Everyone talks about Pope as being the team to beat in Area 1AAAAA.

With good reason.

The Lady Greyhounds have five returning starters back from last year's Class AAAAA state runner-up team. Even better, most of them are juniors.

Three of those players - outside hitter Mary Hoey, middle hitter Sarah Morris and libero Danielle Thompson - were on the A5 club volleyball team that was the silver medalist at nationals.

An area title defense is definitely within reach for the Lady Greyhounds, but they will also be contending with Lassiter and Kell, who both made the state semifinals a year ago.

Walton also had the talent to go deep in the state tournament in 2008 but underachieved in the area tournament as the No. 2 seed and did not qualify for the postseason.

"'Surviving' is the key term," first-year Lassiter coach Greg Hodge said. "Walton has a good team coming back. Pope has a good team that's coming back. Our area sent three teams to the final four and all of them are still good. If we make it out of area, we're in good shape."

Walton is expecting to be strong on the front row behind returning sophomore outside hitters Katherne Plessy and Kelly Murphy. The Lady Raiders are also returning 6-foot-5 senior middle hitter Leah Best.

"Our motto this year is 'All fired up,'" Walton coach Suzanne Fitzgerald said. "We're using last year's (area) tournament as a source of motivation. While we're disappointed (with last year's area tournament outcome), we're trying to turn that into a positive this season."

Kell is having to replace three of its top players from last season - middle hitter Amanda Jones, setter Tori O'Brien and outside hitter Katherine Wright - but does return three seniors in libero Camille Pedraza, outside hitter Paige Hicks and rightside hitter Jasmine Cranford.

Lassiter's '09 squad is senior-laden behind outside hitter Katy McCollister, setter Melissa Weissert, defensive specialist Rachel Jenkins and libero Melissa Woodall. The Lady Trojans' biggest obstacle will be replacing middle hitter Taylor Montgomery, who is now playing at Howard University.

Area 5AAAAA

While the talent in Area 1AAAAA is evident, the teams in Area 5AAAAA may go in a different direction this season.

Defending champion Kennesaw Mountain has to replace nine seniors, including middle hitters Lauren Hutchinson (now at Georgia) and Mariah Booth (Ohio State). The Lady Mustangs are grooming seven newcomers to the varsity level and senior setter Kaylee McGrew may be converted into an outside hitter.

Kennesaw Mountain, however, did gain an experienced outside hitter in Katelyn Winebarg, a transfer from George Walton Academy who brings years of A5 club volleyball experience to the team.

"She's a coachable kid," Kennesaw Mountain coach Tonya Kern-Honea said. "She's trained with a good (A5) club team and understands the game. She's a good addition."

Meanwhile, North Cobb and Harrison are younger programs continuing to get stronger. Both teams, along with Marietta, could also make claims for the area championship.

Tori Forrest, one of Harrison's leading hitters last season, will be in a North Cobb uniform and Lady Warriors coach James Auld said she's cleared to play for her sophomore season.

"What Tori beings is a very active court presence at all times," Auld said. "She always makes the best of any situation. It could be terminating a kill or talking on the floor."

North Cobb could be a force in 5AAAAA this season senior outside hitter Kristen Miller, Florida State-bound middle hitter Ashley Neff and sophomore setter Lauren Schmitz returning.

Harrison will continue to be young this season with outside hitter Jennifer Kuroski and rightside hitter Hayley LaFountaine the only seniors on the roster. The Lady Hoyas did gain freshman setter Kelly Scott, who has shown tremendous upside over the summer.

Area 7AAAA/5AAAA

Sprayberry is coming off an improbable run to the Class AAAA state semifinals, saving its best volleyball for the state sectionals.

While the Lady Yellow Jackets will have to replace outside hitter Haley Winston, middle hitter Ali Nogi and setter Lanie Bakeberg, they still have a core of experienced players on their roster. Juniors Katie Gilstrap and Nadia Ogene are experienced middle hitters and outside hitter Kelly Chavis is back for her senior season.

Sprayberry should be in the mix for a playoff spot out of Area 7AAAA, but the Lady Yellow Jackets may have to get through defending champion Sequoyah, which returns eight players from its '08 team, in order to win it.

"We have Sequoyah that's tough, and Northwest Whitfield lost two or three (players), but they should be strong again," Sprayberry coach Mary Kay Bateman said. "I expect that we will be able to compete for one of those four spots (in 7AAAA)."

Hillgrove is shooting for its fourth straight playoff berth after finishing second to Lithia Springs in Area 5AAAA last season. The Lady Hawks will be young this season with senior outside hitters Paige Molandro and Jasmine Leigh the only returning players, nut Hillgrove coach Dana Hall said her young team has height on the front row and appear to be fundamentally sound offensive and defensively.

Area 5AA/A

Walker has been a consistent force in Class AA/A, advancing to the state quarterfinals last season, and is ready to take one step further in 2009.

Unfortunately for the Lady Wolverines, they are stuck in an area with Lovett and seven-time state champion Westminster.

Walker will be solid in the middle with senior Rachel Carr and sophomore Brianna Reid returning. Senior rightside hitter Sarah Kelly is also back, but the Lady Wolverines will have to replace a setter, two outside hitters and a defensive specialist.

North Cobb Christian impressed many in its first season as a Georgia High School Association member by finishing 21-14 and making the state sectionals. Returning to postseason isn't a stretch, but the Lady Eagles will have to replace four seniors, including middle hitter Amy Dykstra.

The Eagles will field a team comprised primarily of juniors this season, led by outside hitters Lauren Johnston and Amanda Adamson and libero Taylor Hathway.