Coach: Todd Olson, eighth season.

Key returners: Kelsie Carlson, sr.; Meredith Carlson, soph.; Chloe Helms, jr.; Emily Hulscher, sr.; Brittany Mayfield, sr.; Nicole Padmos, sr.; Crystal Polen, sr.

Key departures: Casey Armstrong, graduated; Emily Sanford, graduated; Leah Sedlacek, graduated.

When it comes to finding top freshmen at South Kitsap, tennis coach Todd Olson always seems to do well.

Six years ago, Stephanie Davison stepped onto the court and won two state singles championships before earning a scholarship to play at the University of Texas.

In the fall of 2007, Blake Staudenraus became the No. 2 singles player on the boys team as a freshman. And now, Cedar Heights Junior High freshman Rae Cockreham moves up to play No. 1 singles for the Wolves’ girls team this spring.

“She’s a really good top USTA player,” Olson said. “She’ll hopefully advance to state. I know that’s what she’s looking to do.”

Cockreham, who replaces the graduated Casey Armstrong in the top spot, is followed by sophomore Meredith Carlson, who will serve as the No. 2 singles player for a second consecutive season.

The turnout was down about 20 people from last spring to 70 players, and Olson expects the team to settle around 65. But with the varsity requiring just eight players — two singles players and three doubles teams — depth never is an issue at South.

Senior Emily Hulscher and junior Chloe Helms return for a third straight season as the Wolves’ top doubles team.

“We’ve played well together and that’s why he’s kept us together,” Helms said. “I’m looking forward to playing other teams and seeing how they’ve grown.”

Olson said Kelsie Carlson, Brittany Mayfield, Nicole Padmos and Crystal Polen should fill out the final two doubles teams, which might not leave much room on varsity for freshmen other than Cockreham.

“There’s a lot of freshmen here,” said Olson, adding that Ashley Garza and Kailey Lyman both have been impressive. “They probably won’t see much varsity time, but they’ll be top junior-varsity players.”

Despite her experience, Hulscher acknowledges that Cockreham can regularly beat her.

“Playing her is good for the team,” she said. “You get harder balls and can improve a lot.”

Olson tried to schedule difficult early season matches to prepare his team for league contests against teams such as Bellarmine Prep. He said playing weaker competition early in the past hasn’t helped his team because he felt those matches didn’t adequately prepare them.

“It will tell us right away how we’re going to do and where we’re going to stand,” Olson said.

While it’s unlikely the Wolves will have a player competing for a state championship, as Davison did, Olson said he’s happy with the team.

“It’s looking to be a really good season for us,” he said. “The girls are excited.”