A massive turnout and a gym full of players who have plenty of versatility has Sequim High veteran head coach Jennie Webber Heilman enthused about her roster entering the 2024 season.

Sequim saw 46 players — 18 of them freshmen — vie for spots on varsity junior varsity and C teams.

“We have a lot of girls who can play a of of positions,” Webber Heilman said.

The starting lineup for this year’s varsity Wolves — featuring two seniors, eight juniors and three sophomores — will likely depend on what group of girls is playing well together at the time, the SHS coach said.

In early season practices, Webber Heilman said the team is already locked in with communicating well.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Emily Matthiessen / As teammates Sydney Clark, center, and Arianna Stovall, right, look on, Sequim’s Rose Gibson goes up for a hit in the Wolves’ match-up with North Kitsap in September 2023. All three players are back on a deep and versatile 2024 Wolves squad.

“They’re really loud, cooperating and very team-oriented they’re self-starters,” Webber Heilman said.

“We need to work on serve-receive and blocking … but it’s kind of nice that they’re [mostly] ready to go.”

Sequim lost a couple of key pieces from last year’s 11-6, district tourney-qualifying squad to graduation — the most significant piece being Jolene Vaara, a perennial all-Olympic Leaguer an one of the most dominant middle hitters in program history. Vaara the team in nearly all categories, including kills (276), blocks (59) and digs (167) in 2023.

The Wolves also have to replace the graduated Sydney Hegtvedt, who led team with 95.3% serving.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Sequim’s Sydney Clark (7) and other SHS players celebrate a point in the third set of a three-set sweep of Bremerton in Oct. 24. Clark led the team with 19.5 assists per game last season.

However, Sequim sees a bevy of returners back on the court this fall, led by all-Olympic League first team middle hitter Arianna Stovall. She led Sequim in aces (48) and was second on the team in kills (58) and blocks (29) on 2023, and was one of the Wolves’ top servers, connecting on 89.1% (230 of 258) of her serves.

Setter Sydney Clark, who led team with 353 assists (19.5 per game), is also back, and may share setting responsibilities with fellow junior returner Kenzie Berglund (23 kills, 65 digs, 10 assists in limited time). Clark was second on team with a 93.3% serve percentage, tied for third with 31 aces and added 77 digs in 2023.

Webber Heilman said she may use a 5-1 (one setter) or 6-2 (two setters) format and could switch mid-game — “keep the other teams guessing.”

Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell / As teammate Tiffany Lam, left, looks on, Sequim’s Ashton Reichner returns a Port Angeles serve as the Wolves take on — and beat — the Roughriders in an Olympic league match-up in October 2023. Both players are back on the 2024 team.

Other key returners include juniors Briana Palenik (tied third on team with 31 aces, third in kills with 57), Ashton Reichner (89% on serves) and Tiffany Lam (second on team with 120 digs as a libero). Also in the mix are returning sophomores Rose Gibson (13 kills, 17 digs, 92% serves) and Sophia Greenleaf, each of whom saw limited varsity time in 2023.

Most of the varsity team members play club competition on Olympic Peninsula-based Momentum One teams.

With the talent and the enthusiasm on the court, Webber Heilman said SHS sports fans should have a good time at home matches.

“I think our games are going to be fun to watch,” she said.

Sequim opened with a jamboree at home on Sept. 5 and a 3-0 loss against non-league 4A foe South Kitsap on Sept. 7.

The Wolves open Olympic League play Dept. 12 at Kingston and are at North Mason on Sept. 17. Sequim opens their league home campaign on Sept. 19 against Bainbridge, now a 2A school after several years in the 3A classification.

Fall sports preview: SHS volleyball

Head coach: Jennie Webber Heilman (32nd year)

2023 record: 10-4 in Olympic League, 1-2 at district tourney; 11-6 overall

Key returners: Arianna Stovall (sr.), Sydney Clark (jr.), Briana Palenik (jr.), Ashton Reichner (jr.), Kenzie Berglund (jr.), Tiffany Lam (jr.), Sophia Greenleaf (so.), Rose Gibson (so.), Destinie Bernard (sr.)

Key newcomers: Kendra Dodson (jr.), Ysabela Montero (jr.), Kassi Montero (so.), Madysyn Salazar (jr.)

Season schedule: Sept. 7 vs. South Kitsap (L, 0-3); Sept. 12 at Kingston; Sept. 17 at North Mason; Sept. 19 vs. Bainbridge; Sept. 24 at Olympic; Sept. 26 vs. Port Angeles; Oct. 1 vs. North Kitsap; Oct. 3 at Bremerton; Oct. 8 vs. Kingston; Oct. 10 vs. North Mason; Oct. 15 at Bainbridge; Oct. 17 vs. Olympic; Oct. 22 at Port Angeles; Oct. 24 at North Kitsap; Oct. 29 vs. Bremerton.