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Last year, that streak ended when Broadneck defeated Wootton in the state final. Is the county poised for a comeback, or is it in for another year without a title?

"The thing that I keep reminding people is that [before 2003] we went almost a decade without a state championship," Magruder coach Scott Zanni said. "Last year was not a big deal. In fact, the county is wide open again this year."

Several teams have a shot at returning to county to the top of the state volleyball scene, including Poolesville, which returns 11 players to a squad that lost just once a year ago. Magruder and Gaithersburg are seasoned and playoff-tested, while Blake, not so long ago an also-ran in the county, is emerging as a team that has a chance to be in the state playoffs. A year ago, the Bengals upset Magruder to make it to the 4A West Region Final.

"We are a team that does not get a lot of recognition, but we were right there," Blake coach Leigh Tinsley said. "It really feels like there are a lot of teams that have a chance this year."

That parity might mean some unexpected losses for the top teams, but it might also mean that by the time the state finals roll around, a battle-tested squad will represent the county.

"You are going to see the usual suspects," Zanni said. "There are a lot of question marks surrounding these teams but not a lot of change. We all have to fight it out and see who is still standing."

One team that has made it through the regional playoffs the last two years is Bethesda-Chevy Chase. Yet in each season, the Barons have come up short of a berth in the state final, losing in the semis. With several returning players who have played integral roles in that run, they may be ready to make the jump to the next level.

"We have seven seniors returning this year and four of them are starters," B-CC coach Michelle Clise said. "We have a lot of experience playing together as a team and our net play should be one of our biggest strengths."

Coming back for the Barons are seniors Rosie Eck, Lee Geiser, Maddy Carratero and Nancy Mackuch, all of whom were on the floor on the way to a regional title last year. Their leadership will be counted on if B-CC is to fulfill its goals.

"Our goal is to win the region for the third straight year, and get to the state championship this year and compete," Clise said.

The defending 4A West Region champion is Wootton, but graduation has wreaked havoc on the roster. Only junior setter Jennifer Chen played a pivotal role on last year's team, which reached the state finals.

"We lost four seniors that were over 5-foot-10," coach Mary Malinauskas said. "We didn't replace them height-wise or experience- wise, so we are going to start from scratch and make a go of it."

This year, Chen will set to junior hitter Allison Wynant, and a new face to the varsity, junior middle hitter Kassandra Reyes. The task will be not to compare this year to last year, but to enjoy the journey of the season.

"It's going to be a hard-working year," Malinauskas said. "We have the enthusiasm of youth and the hunger and willingness to learn."

At Churchill, coach Amanda Cook is optimistic that her returning players will be able to improve on last season, when the Bulldogs made it to a regional quarterfinal. Senior Alex Vassila will be in the middle of the front line, while setter Erica Chao will run the floor. Amy Kaufmann and Christy Tung will also be counted on for offense and defense.

"We're creating chemistry on the court, but the experience of our team should be one of our strengths," Cook said.

Magruder, on the other hand, has been working hard to exorcise some demons. In the past two years, the Colonels have had the top seed in the 4A West Region playoffs, only to lose in the regional semifinals.

"We've taken some bad losses over the last couple of years and I am still irritated about it," Zanni said. "I think that the girls have sort of seen that in practice. I am a little louder this year."

Though the Colonels graduated leading hitter Alex Coleman, they have middle hitter Corrie Smoot returning, as well as Andrea Fort, who will move to libero this year. Michelle Fowle steps in to play outside hitter.

"We are a little more balanced than we have been in the recent past," Zanni said. "I don't know if we have that go-to player that will take 50 swings at the ball, but we have a lot of kids that can hit it. We're deeper."

Quince Orchard suffered its biggest loss on the sidelines, as coach Karen Jones, who led the team to a state title in 2003, retired. In her place comes Stacy Bureau, who inherits senior libero Jessica Romero and sophomore setter Christina Garcia.

The players at Walter Johnson will have a nomadic existence this fall, playing "home" matches at Tilden Middle School's gym while their school undergoes renovation. Yet, the Wildcats will have Bill Morris on the sidelines for a 17th year, and junior outside hitter Anna Elder should provide offense for a squad that took a leap forward in 2007.

Richard Montgomery finds itself in a different situation this year. Last year, the Rockets had experienced setters, but young hitters at the net. This year, it is the reverse. Seniors Nicole Prentice (5-foot-11) and Michelle Lewis (5-9) have the size to control the net, but senior setter Julia Duke leads an inexperienced setting crew.

"We might have to go with a group of setters," Richard Montgomery coach Elmer Matlock said. "Our strength is going to be hitting and defense, but that might change as the season goes on. We want to exceed what we did last year."

In the private school realm, Holton-Arms and Stone Ridge will square off against competition in the Independent School League. The Panthers dropped to the A division a year ago, and to get back to the AA division, they will have to get more club players into their ranks. Anna Cavolowsky, their leading hitter, is a full-time player who may usher in that change.

The Gators made the move up to the AA division thanks to the effort of hitter Elissa Goeke, who ushered in the era of the club volleyball player at Stone Ridge. Now that she has graduated, the Gators will have to look to some other sources for offense. Senior Justine Desmond will make the move from libero to outside hitter this season, to set up the middle hitters.

"She's far and away our best passer, which will be a key on a team that lost three six-footers and our setter last year," Stone Ridge coach Scott Fifield said. "We are going to have to work on our offensive power."

Of the team's top hitters, only junior Kate Cole returns.

"We moved from the middle of the pack to a solid AA team last year," Fifield said. "My goal is we retain that status."

B-CC Barons

Head coach: Michelle Clise, 5th year

Last year's record: 14-3

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Lee Geiser (Sr., S), Rosie Eck (Sr., OH), Nancy Makuch (Sr., OH), Maddy Carretero (Sr., OH)

Churchill Bulldogs

Head coach: Amanda Cook, 4th year

Last year's record: 6-9

Last state title: none

Players to watch: Amy Kaufmann (Sr., S), Alex Vassila (Sr., MH), Kristy Tung (Sr., OH)

Holton-Arms Panthers

Head coach: Francis Cornejo, 3rd year

League Affiliation: Independent Schools League

Last year's record: N/A

Players to watch: Anna Cavolowsky (Sr., OH), Sophia Corrigan (Sr., OH), Juju Obioha (Jr., OH)

Magruder Colonels

Head coach: Scott Zanni, 18th year

Last year's record: 20-2

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Allison Musser (Sr., OH), Corrie Smoot (Sr., MH)

Quince Orchard Cougars

Head coach: Stacy Bureau, 1st year

Last year's record: 8-6

Last state title: 2003 (1st)

Players to watch: Jessica Romero (Sr., L), Cristina Garcia (Soph., S)

Richard Montgomery Rockets

Head coach: Elmer Matlock, 22nd year

Last year's record: 5-14

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Michelle Lewis (Sr., OH), Nicole Prentice (Sr., OH), Julia Duke (Sr., S)

Stone Ridge Gators

Head coach: Scott Fifield, 5th year

League Affiliation: Independent Schools League

Last year's record: 13-7

Players to watch: Justine Desmond (Sr., OH/libero), Stephane Guerrier (Jr., DS), Christine King (Soph., OH)

Walter Johnson Wildcats

Head coach: Bill Morris, 17th year

Last year's record: 10-4

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Anna Elder (Jr., OH)

Wootton Patriots

Head coach: Mary Malinauskas, 3rd year

Last year's record: 14-5

Last state title: 1989 (7th)

Players to watch: Jennifer Chen (Jr., S), Allison Wynant (Jr., OH), Kassandra Reyes (Jr., OH)