The Enumclaw volleyball team returns to the floor with a team that will surprise some squads.

The Hornets have consistently been a well coached and top competitor in the regular season and post season, and this year will be no different.

Coach Jackie Carel said, “Our team, this year, consists of four returning players, they are all seniors and only one was a starter as a junior. We have three juniors, and five sophomores.”

Carol said her team is young, energetic and hard working, “We do lack experience, but not desire and I’m hoping that we will surprise some teams by the season’s end. I am excited about the potential of our sophomores and the leadership of our seniors.”

The Hornets lost eight seniors off the 2015 state tournament team. This year the team moves to the 4A North Puget Sound League, Olympic Division.

“I believe that this year’s team will be the true definition of team as we need to pull together and improve with every practice and competition,” Carel said.

The Hornets open the season at White River Tuesday, past the print edition deadline. Check the website, www.courierherald.com for results.

Enumclaw host Puyallup 7:15 p.m. at home Thursday.

Cross Country

The Hornet cross country team will be running up to the North Puget Sound League 4A this season and the results will likely be the same – top performances in the regular season and post season.

Tod Witzel, fourth-year coach of the girls team, said he is excited about the team competing in the NPSL.

“The realignment will offer new opportunities for our athletes to test themselves and grow as individuals, which is perhaps the most important long-term impact of sport no matter the competitive level,” Witzel wrote in an email.

Witzel said the Hornets lost some key runners to graduation including Sam Engebretsen and Aleea Gwerder, but there are talented girls stepping into the roles.

Some of the key runners this season include junior Hunter Storm, whom Witzel wrote was the top runner from last year’s squad that qualified for the Class 3A state meet. Also returning from last season’s varsity squad are senior Bryn Zeman-Witzel, junior Emmie Neu and sophomore Payton Roberson.”

Witzel also wrote other runners who will be at the top are seniors Gaby Corona and Chayce Wieman; juniors Seley Nemish and Alexandra Puzon; sophomores Anna Bursch, Piper Layman and Vanessa Sanders and freshmen Taelyn Bailey, Eva Burton, Martha McLaughlin, Natasha Puzon and Michaela Schulz.”

The Hornet girls and boys teams first scheduled meet is Sept. 10 in the Ellensburg Invitational and the teams will travel to Seaside, Ore., Sept. 17 for the 3-Course Challenge.

Enumclaw’s home course is Nolte State Park or Deep Lake.

Boys Golf

The Hornets boys and girls golf team are starting a new season and the winning ways will continue.

Enumclaw has been one of the top teams in the region and state for many years, which is a credit to both the golfers and coaching staff.

Boys coach Bob Kilmer, who has racked up 22 years in the coaching ranks, wrote of last season. “The Hornet boys golf team continued their winning tradition at the State 3A State Golf Tournament by bringing home a third place state trophy from the Creek at Qualchan in Spokane. It’s the 25th top 10 finish for the Enumclaw boys golf program since 1976, including a state championship in 1982.

Kilmer wrote there are seven returning seniors and letter winners.

The senior captains are Jared Beals, Kidder McKee and Andrew Littman. Senior Holden Anderson returns with juniors Matt Hodgman, Mark Porter and Riley Hebrank.

Girls Golf

On the girls side of the course, four-year coach Steve Murphy wrote there are six seniors and letter winners returning.

Senior captain Lexi Dechon, who was a state qualifier next year, returns with seniors Rylie McCann, Maddison Gates and Emilee Hauswirth. Also returning are two sophomores, Taylor Anglin and Kennedy VanHoof.

Murphy wrote the 2015 team, “was extremely young (no seniors) and inexperienced last season, but worked hard to improve and was able to complete the season with a 7-7 record.

This season expect the Hornet girls to be a force on the golf course.

Swim and Dive

The Hornet girls team returns to the pool with a solid core of 11 returning swimmers and eight new athletes.

Coach Becky Pratt said she is excited about competing in the 4A NPSL and expects to see, “faster time standards in place for (the) athletes to qualify for post season meets. The ladies are using these challenges as motivation to work even harder at their events. Spirits are high.”

Pratt said record holding diver, “Abbie Jo Carlson, a junior returns to the diving board with intentions of placing well at the state meet in November. We are lucky to have returning dive coach Steve Bannerot who instills confidence and grace while fine tuning the skills to implement the numerous dives required to compete.”

Pratt added that, “Emilie Weyer and Elise Pratt competed at state last year and are continuing to improve for an exciting season which should lead them to representing Enumclaw post season this year.”

“Coach Nicole Wagner keeps things exciting with her enthusiasm for swimming,” Pratt said. “Her knowledge and charisma create a fun environment to teach and coach swimming.”

Enumclaw travels to Thomas Jefferson for the first scheduled meet at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 15.