By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

With only 13 players on the Centre High School volleyball roster, quite a few could see varsity playing time.

Three starters return from last year’s team.

Senior Shelby Makovec, a setter, is in her fourth year of volleyball. She was named first team all-league in 2013.

Senior Brenna Shields, a hitter, has been a letter-winner all three years she has been on the team. She received all-league honorable mention in 2012 and was named to the second team last year.

Sophomore Summer Espinoza, a setter, was a 2013 honorable mention all-league player.

The 2013 team finished with a record of 26-10. They were second in the league and second in the league tournament.

Head coach Yvonne Burhoop said having three returning starters will give the team some strength and put them with the top half of the Wheat State League.

The other players haven’t had much varsity experience. Carlotta Benning, a 6-foot-1 junior exchange student who has not played volleyball, is expected to play a lead blocking role in the front row. She has played basketball for seven years.

Burhoop predicts Goessel will lead the league, followed by Rural Vista, Centre, Peabody, Little River, Solomon, Wakefield, and Elyria.

She is starting her 33rd year at Centre. Her daughter, Kylie Burhoop, will assist her.

The first matches are Sept. 2 at Inman with Canton-Galva.