhang, Yanna De Castro

Outlook: "We are still trying to build a program and catch up with the other schools. We got a lot of new girls." — coach Alex Theoharis

Players to watch: Ana Ribeiro, Alex Rosenthal

Outlook: "I have high expectations. ... We have a new setter and libero, which makes us a very well-rounded team." — coach Meryl Wagman

Players to watch: Abby Hsiung, Katherine Chen

Outlook: "We lost a lot with Jenn Chen graduating, but I don't see this as a rebuilding more than in any other year. Every year, you always have new kids." — coach Mary Malinauskas