Central teams kick off their seasons

Part two of our Hinsdale Central fall sports preview series examines the boys and girls cross country squads and the girls volleyball team.

Both running programs have experience on their side, with room for newcomers to make their mark, while girls volleyball is looking to take the next step in a recent run of postseason success. The final installment in the series will run in the Sept. 5 issue.

Boys cross country

First meet: Aug, 28 vs. Benet & Fenwick

Last year: 22nd in state, 7th in sectional, 4th in regional; Aden Bandukwala, state champion

Head coach: Jim Westphal

Seasons as head coach: 20

No. varsity team members: 9

Strengths: They are very cohesive group. They are a group that gets along really well. And I think that is definitely a strength that translates into running well throughout the season. There is some experience mixed with some inexperience, and I think that brings those guys together.

Areas for growth: Competing on varsity is new territory for a few of the guys. I think the key to our success is going to be pack running. Our one through five runners really have to be pretty close to each other and have to get stronger and move their way up. Really that core five, six guys coming together - one and two need to pull three along, and three and four need to pull five. Staying healthy and avoiding those stress reactions also is important. We had a nice group that trained June through August and were committed all the days we could meet.

Who to watch: Senior Cooper Revord and junior Michael Gamboa will be our leaders. Sophomore Henry Miller was one of our top freshmen last year, and we expect him to contribute at the varsity level.

Season outlook: The conference is deep again - that never changes. Downers Grove North is the elite team, and then there's everybody else. I think a lot depends how the summer went for those other teams. Our goal is to be top-three in the conference. If we can get fitter and stronger, we'll have a good chance to advance to the state meet down in Peoria.

Girls cross country

First meet: Aug, 29 vs. Downers South & Wheaton Warrenville South

Last year: 13th in state, 5th in sectional, 3rd in regional

Head coach: Mark McCabe

Seasons as head coach: 24

No. varsity team members: 10

Strengths: We're a young, talented group. This group is young and enthusiastic and extremely tight-knit. About half our girls had varsity experience last year, and the increase in the girls' development over the summer compared to last summer has been significant.

Areas for growth: It'll be a team like last year in that you're going to see greater improvement as the year goes on. On varsity we don't have one senior. We're young but we've got some good talent. Competing at this level is such a new experience for these girls, and we want to be at our best in the conference, sectional and state meets.

Who to watch: Junior Lily Hodneland. We'll see a big step up from her this year after she was a top-level track athlete in the spring. She's head and shoulders above where she was last year. Sophomore Ella Satre is another runner we're going to see some really good things from, along with freshman Marin Backus and sophomore Evelyn Skay.

Season outlook: Each day we want to be better than we were yesterday. We're seeing significant gains compared to a year ago. Downers Grove North will be the favorite, and York will be strong and we'll be right there in the mix. There's so much to be excited about and look forward to.

Girls volleyball

First game: Aug. 27 vs. Bolingbrook (V lost 20-25, 25-18, 20-25)

Last year: 24-12, regional champion, lost in sectional semifinal

Head coach: Kelly Stapleton

Seasons as head coach: four

No. varsity team members: 12

Strengths: We have pretty solid passing in the back row. Our setters both have varsity experience.

Areas for growth: We graduated seven last year, including both of our outside hitters, so that's a bigger change. Definitely our pins (outside and right side hitters) need to mature. We have two sophomores that are competing for starting spots right now that are inexperienced but both hit with a lot of power.

Who to watch: Senior libero Ava Young is a four-year starter and UIC commit ranked second in school history in career aces and third in career digs. Senior middle blocker Alice Joergenrud and junior setter Caitlin Leddy both have extensive varsity experience. Senior middle blocker Lauren Nieman suffered a knee injury during last season, so it'll be nice to have her back in the lineup. Senior outside hitter Caitlyn Peterson, senior setter Allie Garchar and junior outside hitter Nora Bergin gained some varsity experience last year.

Season outlook: We're definitely a contender for sectionals again. It's kind of anyone's game. I think we have a good chance of going really far. We're excited.