PREP PREVIEW ’92 / Six Teams to Watch : Mater Dei

Coach: Laura Kennedy (second year).

1991: 15-5, 6-2 in Angelus League; reached Southern Section 5-A quarterfinals and finished second in league to Lakewood St. Joseph; Monarchs join the South Coast League this season.

Key returners: Pattie Boland, Sr., 5-9, outside hitter; Erica Helferich, Sr., 5-10, middle blocker; Michelle Hartnett, Sr., 5-9, outside hitter; Heather Lee, Sr., 6-1, outside hitter; Amy Rice, Sr., 5-8, outside hitter; Allison Stricklin, Jr., 5-9, setter.

Key newcomers: Heather Daze, Jr., 5-11, middle blocker; Roberta Gehlke, Fr., 5-11, outside hitter; Jessica Redding, Jr., 5-10, outside hitter.

Outlook: The last thing the South Coast coaches wanted to see was another tough team joining the league. But here are the Monarchs. Mater Dei lost its top two hitters, Becki Gehlke and Amy Moeller, to graduation, but Roberta, Gehlke’s younger sister, is expected to fill much of the void. “Roberta is the most incredible freshman you’ll ever see,” Kennedy said.