A preseason prospectus usually offers little more than a snapshot of a squad. This year, however, the coaches' surveys scream one message loud and clear:

Small-school volleyball is as strong as ever in Northeast Iowa.

"It's gonna be very strong this year in our area," said Dike-New Hartford's Diane Harms, 2008's Class 2A coach of the year.

Where better to start than with Harms' Wolverines? Dike-New Hartford has designs on another deep postseason run, thanks to its treasure trove of talent. Senior outside hitter Hannah Willms, an Iowa State recruit, headlines that group. Willms, an all-tournament team captain last season, averaged 4.3 kills per game and served at 90.4 percent a year ago.

Despite taking a hit due to graduation, the Wolverines return six other key letterwinners. Now, they hope to scale one final, elusive postseason hurdle. Last November, Dike-NH lost in the state finals to Western Christian in three games.

"We're very happy with where we're at this year," said Harms. "The kids are competing very hard for positions that people vacated.

"I think we'll be extremely competitive - I'm just not real sure who we'll have on the floor just yet."

But rest assured, Willms, a 6-footer who put on a show in Cedar Rapids late last season, wants to go out with a state title trophy in tow.

"It's definitely something that would make her senior year that much more memorable," noted Harms.

Elsewhere in the North Iowa Cedar League, AGWSR of Ackley hopes to build off last year's success, which resulted in 37 wins and a state finals appearance. The Cougars return just three letterwinners, though one of them is honorable mention all-state setter Kelsey Enslin.

Wapsie Valley has been bumped up to the 2A ranks this year by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Despite that fact, the Warriors, who went 34-2 a year ago and won state titles in 2006-07, can never be counted out.

Aplington-Parkersburg, Grundy Center, Osage and Hudson are also mentioned as potential darkhorses locally.

In Class 1A, any list of title contenders must begin by mentioning the Tripoli Panthers. A year ago, Will Baumann guided that tradition-rich program to a 29-11 record and yet another state title.

"That's always our goal at the beginning of the year," Baumann said of the state championship. "I don't know that I've been here and that hasn't been a goal."

In 2009, the Panthers return five starters, including all-state sophomore middle blocker Megan Gilbert, as well as their libero.

"I think we have the capability," added Baumann. "We'll just have to see what materializes as the year goes on."

Don Bosco, which beat Tripoli twice last season, returns eight letterwinners, including Abby Breitbach and Allison Rottinghaus, who were first-team and second-team all-staters, respectively. "My girls have a lot of confidence and are ready," noted 11th-year Dons coach Kerry Merrifield.

In Class 3A's Northeast Iowa Conference, Waverly-Shell Rock and Charles City are widely viewed as the conference's top title contenders.

The Go-Hawks, 40-6 regional finalists a year ago, have popped up on a few preseason top-10 lists. Charles City, which boasts a roster with 10 seniors, is confident it can work its way into the statewide rankings for a second straight season.

"Our upperclassmen have played a lot of important varsity matches and club tournaments," said Comets coach Matthew Johnson, "and have a lot of experience in big games."

When it's all said and done, a convoy of Northeast Iowa clubs could be headed to Cedar Rapids for the state tournament Nov. 11-14.

"I definitely think we could see several down there," said Dike-NH's Harms. "We could be very well-represented again."

Capsules

AGWSR COUGARS

HEAD COACH: Adam Bosch

2008 RECORD: 37-5 overall, 6-0 NICL

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (3): Kelsey Enslin, s; Megan Pieters, mb; Cathy Koch, s.

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Grundy Center Quad, 6 p.m.

Sept. 3 - Denver, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 8 - West Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 10 - at South Hardin, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Aplington-Parkersburg Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - BCLUW, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 - at North Butler, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 19 - at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 29 - at Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 1 - vs. Wapsie Valley at Wartburg, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at NU High Tournament, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - East Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 - at Hudson Tournament, 9 a.m.

Oct. 13 - at Grundy Center, 7:30 p.m.

CHARLES CITY COMETS

HEAD COACH: Matthew Johnson

2008 RECORD: 31-9 overall, 5-1 NEIC

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (5): Maddie Forsyth, rs; Sarah Eggena, ls; Shelby Lewis, ls; Kallie Hoeft, libero; Makaila Schlader, mh.

Schedule

Sept. 3 - at Waterloo West, 5 p.m.

Sept. 5 - at Marshalltown Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 8 - Oelwein, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 10 - vs. Mason City, Clear Lake, 5 p.m.

Sept. 15 - at Waukon, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 22 - New Hampton, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 26 - at Cedar Falls Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 29 - at Decorah, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 1 - Crestwood, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at NU High Tournament, 9 a.m.

Oct. 10 - at Hampton-Dumont Tournament, 9 a.m.

Oct. 13 - at Waverly-Shell Rock, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 15 - at North Butler, 6 p.m.

Oct. 17 - NEIC Tournament, at Charles City, 9 a.m.

DECORAH VIKINGS

HEAD COACH: Dale Wilharm

2008 RECORD: 16-19 overall, 4-2 NEIC

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (5): Rachel Burras, oh; Kayla Kregel, mb; Karli Ramstad, mh; Lainey Erion, utility; Taisha Thorton, s

Schedule

Aug. 27 - at Kee High, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 1 - Saint Ansgar, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 8 - at Winona (Minn.), 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Osage, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - at Waverly-Shell Rock, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 22 - Waukon, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 26 - Decorah Tournament, 8:30 a.m.

Sept. 29 - Charles City, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at Western Dubuque, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - at Crestwood, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 8 - at New Hampton, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 - at Mason City, 9 a.m.

Oct. 13 - Oelwein, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 17 - at Charles City Tournament, 9 a.m.

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD WOLVERINES

HEAD COACH: Diane Harms

2008 RECORD: 38-5

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (7): Hannah Willms, oh; Meaghan Daley, ds; Brooke Becker, ds; Ashtyn Dove, oh; Kaity Brouwer, mh; McKaila Bruns, oh; Lacey Paar, ds.

Schedule

Sept. 3 - at West Marshall, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 5 - at Vinton-Shellsburg Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 8 - NU High, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 10 - at Denver, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Osage Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - Hudson, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 - at Wapsie Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 - at Cedar Falls Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 29 - Jesup, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at Waterloo Columbus Tournament, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - Aplington-Parkersburg, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 - at Cedar Rapids Jefferson Tournament, 8:30 a.m.

Oct. 13 - at Union, La Porte City, 7:30 p.m.

DON BOSCO DONS

HEAD COACH: Kerry Merriffield

2008 RECORD: 32-5 overall, 9-0 Iowa Star

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (8): Abby Breitbach, Allison Rottinghaus, Audrey Rottinghaus, Abbie Schares, Annie Weber, Alaina Rigdon, Katie Horrigan, Jennifer Ortner.

Schedule

Sept. 1 - Meskwaki, 6 p.m.

Sept. 5 - at New Hampton, 9 a.m.

Sept. 10 - at Clarksville, 6 p.m.

Sept. 12 -at Jesup Invitational, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - Tripoli, 6 p.m.

Sept. 17 - at North Tama, 6 p.m.

Sept. 19 - at Waterloo West, 9 a.m.

Sept. 22 - GMG, 6 p.m.

Sept. 24 - Walnut Ridge, 6 p.m.

Sept. 29 - N.E. Hamilton, 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 - at CAL, 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at Columbus, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - at Janesville, 6 p.m.

Oct. 8 - Dunkerton, 6 p.m.

DUNKERTON RAIDERS

HEAD COACH: Diane Kimball

2008 RECORD: 3-6 Iowa Star

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (10): April Kimball, oh; Courtney Mills, s; Kayla Stafford, libero; Ashley Duncan, mh; Aly Schultz, mh; Tana Marquardt, mh; Amanda de Necei, oh; Ashlea Malek, na; Katrina Baker, s.

Schedule

Aug. 27 - at Meskwaki, 6 p.m.

Sept. 1 - at Grundy Center, 6 p.m.

Sept. 8 - GMG, 6 p.m.

Sept. 10 - CAL, 6 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Jesup Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - at N.E. Hamilton, 6 p.m.

Sept. 17 - Janesville, 6 p.m.

Sept. 22 - Waterloo Christian, 6 p.m.

Sept. 24 - at Clarksville, 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 - Dunkerton Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 29 - at North Tama, 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 - Tripoli, 6 p.m.

Oct. 8 - at Don Bosco, 6 p.m.

Oct. 15 - at Jesup, 6 p.m.

GRUNDY CENTER SPARTANS

HEAD COACH: Darwin Sents

2008 RECORD: 22-18

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (6): Jenn Simms, Abby Graves, Meghan Krausman, Sara Frish, Amanda Stefl, Morgan Wical.

Schedule

Sept. 1 - Spartan Invite, 6 p.m.

Sept. 3 - Wapsie Valley, 6 p.m.

Sept. 8 - at Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 6 p.m.

Sept. 10 - East Marshall, 6 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Aplington-Parkersburg Invite, 9 a.m.

Sept. 19 - at Marion Invite, 9 a.m.

Sept. 22 - at West Marshall, 6 p.m.

Sept. 24 - at NU High, 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 - at Cedar Falls Invite, 9 a.m.

Sept. 29 - South Hardin, 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at NU High Invite, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - at BCLUW, 6 p.m.

Oct. 10 - at Oskaloosa Invite, 8:30 a.m.

Oct. 13 - AGWSR, 6 p.m.

HUDSON PIRATES

HEAD COACH: Kevin Wurzer

2008 RECORD: 20-15 overall

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (8): Madison Jones, Amanda Wubben, Hilary Keller, Hanna Melby, Jenna Shirley, Callie Bergen, Jodi Sorenson, Sarah Koch.

Schedule

Aug. 27 - at Nashua-Plainfield, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 1 - at Grundy Center, 6 p.m.

Sept. 5 - at BCLUW of Conrad Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 8 - at Wapsie Valley, 6 p.m.

Sep. 10 - Jesup, 6 p.m.

Sept. 15 - at Dike-New Hartford, 6 p.m.

Sept. 17 - East Marshall, 6 p.m.

Sept. 19 - at Union Tournament, 6 p.m.

Sept. 22 - Union, 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 - at South Tama Tournament, 9:30 a.m.

Sept. 29 - at NU High, 6 p.m.

Oct. 6 - Denver, 6 p.m.

Oct. 10 - Hudson Tournament, 9:30 a.m.

Oct. 13 - at Aplington-Parkersburg (Aplington), 6 p.m.

HAMPTON-DUMONT BULLDOGS

HEAD COACH: Kevin Heinrichs

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at West Fork, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 5 - at Algona Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 10 - at Eagle Grove, 6 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Belmond-Klemme Classic, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - Clarion-Goldfield, 6 p.m.

Sept. 17 - at Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 6 p.m.

Sept. 24 - Algona, 6 p.m.

Sept. 29 - at Humboldt, 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 - Webster City, 6 p.m.

Oct. 8 - Clear Lake, 6 p.m.

Oct. 10 - Hampton-Dumont Invitational, 9 a.m.

Oct. 13 - at Janesville, 6 p.m.

Oct. 15 - at Algona Garrigan, 6 p.m.

Oct. 20 - at Iowa Falls/Alden, 6 p.m.

NORTH BUTLER BEARCATS

HEAD COACH: Ross Hawker

2008 RECORD: 12-21

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (7) - Kelly Dolan, oh; Carly Jacobs, oh; Jamie Jacobs, oh; Caitlyn Steer, s; Sarah Rowson, mh; Crystal Crawford, oh; Taylor Ellis, ds.

Schedule

Sept. 5 - at Ventura Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 8 - Riceville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 10 - at Saint Ansgar, 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Aplington-Parkersburg Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - Central Springs, 7 p.m.

Sept. 17 - AGWSR, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 - at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 22 - at Northwood-Kensett, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 - at Denver Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 29 - at Rockford, 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at Waverly-Shell Rock Tournament, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - West Fork, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 - at Nashua-Plainfield, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 - vs. Charles City, Osage, 6 p.m.

TRIPOLI PANTHERS

HEAD COACH: Will Baumann

2008 RECORD: 29-11

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (6): Marissa Shinstine, s; Kalie Kirchhoff, oh; Micah Wedemeier, rs; Morgan Peters, libero; Natalie Figanbaum, oh; Megan Gilbert, mh

Schedule

Sept. 5 - at New Hampton Invitational, 9 a.m.

Sept. 10 - GMG, 6 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Aplington-Parkersburg Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - at Don Bosco, 6 p.m.

Sept. 17 - CAL, 6 p.m.

Sept. 19 - at Dubuque Wahlert, 9 a.m.

Sept. 22 - at N.E. Hamilton, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 - Janesville, 6 p.m.

Sept. 29 - Clarksville, 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 - at Dunkerton, 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at NU High Tournament, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - Waterloo Christian, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 8 - North Tama, 6 p.m.

Oct. 10 - West Side Tournament, Cedar Rapids, TBA

WAPSIE VALLEY WARRIORS

HEAD COACH: Jolissa Ohrt

2008 RECORD: 34-2

Schedule

Sept. 3 - at Grundy Center, 6 p.m.

Sept. 8 - Hudson, 6 p.m.

Sept. 10 - at Aplington-Parkersburg, 6 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Jesup Tournament, 6 p.m.

Sept. 21 - at West Central, 6 p.m.

Sept. 22 - Dike-New Hartford, 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 - at Decorah Tournament, 9 a.m.

Sept. 29 - Union, 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 - vs. AGWSR, in Waverly, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 - at NU High Tournament, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - NU High, 6 p.m.

Oct. 13 - at Denver, 6 p.m.

WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK GO-HAWKS

HEAD COACH: EaVon Woodin

2008 RECORD: 40-6

Schedule

Sept. 1 - Benton Community, 5 p.m.

Sept. 5 - at Marshalltown, 9 p.m.

Sept. 8 - at New Hampton, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 12 - at Webster City, 9 a.m.

Sept. 15 - Decorah, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 19 - at Dubuque Wahlert Classic, 9 a.m.

Sept. 22 - at Crestwood, 7:15 p.m.

Sept. 26 - at Boone, 9 a.m.

Sept. 29 - Oelwein, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 3 - Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational, 9 a.m.

Oct. 6 - at Waukon, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 10 - at Mason City, 9 a.m.

Oct. 13 - Charles City, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 17 - NEIC Tournament, at Charles City, 9 a.m.

DENVER CYCLONES

HEAD COACH: Jamie Johnson

2008 RECORD: 7-20

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (6): Caylee Ott, Jess Kuennen, Megan Cashman, Jalen Williams, Amanda Frost, Jordan Wolter.

NEW HAMPTON CHICKASAWS

HEAD COACH: Jess Geerts

2008 RECORD: 5-26

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (8): Nikki Bachman, oh; Kiley Boeding, s; Taylor Moore, mh; Morgan Roths, mh; Alex Burrett, rs; Bre Rosonke, oh; Shannon Murray, ds; Sheena Hovey, s.

OSAGE GREEN DEVILS

HEAD COACH: Andie Olson

2008 RECORD: 21-16, 11-1 N. Iowa

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (5): Raelee Sullivan, mh; Molly Thomas, libero; Lauren Malecek, oh; Katie Haganman, oh; Hayley Penfold, mh.