The man who established the Avonworth girls’ basketball program as a force to be reckoned with will return as the team’s head coach this season.

Bob Schulz, who has nearly 30 years of head coaching experience at Avonworth, will return to the head coaching position filled by Julie Moehring for the last two years.

Moehring resigned, and Schulz said he decided to come back when the opportunity presented itself.

He was the head coach of the girls' team for 12 years, and coached the boys' varsity team for 15 years before that. He also was an assistant coach for the boys' team.

Last year's Lady 'Lopes qualified for the WPIAL playoffs, finishing 16-7 overall and 8-4 in their section. The 'Lopes lost to Seton-LaSalle in the first round of the playoffs.

All four section losses last season came at the hands of Sto-Rox and Beaver Falls.

Schulz said those two teams, as well as Aliquippia, are teams that could give the 'Lopes trouble again this year. Sto-Rox is the defending section champion and Aliquippia has a large number of returning starters this season, which is not the case for Avonworth.

The 'Lopes lost seven seniors, three of whom were starters: guards Jessica Bezilla and Lyndsey Costa, and forward Liz Raves.

Leading the 'Lopes this season, Schulz said, will be senior captains Molly Frew and Tara Gallupe, and junior Catherine Costa. Frew and Costa will be guards, while Gallupe will play both center and forward.

Schulz said that practice has been going well so far.

"We are playing very hard." Schulz said. "We are playing good defense, and offensively we are coming together."

Schulz said that he is still evaluating the other players, noting there are quite a few girls competing for open spots on the floor. He said a lot of players can expect to see time this season, even if they are not starters, noting his plans to use a lot of substitutions during games.

The 'Lopes begin their season tonight with a tournament at Brentwood High School. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.