HANFORD -- The Hanford High Bullpups are hoping to shake things up in West Yosemite League volleyball this season.

And they're off to pretty good start.

The Bullpups opened their league season Tuesday night with a 25-18, 25-12, 25-15 trouncing of visiting Redwood, handily defeating an opponent they've struggled against in recent years.

"We're a much stronger team than we were last year,'' Bullpups junior Cecilia Agraz said. "We've really pulled together, we have a new coach and it's just going more smoothly.

"We're learning new things and putting them into games,'' Agraz said.

Hanford failed to win a single set -- let alone a match -- against Redwood the past two seasons.

But the roles were reversed on Tuesday, with first-year Hanford coach Dwayne Wibeto boasting a veteran squad and first-year Redwood coach Melissa Pringle guiding a highly inexperienced team.

The Rangers went 10-2 in league last season, losing only to champion Lemoore. But many of the stars from that team have graduated.

"We only have two seniors, and we lost seven players from last year,'' Pringle said after her team dropped to 3-2.

The Bullpups roster isn't exactly overflowing with seniors, either. But Wibeto has a large junior class with plenty of varsity experience.

"That group of juniors, with Cecilia Agraz, Erin Emmett, Laura Correa, Denae Davis and Haley Hanse, they've been playing together for three years,'' Wibeto said.

Erin Emmett anchored the Bullpups up front, recording eight kills and three blocks.

Agraz had seven kills and seven aces, and Tess Gilkey served four aces. Lauren Stanfield led the defense with five digs, setters Davis and Shelby Bennett had 12 and seven assists, respectively.

Katrina Goulbourne had seven kills and Jamie Shaw added six for Redwood.

"It definitely wasn't one of our better nights,'' Pringle said. "As you could see, we have a lot of things we need to work on.''

Wibeto is a 2001 Hanford graduate who played a key role for the Bullpups' Central Section Division II championship basketball team his senior season.

But Wibeto was also a volleyball standout who went on to play for University of La Verne. His family has deep roots in Hanford High volleyball -- his sisters Danielle and Darlene also played at school, and his brother Harrison is now senior at the school.

Wibeto's expertise is rubbing off on the Bullpups, who are 11-6. They placed second in the Visalia Invitational last weekend.

"We've been playing better competition, and that helps a lot,'' Agraz said. "We're hoping we can win league.''

"They definitely have the potential,'' Wibeto answered when asked if his players can make a strong run this season. "They're skilled, they're big and they're experienced.''

Hanford will be on the road Thursday, playing at Golden West. The Bullpups will be at home Monday vs. El Diamante.

(Sept. 19, 2007)