Story and photo by Doug Petrowski

The Mountlake Terrace High School girls volleyball team opened its 2012 season with a come-from-behind win over the Mount Vernon Bulldogs Tuesday night, 14-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22, at Mountlake Terrace High School.

Coach Marietta Snyder called the first game “a little scary,” as the Hawk offense had trouble finding its rhythm early. “We picked it up when we needed to,” Snyder said, giving credit to setters Casey Hynes and Justine Kelly for the turnaround.

After the first match of the year, Coach Snyder is pleased with the current state of the team. “We are right where we should be,” she said. “I’m very confident with the players on our team, from the starters to our bench players. We have a great group of athletes who want to win and make it to state.”

Does Snyder believe reaching the state tournament in November is a realistic expectation for this team? “Every year that is always the goal and this year I think they can do it,” she answered.

With just three seniors and five players returning from last year’s varsity squad, the team is a young group, but tall and athletic. Snyder calls captains Hynes and Sarah Pung “very strong leaders and team players.” She also points to Madison Eich and Meg Roberts as players that will give other teams trouble.

“We have some power hitters (Pung, Eich) that will keep the opponents on their toes,” Snyder added.

The Hawks are off the rest of the week, but have three matches next week, at Everett on Monday, Sept. 10; at Marysville-Pilchuck on Tuesday, Sept. 11; and at home versus Lynnwood on Thursday, Sept. 13. Game time is 7 p.m. for each match.