New Selma High School volleyball coach Erin Jost has finalized the varsity roster for the 2008 Lady Bears. Selma begins the new season on Thursday with a scrimmage at home against the Fowler Redcats. The official season opener is next Tuesday, as the Lady Bears host Riverdale. Both Fowler and Riverdale reportedly have new coaches this season, along with Selma.

The varsity roster of 12 players features six seniors, five who played on last season's squad that finished fourth in the six-team Central Sequoia League. This season, the CSL has grown to seven teams with the addition of former Division V powerhouse Central Valley Christian of Visalia.

The list of returning veterans for the Lady Bears includes senior setter Fatima Bantayan, senior middle blocker, libero and back row specialist Emily Blicha, junior middle and outside hitter Jocelyn Riojas, senior front row player Brittany Sumpter, senior back row specalist Gurprit Uppal and senior outside hitter Natalie Xavier.

Newcomers on the varsity roster include junior libero, middle blocker and back row specialist Erin Breyfogle, junior outside hitter Katrina Cruff, junior ibero, middle blocker and back row specialist Maria Luna, junior middle blocker Miranda Salinas, senior outside hitter and back row specialist Ruby Singh, and junior outside hitter and back row specalist Mariah Trevino.

Both Jost and the new junior varsity coach, Michael Lundy, are teachers on the Selma High campus. This is the first time in several years that Selma has had an on-campus coach for volleyball.

"We want to grow the team in their camaredrie with each other," said Jost. "That's always a positive thing. We're excited about actually getting some real competition. We want to be able to figure out positions for the girls."

Selma Bears

Thurs., Aug. 21 FOWLER, scrim

Tues., Aug. 26 RIVERDALE (6:30)

Tues., Sept. 2 WASHINGTON (6:30)

Sept. 3, 6 at Caruthers V Tour.

Tues., Sept. 16 at Woodlake (7)

Sat., Sept. 20 at Sunnyside V Tour.

Weds., Sept. 24 at Dinuba (6:30)

Tues., Sept. 30 CV CHRISTIAN (6:30)

Weds., Oct. 1 at Exeter (7 p.m.)

Tues., Oct. 7 IMMANUEL (6:30)

Weds., Oct. 8 at Coalinga (7)

Tues., Oct. 14 KINGSBURG (6:30)

Tues., Oct. 21 DINUBA (6:30 p.m.)

Thurs., Oct. 23 at CVC (6:30 p.m.)

Tues., Oct. 28 EXETER (6:30 p.m.)

Weds., Oct. 29 at Immanuel (6:30)

Tues., Nov. 4 COALINGA (7:00)

Thurs., Nov. 6 at Kingsburg (6:30)

HOME MATCHES IN CAPS

CSL matches in bold