With losses due to graduation, the Cherokee Trail volleyball team will lean a lot more on sophomore Sami Campion this season. The Cougars will try to get back to the Class 5A state volleyball tournament, which they won in 2015. (Photo by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

AURORA | Key dates and information for the 2017 Aurora volleyball season:

Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel

2017 AURORA VOLLEYBALL

Key dates: Aug. 15 — Practice begins; Aug. 25 — Regular season begins; Sept. 2-3 — Regis Jesuit Jam at Gold Crown Fieldhouse; Sept. 16-17 — Eaglecrest Invitational; Oct. 29 — Regular season completed; Nov. 5 — 3A-5A regional tournaments; Nov. 11-12 — State tournament (All classes at Denver Coliseum)

Aurora coaches: Aurora Central — Barry Lago; Cherokee Trail — Terry Miller; Eaglecrest — Tanya Bond; Gateway — Paul Babers; Grandview — Rob Graham; Hinkley — Emma McCourt; Overland — Diane Swan; Rangeview — Doug Walker; Regis Jesuit — Ellen Miks; Smoky Hill — Scott Nugent; Vista PEAK (4A) — Simon Moorwood

Returning all-conference selections: Ana De Los Santos, Aurora Central, jr., libero (All-EMAC 1st team); Georgia Cousins, Overland, sr., libero (All-Centennial League second team); Holly Edwards, Vista PEAK, sr., libero (All-EMAC HM); Lindsey Fernandez, Vista PEAK, soph., Opp (All-EMAC 1st team); Alondra Gonzalez, Hinkley, jr., libero (All-EMAC 2nd team); Kylie Harr, Grandview, sr., MH (All-Centennial League 2nd team); Lexi Hurtado, Rangeview, jr., S (All-EMAC 1st team); Nina Lewis-Langford, Aurora Central, sr., MH (All-EMAC HM); Ryan Nelson, Rangeview, sr., MH (All-EMAC HM); Lorrin Poulter, Eaglecrest, jr., S/OH (All-Centennial League 1st team); Akolda Redgebol, Aurora Central, sr., OH (All-EMAC 2nd team); Angie Rivera, Vista PEAK, sr., MH (All-EMAC HM); Jadyn Wangaard, Vista PEAK, sr., OH (All-EMAC HM)

Other Aurora players to watch: Myah Blubaugh, OH, Grandview, sr.; Audrey Black, OH/RS, Eaglecrest, soph.; Cheyanne Boe, OH/RS, Rangeview, jr.; Ravyn Burns, OH, Smoky Hill, sr.; Taylor Burns, MB, Smoky Hill, sr.; Sami Campion, OH, Cherokee Trail, soph.; Brooklinn Christopher, OH, Overland, soph.; Sydney Cole, S, Cherokee Trail, soph.; Jena Crawford, S, Vista PEAK, fr.; Mykaela Dickerson, OH/RS, Overland, sr.; Kira Ervin, OH, Overland, soph.; Eitakina Fifita, S, Hinkley, jr.; Kylee Flynn, Libero, Rangeview, sr.; Alex Henderson, OH, Cherokee Trail, jr.; Savannah Holt, Libero, Eaglecrest, soph.; Nola Johnson, MB, Rangeview, fr.; Georgia Klumker, Libero, Grandview, soph.; Liz Koch, MB, Regis Jesuit, sr.; Elsa Lamphere, OH, Grandview, soph.; Ronnie Lehnert, Libero, Regis Jesuit, sr.; Amaya Messier, OH, Cherokee Trail, fr.; Ashley Mooney, OH, Smoky Hill, jr.; Lauren Myli, MB/OH, Eaglecrest, sr.; Addison O’Grady, RS, Grandview, fr.; Ambur Pippins, MB, Gateway, sr.; Kiyah Pixler, S, Gateway, jr.; Sheridan Prince, OH, Gateway, sr.; Seiloni Sanft, OH, Hinkley, sr.; Carly Schwulst, MB, Regis Jesuit, sr.; Savannah Spitzer, MB, Cherokee Trail, jr.; Maria St. Pierre, MB, Overland, jr.; Hanna Todd, MB, Smoky hill, sr.; Brooke Vercauteran, OH, Regis Jesuit, jr.; Gabby Vogt, OH, Eaglecrest, soph.; Maya Waddington, OH, Eaglecrest, jr.; Cierra Williams, Libero, Cherokee Trail, sr.; Payton Wolf, S, Grandview, sr.

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...