ECC LARGE

East Lyme

Coach: Colleen Hardison (2nd year).

Key returnees: Jr. G Theresa Durkee, Jr. F Maggie Powers, Jr. G Jordan Venditto, Jr. G Hannah LeBeau, Sr. G Brielle Benson, Sr. F Addie Swanson.

Top newcomers: So. F Gabi Murphy, So. G Allie Christensen.

Outlook: Hardison went 14-9 in her first season, leading the Vikings to appearances in the ECC and Class L state tournaments, but East Lyme graduated five seniors, including four starters. Durkee is the lone returning starter, so there will be some growings pains, but the Vikings will be a good defensive team and there is talent and depth in the backcourt. "We have some great guards that are stepping up to the challenge of playing huge varsity minutes this year," Hardison said.

Fitch

Coach: Meredith Ward (1st year).

Key returnees: Jr. G Mackenzie Aldridge, Sr. G Jackie Lewis, Sr. C Sofie Clark, Sr. G Jaliyla Griffin, Jr. G Brianna Robinson.

Top newcomer: Jr. G Mae Sefransky.

Outlook: Ward, a former Rhode Island all-state player at Westerly who went on to play Division I basketball at Holy Cross, takes over a Falcon program that is in the rebuilding process after going 4-16 last season. A number of her players enjoyed success during the fall in volleyball, reaching the Class L quarterfinals.

Ledyard

Coach: Peter Vincent (1st year).

Key returnees: Sr. C Michelle Klinikowski, Sr. G Francesca Matira.

Top newcomers: Sr. G Haley Hinton, Sr. C Holly Pianka, Sr. G Haley Wilt, Jr. F Rebecca Ahlborn, Jr. G Samantha Barnes, So. F Johnay Burns, Fr. G Julia Lavin, Fr. G Sarah Serbacewicz, So. G Kayla Kassim, Fr. G Georgia Paul.

Outlook: The Colonels rode a veteran senior class to a memorable 2012-13 season that included sharing the division title with NFA, a 22-4 overall record and a trip to the Class L semifinals where they gave eventual state champion Hartford Capital fits before losing 80-61. Gone are head coach Adam Baber and four starters, including center Hannah Hutchins, now playing at Division I Utah State. Vincent does inherit one of the ECC's best athletes in Klinikowski, a four-year starter who will play Division I volleyball at Boston College, but Ledyard is inexperienced and learing a new system from a new coach, so expect some ups and downs.

NFA

Coach: Bill Scarlata (23rd year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Maya Bell, Sr. F Olivia Lane, Jr. F Cebria Outlow, So. G Mackenzie Burke, So. G Hailey Conley, So. G Alenni Rosado-DeJesus.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Megan Weir, Jr. G Reide Jacksin, So. F Sharon Bell, So. F Megan Goldstein, So. F Emily Williams.

Outlook: The Wildcats have been the ECC's best program for nearly two decades, and that shouldn't change despite the loss of all-state guard Alyssa Velles to graduation. NFA, which beat eventual Class M state champion New London to win the ECC tournament title and finished 22-3 overall, returns a solid cast led by veterans Bell, Lane and Outlow. Even sophomore guards Burke and Conley played important varsity roles as freshmen. Scarlata likes his mix of experience and youth. Lane and Outlow, a first team All-ECC pick, have become established inside threats, but look for NFA's quick guards to pressure opponents and try to get the Wildcats out in transition.

ECC MEDIUM

Montville

Coach: Derek Wainwright (11th year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Kiah Strickland, Sr. G-F Taylor LaVallie, Sr. G Nicole Dutka, Jr. G Naomi Clark.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Sabrina Gennotti, Jr. F Alex Clemons, So. F Maddie Campbell, So. F Keena Fletcher, So. G Brooke LaVallie, So. G-F Brianna Leone, So. F Kristi Petrova, Fr. F-C Emily Meigs.

Outlook: The Indians lost a pair of veteran starters to Division I programs - center Cassidy Bundy (Hartford) and guard Jamie Hill (Cornell) - so finding some consistent scoring will be a key. But Wainright, whose team went 11-12 a year ago, losing in the first round of the Class M tournament to eventual state champion New London, has been impressed with his leadership during the preseason and how some of Montville's younger players have stepped up. If some of the newcomers progress, Wainright expects the Indians to "surprise some people this year."

New London

Coach: Holly Misto (1st year).

Key returnees: Sr. G Deanna McCarvell, Sr. Jasonia Ramseur, Sr. Nikita Terry, Jr. F Charee Osborne, Jr. G/F Delaney McPhail, Jr. F Kenya Capers, So. C/F India Pagan, So. G Jada Lucas.

Top newcomers: Sr. G Khiara Phillips, Fr. G Cora Sawyer, Fr. G Rosalee Nicholson, Fr. F Madison Keefe, Fr. G Leilani McClellan.

Outlook: Misto, the former Westerly coach, takes over a team which went 24-4 last season with a Class M state championship and ECC Medium Division title. The Whalers have four returning starters back from that team. too, losing The Day's All-Area Player of the Year in Lexus Childs-Harris (now at Post University), but returning McCarvell, Osborne, Pagan and Lucas. Pagan and Lucas started as freshmen a year ago, while McCarvell was an All-ECC selection and Osborne earned a spot on the All-Area team after finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the state championship game.

Stonington

Coach: Paulla Solar (24th year).

Key returnees: Sr. C Margot Calmar, Jr. G-F Tatyana LaFrance Boyce.

Top newcomers: So. F Cameron Dreher, Sr. F Clare Schlink, Fr. G Kate Hall, Sr. G Breanna Jones.

Outlook: The Bears return one of the ECC's best frontcourt players in Calmar, a Class M all-state pick who averaged 18.6 points and 17.1 rebounds per game last season, and a versatile, athletic swing player in LaFrance Boyce. Stonington was 14-9 overall last season and Solar, who said her goal every year is "to make the state tournament and be competitive within our league," has a team very capable of accomplishing both goals.

Waterford

Coach: Ed Kolnaski (2nd year).

Key returnees: Sr. Sarah Pacheco, Jr. Kazi Walker, Jr. Shea Spellman, Jr. Claire Hurley, Jr. Vanessa Kobyluck, Jr. Lauren Goldstein, Jr. Jill Sykora, Jr. Mackenzie Merriman.

Top newcomers: Jr. Hannah Niedojadio, So. Mia Brennan, So. Kayla Jean-Pierre.

Outlook: Kolnaski led the Lancers to a 12-11 record and a state tournament berth during his first season. Pacheco is the only senior in the group, but Waterford will rely on a versatile and talented junior class to be competitive within the division and hopefully challenge defending champion New London for a division title.

ECC SMALL

St. Bernard

Coach: Mike Nystrom (32nd year).

Key returnees: Sr. G-F Kaitlyn Berkel, So. C Caitlyn Dittman.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Courtney Rose, So. G Kara Bassett, Jr. G Alex Belisle, Jr. G Christina Lawton, So. F Sophie Nelson, Jr. F Sherry Sun, Fr. G Emily Smith, Fr. G Alicia Crespo, Fr. G Briana Beverly.

Outlook: The Saints were hit hard by graduation, losing four key contributors from a team that went 19-6 overall, earned the ECC Small title with Windham and reached the ECC tournament semifinals and the Class S quarterfinals. Berkel and Dittman provide Nystrom with experience, but the ability of his young players to adjust to the varsity level quickly will determine what kind of success St. Bernard will enjoy.

Wheeler

Coach: Dan Baker (3rd year).

Key returnees: Sr. C Kylie Baker, Sr. G Kaite Morgan, Sr. F Mackenzie Brayman, Sr. G Lexi Galluci.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Raven Houck, Jr. F Maddie Porter.

Outlook: After going 4-15 a year ago but becoming a more competitive team, Baker believes the Lions are in position to have a solid season and hopefully qualify for the ECC and Class S state tournaments. Baker provides Wheeler with an inside presence, Morgan runs the point and the Lions have three legitimate outside shooting threats in Brayman, Galluci and Houck. "We have a more balanced and deeper team this year," Baker said.

OTHERS

Grasso Tech

Coach: Jeff Duda (4th year).

Key returnees: Jr. G Keila LaStraglio, Jr. F Tabitha Ford, So. G Preonna Boyd-Cannon, so. G Lindsey Murray.

Top newcomers: Fr. F Mariah Soldano, Fr. G Urena Lucero.

Outlook: The Eagles won only four games a year ago, but Duda expects to Eagles to be competitive within the Constitution State Conference and challenge for a postseason bid. LaStraglio, Ford, Boyd-Cannon and Murray all started last season, and Duda is encouraged by the play of freshmen Soldano and Lucero in the preseason. "With the added experience and the addition of younger talent," Duda said, "we have ganined more size and athleticsm."

Norwich Tech

Coach: Jamie Lamitie (1st year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Elaina Sannon, So. G Maddison Bodley, Sr. F Jessica Benjamin, Jr. G Emily Kivela, Sr. F Lauren Veile, Jr. G Sheila Jeanty.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Daisy Palmisano, Fr. G Kali Campbell, So. G Vanessa Gumbs, Jr. G Shelline Jeanty.

Outlook: Lamitie continues to learn more about her team every day and expects it will take some time to adjust to play in the Constitution State Conference, but Lamitie loves the Warriors' athleticsm and expects them to keep improving as the season moves along.

Old Lyme

Coach: Don Bugbee (16th year).

Key returnees: Sr. F Mary Cate Devlin, Sr. F Hannah Paynter, Sr. G Catie Quaratella, Sr. F Julia Strycharz, Jr. G Silja Forstein, So. G Abby Stone.

Top newcomers: So. F Abby Berger, So. F Maggie Berger, So. G Sydney Cowell, So. G Olivia Ellis, So. C Tessa Kroes, Jr. G Jenna Peduzzi, Jr. G Lauren Quaratella, Fr. G Una Barrett, Fr. F Audrey Gavin, Fr. G Keelin Hurtt, Fr. G Jordan Lewis, Fr. C Alexander Sulmasy, Fr. G Maddie Zrenda.

Outlook: If losing three seniors to graduation wasn't tough enough, the Wildcats lost a returning starter - guard Sloane Sweitzer - to a season-ending knee injury in the offseason. Old Lyme does have experience at key spots, however, including the 5-foot-10 Paynter, and Bugbee is curious to see how some of his younger players come along to fill some voids. "There are a lot of opportunities for everyone to work hard, step up their game and help make this a successful season," Bugbee said.

Williams

Coach: Eliza Smith (3rd year).

Key returnee: Sr. G Paola Vangjeli.

Top newcomers: Fr. F-C Claudia Pagnozzi-Schwam.

Outlook: It will be a rebuilding year for the Blues, but Vangjeli provides tremendous leadership as the point guard and Smith expects Pagnozzi-Schwam to step right into the starting lineup and provide a strong presence in the post. Williams will try to pressure its opponent on defense, force turnovers and beat teams in transition.