By Ray Hamill — The Eureka Loggers feature a young lineup in volleyball this fall, but they have shown plenty of promise early on, despite their 1-7 record.

The team features just one returning starter on the roster, junior Mariah Napoleon, but the Loggers do have three returning seniors who have been stepping into much bigger roles this year and providing some much-needed leadership for the many players just moving up from the JVs.

“They have been playing this year and showing a lot of leadership and a great attitude,” new head coach Stephanie Napoleon said of her trio of seniors, Alexus Olson, Trinity Abercrombie and Amaya Watson. “I think they’re all just happy to be playing.”

Key to the team’s success this season will be the play of outside hitter Mariah Napoleon, who was an all-league honorable mention as a sophomore, and has been playing consistently well through the preseason.

Junior libero Sierra Mendoza also has been a consistent threat for the team in the early going, as has fellow junior Aniah Gaither, who gives the team a big presence at the net.

The team’s only sophomore is the hard working Anisha Mae Rechelluul, who has been kept busy as the team’s only setter early in the season, but has continued to impress despite the heavy workload at tournaments.

Overall, despite the record, the head coach is happy with a lot of what she’s seen from her players so far.

“They seem to get along really well, which is always nice,” she said. “They just seem to be bonding really quickly, and I think after being away from each other for so long they’re not taking it for granted.”