Prep Girls VolleyballTeam-by-team capsules
By: North County Times | ∞
PALOMAR LEAGUE
1. LA COSTA CANYON
< 2005 RECORD: 27-8 (CIF Division I San Diego Section champion), 9-1 (first)
< COACH: Ed Machado
< RETURNERS: S Jaz Machado (Sr.), MB Kelsey Johnson (Sr.), OH Kelly Huston (Sr.), OH Caitlin Saxton (Sr.), L Jace Williams (Sr.), BR Julia Wehsener (Sr.), MB Krista Merchat (Jr.), BR Maddie Flavin (Sr.), BR Margot Demere (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OPP Katie Fuller (So.), S Alyssa Reyes (Jr.), MB Sam Slavinsky (So.).
< OUTLOOK: Four returning starters received postseason honors last year ---- 6-0 Jaz Machado (league co-player of the year, first-team All-CIF), 5-10 Caitlin Saxton (first-team all-league), 6-0 Kelsey Johnson (second-team all-league) and 5-11 Kelly Huston (second-team all-league). Four players have committed to colleges ---- Machado to UCLA, Huston to St. Mary's, Saxton to UC Santa Barbara and Williams to Washington for softball. The Mavericks are the preseason choice to three-peat as CIF champion. Merchat (6-2) and Fuller (6-1) will also get significant playing time with Wehsener (5-9), Demere (5-9) and Flavin (5-8) coming in off the bench. The Mavs are ranked No. 8 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.
2. TORREY PINES
< 2005 RECORD: 25-9, 8-2 (second)
< COACH: Jim Harrah
< RETURNERS: MB Erin Noonan (Sr.), BR Annie Beaumont (Sr.), OH Rose Hanley (Sr.), OH Bianca Sande (Sr.), OPP Lauren Zaniboni (Sr.), S Georgie Rai (Sr.), MB Kaela Friedman (Sr.), S-BR Makela Disney (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Anne-Carroll Ingersoll (Jr.), OH Kerra Schroeder (So.), S Sandi Block (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: Harrah returns for a second stint as the head coach with Noonan (6-1), Hanley (5-11) and Beaumont (5-9) as returning starters. Noonan and Hanley earned honorable mention all-league notice in '05. Sande (5-10), Ingersoll (6-3) and Zaniboni (6-2) join them. Rai (5-9) and Block (5-7) are battling for the setting duties. Ingersoll and Block led the Falcons to the league title on JV last season.
3. POWAY
< 2005 RECORD: 19-12, 7-3 (third)
< COACH: Lisa Reis
< RETURNERS: S Emily Collett (Sr.), OH Monica Senger (Sr.), OH Lauren Buckley (Sr.), L Brandi Jones (Sr.), BR Kaitlyn Plum (Jr.), OPP Kori Ogden (Jr.), OH Dani Meyers (Sr.), MB Ally Merkley (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OH Christina Villamayor (Jr.), OH Lauren Plum (Fr.), OH Kara Reis (So.), MB Emily Capovzoli (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: This will be the third year as a starter for second-team all-leaguer Collett (5-8). She'll have help up front with Buckley (5-10) and Senger (5-11) back outside. Both were honorable mention all-leaguers. Villamayor (6-0), the MVP off the JV, figures to start, along with Ogden (5-8) and Capovzoli (6-1), a transfer from Parker. Jones (5-4), the CIF player of the year in girls lacrosse after leading the Titans to the CIF title, and Kaitlyn Plum (5-5) will see a lot of time on the back row. The one thing the Titans have is much more depth than in the last few years.
4. WESTVIEW
< 2005 RECORD: 22-17, 4-6 (fourth)
< COACH: Luis Cuatok
< RETURNERS: OH Juliann Faucette (Sr.), OH Ariel Stark (So.), S Ashley Sacknoff (Sr.), S-OPP Erin Lupfer (Jr.), OPP Brooke Hasselman (Jr.), L Katie Girten (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Kristen Markowitz (Jr.), MB Lauren Gellerman (So.), MB Rebecca Jensen (Sr.), BR Emily Watkins (So.), OH Brianna Wehr (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: The Wolverines hope to take one more shot at winning a CIF title after losing the Division II crown to Scripps Ranch in each of the past two seasons. Texas-bound Faucette (6-2) is the focal point again, although she will miss time later this month to play for the USA Junior National team in a tournament in Mexico. She was a second-team All-CIF player after moving from the middle to the outside in '05. Stark (5-8), Sacknoff (5-2), Lupfer (5-11), Hasselman (5-10) and Girten (5-7) will join Faucette as starters. Markowitz (5-11) and Gellerman (5-10) will see time in the middle. Gellerman was an outside hitter in '05 on the JV.
5. MT. CARMEL
< 2005 RECORD: 17-16, 2-8 (fifth)
< COACH: Sally Novak
< RETURNERS: OH-OPP Chelsea Bemis (Sr.), MB Jessica Bernstein (Sr.), OPP Brooke Ellison (Sr.), OH Katie Everds (Sr.), OPP-MB Kelly Hansen (Jr.), L-BR Taylor Pritchard (Sr.), S Ashly Schanback (Sr.), OH Alyssa Schott (Sr.), MB-OPP Carly Tremblay (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Amanda Arnold (Jr.), OH Loralee Catcott (Jr.), L Allyson Huber (Jr.), OH Stephanie Lage (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: Novak is looking to start seven seniors with Bemis (5-6) and Schott (5-8) at outside, Tremblay (5-8) and Bernstein (5-8) in the middle, Ellison (5-8) at opposite and Schanback (5-11) at setter with Pritchard (5-4) at libero. Hansen (6-3), a transfer from Steele Canyon, will give the Sundevils a whole different look up front. Mt. Carmel's last league title was 1995.
6. RANCHO BERNARDO
< 2005 RECORD: 6-14, 0-10 (sixth)
< COACH: Brad Baldwin
< RETURNERS: MB Alaura Berry (Sr.), OPP-OH Michelle Eckman (Sr.), MB Kelsie Brooks (Sr.), BR Vanessa Schweitzer (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Shannon Orlins (Jr.), BR Samantha Pearson (Jr.), OH Amanda Treschott (Jr.), OPP-S Brianne Francois (Jr.), S Katie Jo Carlson (Jr.), L Ashieigh Yamasak (So.), OH Hannah Mallaby (So.), OH-MB Rebecca Moore (Fr.).
< OUTLOOK: The Broncos, with only Berry (6-0) and Eckman (5-10) back as starters, are starting over hoping to build off last year's playoff victory at Carlsbad. Carlson (5-10), Francois (5-11), Treschott (5-9) and Orlins (6-0) will start, along with Yamasak (5-9) at libero. There is plenty of height this year with seven girls at 5-10 or taller, including five of them from the JV. Berry will be the go-to girl. Rancho Bernardo has never won a league title in girls volleyball.
AVOCADO LEAGUE
1. FALLBROOK
< 2005 RECORD: 23-8, 7-3 (tied for first)
< COACH: Galen Tomlinson
< RETURNERS: S Carli Lloyd (Sr.), OPP Shelley Morton (Jr.), OH Hannah Haskell (Sr.), MB Holly Herter (Jr.), MB-OPP Chelsea Ciaverelli (Sr.), S Hailey Van Wechel (Jr.), MB-OH Stephanie Jansen (Jr.), L Shaunti Hedrick (Jr.), BR Kerry Popko (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OH Pamela Cheu (Sr.), OH Cashelle White (Jr.), MB Shadare McNeal (So.).
< OUTLOOK: As good as last year's CIF and Avocado League player of the year Lloyd (5-11) is, she'll have plenty of help from second-team all-leaguer Morton (5-10) and third-team all-leaguer Haskell (5-8). Herter (6-0) is back to start along with honorable mention all-leaguer Van Wechel (5-8), McNeal (5-11) and Cheu (5-8), a foreign exchange student from Mexico who is coming off a knee injury last year. According to Tomlinson, Cheu "may be the fourth best player in the county,'' and McNeal has a lot of upside. The Warriors have shared the last two league titles and have won three titles in the past five seasons.
2. CARLSBAD
< 2005 RECORD: 18-9, 7-3 (tied for first)
< COACH: Jason Harper
< RETURNERS: S Alexa Harper (Jr.), S Cory Santos (Jr.), OPP-L Chelsea Cornwell (Jr.), OH Courtney Tanner (Sr.), OPP Kandi Walton (Sr.), MB Ariana Covington (Jr.), OH Tabitha Henken (Jr.), L-OPP Kim-Lien Le (Jr.), S Negin Daneshfar (Sr.), OPP Kathleen Carbone (Jr.), OH Jamie Birrenkott (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: S Marisa Low (So.), OH Robin Rostratter (So.), MB Ali Johnson (Jr.), OPP Brittany O'Connol (So.), MB Cassie Belk (Fr.).
< OUTLOOK: Last year was the Lancers' first league title. Not only are the top seven players back, but six of them received postseason honors. Tanner (5-10) was a second-team All-CIF honoree with Covington (6-0) being a second-team all-leaguer, Walton (6-0) and Henken (6-1) being third-team all-leaguers and Santos (5-8) and Cornwell (5-10) being honorable mention all-leaguers. Harper (5-10) will see plenty of time at setter and Le (5-9) is one of the North County's best liberos. The Lancers have four other players taller than 5-10 in reserve.
3. VISTA
< 2005 RECORD: 23-13, 7-3 (tied for first)
< COACH: Julie Kaiser
< RETURNERS: OPP Malia Marquardt (Jr.), OH Jasmine Rankins (Jr.), S Cassidy Asebroek (Sr.), BR Chelsea Arcaris (Sr.), BR Dera Martinez (Jr.), OH Lauren Campbell (Jr.), MB Kaila Crowell (Jr.), BR Jamie Basinger (Jr.), BR Ryane Cox (Sr.), OPP Amanda Potts (Sr.), BR Alyssa Alvarado (Sr.), OH Chauntae Gold (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Carolina Mohrlock (Jr.), OH Stephanie Campbell (Jr.), S Ariel Hampel (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: Vista, coming off sharing the last two league titles, will depend on first-team all-leaguer Marquardt (6-0) and second-team all-leaguer Rankins (6-0) to score the points off sets from second-team all-leaguer Asebroek (5-8). Throw in third-team all-leaguer Arcaris (5-6) and the Panthers should challenge once again. Lauren Campbell (5-9) and Martinez (5-6) will see significant playing time while Crowell (5-10) and Mohrlock (5-7) man the middle. Marquardt and Rankins, who played middle last year, have already committed to colleges ---- Marquardt to Brigham Young and Rankins to Loyola Marymount.
4. RANCHO BUENA VISTA
< 2005 RECORD: 26-8, 7-3 (tied for first)
< COACH: Leanne DeBora
< RETURNERS: OH Megan Phillips (Sr.), MB Erin Bilgrien (Sr.), OL Athena Merica (Sr.), S Amber Varnes (Sr.), MB Maddie Engert (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: S Taylor Crabtree (Jr.), OH Caroline Quiring (Jr.), OH Claire Frame (Jr.), MB Andrea Johnson (So.), OPP-MB April Cordova (Jr.), BR Johanna Renfro (Sr.), BR Michelle Miller (Jr.), S-OPP Stephanie McCracken (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: By sharing last year's league title, the Longhorns ended an 11-year drought since their last crown. Phillips (5-10), a third-team all-league middle last year, steps into the go-to role up front along with honorable mention all-leaguer Bilgrien (5-10). Crabtree (5-9) moved from La Costa Canyon to become the setter while Merica (5-7) is also scheduled to start. The other two starting spots are up for grabs. The Longhorns lost four starters to graduation.
5. EL CAMINO
< 2005 RECORD: 4-17, 2-8 (fifth)
< COACH: Mani Santos
< RETURNERS: S Siga Faapauli (Sr.), OH Connie Martinez (Sr.), OPP Gese Leniu (Sr.), BR Allysa Chung (Jr.), MB Elizabeth Hafemann (So.), MB-OH Kimberly Lane (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Valeria Villanueva (Sr.), BR Courtney Kay (Sr.), S-BR Alissa Mikani (Jr.), OH Lauren Brown (Jr.), MB Madeline Estrabillo (So.), OH Sam Strawser (Fr.), S-OPP Alex Meyers (Fr.).
< OUTLOOK: The Wildcats return four starters in Faapauli (5-7), Martinez (5-7), Hafemann (5-9) and Chung (5-4). Kay (5-5) and Strawser (5-10) also figure to start. Estrabillo (5-7) and Meyers (5-10) will be the first reserves off the bench. Meyers will also spend some time learning how to be a setter.
6. OCEANSIDE
< 2005 RECORD: 0-17, 0-10 (sixth)
< COACH: Kristi Benson
< RETURNERS: OH Liona Laie (Sr.), OH Kimi Cece (Jr.), OH Ciara Warren (So.), L Ina Maluia (So.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Ashleigh Cottrell (Jr.), MB Taylor Stewart (So.), BR Kailah Pasefika (Sr.), BR Daisy Sanchez (Sr.), S Rebecca Heiner (So.), OH Brittany Taupule-Badillo (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: Back in their own gym after a two-year absence, the Pirates have some added height for a change. Laie (5-9) and Maluia (5-3) were both honorable mention all-leaguers in '05. Cece (5-5) and Warren (5-8) are back for playing time with newcomers Cottrell (5-11), Stewart (5-10) and Heiner (5-10). Pasefika (5-4) will come off the bench in the back row.
VALLEY LEAGUE
1. ESCONDIDO
< 2005 RECORD: 29-8, 10-2 (second)
< COACH: Lori Becker
< RETURNERS: OPP Heather Dunn (Sr.), S Hilary Warren (Sr.), MB Stephanie Phillips (Sr.), OH Sarah Hall (Jr.), BR Jen Richardson (Sr.), OH Jessica Archie (Jr.), OH Amira Attar (Jr.), MB Lindsey Brewer (So.), OH Courtney Brewer (So.), S Jenna Godinez (So.).
< NEWCOMERS: OH Nora Altman (Jr.), BR Jenny Pasch (Jr.), S Lacey Bridges (Jr.), MB Taylor Williams (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: The Cougars have won six league titles since 1983 and finished first or second every year since a fifth-place finish in 1997. They return seven of their top eight players from last year's second-place squad. Only Nyla Ware graduated. Second-team all-leaguers Phillips (6-0) and Hall (5-10), third-team all-leaguer Archie (5-8) and honorable mention all-leaguers Dunn (6-0) and Warren (5-4) lead the way, along with Richardson (5-7) and Lindsey brewer (5-11). Attar (5-7) will be first off the bench for a team with 10 returners. Becker will bring back 10 players next year as well.
2. RAMONA
< 2005 RECORD: 17-11, 7-5 (third)
< COACH: Connie Halfaker
< RETURNERS: MB Rachel Whitten (Sr.), OH Alyssa Karnopp (Sr.), S Alyssa Bennett (Jr.), BR Jessica Johnson (Jr.), BR Hannah Carr (Sr.), OPP Alex Villegas (Sr.), OH Jolinda Georgeson (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: BR Maegan VanTol (Sr.), MB Heather Hartwell (Sr.), OH Michelle Winchell (Jr.), OH Cassie Miller (So.).
< OUTLOOK: Coming off one of their best seasons ever, the Bulldogs return four top performers in second-team all-leaguer Karnopp (5-7) and honorable mention all-leaguers Whitten (5-11), Bennett (5-10) and Johnson (5-5). Hartwell (6-1), Georgeson (5-9) and Villegas (5-8) should get lots of playing time. Carr (5-5), VanTol (5-7) and Johnson will contribute off the bench. While Whitten and Karnopp will have an impact on offense, Halfaker figures the defense is even better than last year. "We have no question marks,'' Halfaker said. "We paid the price last year.''
3. VALLEY CENTER
< 2005 RECORD: 26-4, 12-0 (first)
< COACH: Nathan Rendon
< RETURNERS: MB-OPP Shannon Moyneur (Sr.), BR Kyra Eastman (Sr.), OH Kortney Westerlund (Sr.), OPP Felicia Penney (Sr.), MB-OH Taylor Samrau (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Wesley Mowry (Jr.), S Amanda Packer (Jr.), BR Siera Johnson (Jr.), OH Jessica Beach (Jr.), BR Ali Buscemi (Jr.), OPP Becca Mussatti (Jr.), MB Marlene Dudek (So.), S Melanie Sourbeer (So.), OH Stephanie Becvar (Fr.)
< OUTLOOK: The Jaguars have won or shared the last three league titles, but most of the players ---- four of them were all-leaguers last year ---- from those teams are gone. Rendon is in his first season at Valley Center after coming over from Orange Glen. Third-team all-leaguer Moyneur (6-2) leads the new-look Jags, along with three honorable mention all-leaguers in Eastman (5-6), Penney (5-8) and Sourbeer (5-4). Moyneur could play outside, right side or in the middle. Beach (5-7), Becvar (5-7), Samrau (5-10) and Dusek (5-10) will also see plenty of time on the court.
4. SAN PASQUAL
< 2005 RECORD: 14-16, 6-6 (fourth)
< COACH: Steve Anthony
< RETURNERS: OH Tairyn Rasmussen (Sr.), MB Jesse Rauch (Sr.), S Hanna Smolan (Sr.), L Alaina Frye (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Stephanie Onstot (Jr.), MB-OPP Angelica McKeithen (So.), S Andrea Dietz (So.), MB Kelsey Carter (Sr.), OH Maddy Russo (So.), MB Elizabeth Janson (Jr.), OH Kelcie Livesay (So.), OH Alycia Potter (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: The Eagles haven't won a league title since capturing four of the league's first five titles ---- the last one was 2002 ---- and only first-team all-leaguer Rasmussen (5-10), honorable mention all-leaguer Rauch (5-10) and Smolan (5-6) are back as starters. And the final three starting spots are still up in the air as the season begins. Anthony has eight new players up from the JV.
5. MISSION HILLS
< 2005 RECORD: 16-14, 4-8 (fifth)
< COACH: Cindy Matthews
< RETURNERS: OH Kristi Bishop (Jr.), MB Morgan Bates (Sr.), BR-OH Heather Becerra (Sr.), S Shannalei Gibson-Seau (Sr.), L Heather Jenkins (Sr.), MB Brianna Tabler (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OPP Alex Pankey (So.), BR Lauren Le (So.), MB Melissa Hatley (Jr.), OH Natalie Navarez (Jr.), OPP Lauren Sharp (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: Matthews takes over the program at a good time. Six starters have returned in third-team all-leaguer Bishop (5-8) and honorable mention all-leaguer Gibson-Seau (5-10), along with Bates (5-10), Becerra (5-6), Jenkins (5-6) and Tabler (5-9). Pankey (5-8), who made the jump from the freshman team, also figures into the starting lineup plans. The Grizzlies, however, are in Division I for the playoffs.
6. ORANGE GLEN
< 2005 RECORD: 4-18, 0-12 (seventh)
< COACH: J.J. Brull
< RETURNERS: OH Alyssa Brown (Sr.), MB Charisa Boyer (Sr.), OPP Veronica Morones (Sr.), S Molly Godfrey (Sr.), L Beth Acevedo (Sr.), OH Alysia Salvador (Jr.), MB Lana Graves (Jr.), OH Stephany Newland (So.), MB Lauren McCann (Sr.), OH Kayla Ekstrom (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OPP Jessica Simonsen (So.), MB Michelle Thinh (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: Third-team all-leaguer Brown (5-8) leads the way as the Patriots continue searching for their first league title. Morones (5-9), Godfrey (5-6), Boyer (5-10), Salvador (5-6) and Newland (5-9) are also back to start along with Acevedo (5-4). According to Brull, Brown should be all-league again after coming off a shoulder injury.
7. SAN MARCOS
< 2005 RECORD: 8-19, 3-9 (sixth)
< COACH: Michell Rendon
< RETURNERS: S Alyssa Erickson (Sr.), MB Janessa Morgan (Jr.), OH Alex McCoy (Jr.), OPP Ashley Metzger (Jr.), BR Jessie Brungardt (Sr.), BR Nastasha Sevilla (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OPP Karly Rasmussen (So.), OPP Morgan Medina (Jr.), OH Jennifer Minnich (So.), OPP Pauline Chung (So.), OH Jordan Beck (So.), MB Kylee Kammler (Jr.).
< OUTLOOK: The Knights, who are looking for their first league title since 1984, return starters in Erickson (5-10), Morgan (5-10) and McCoy (5-7). Kammler (5-11) and Rasmussen (5-7) figure to start, with the final spot still up for grabs. Erickson, Morgan and Kammler should be the main point scorers. There may not be enough size up front to make a title run, so playing defense will be vital.
WESTERN LEAGUE
CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC
< 2005 RECORD: 19-12, 10-2 (second)
< COACH: Kelly Drobeck
< RETURNERS: OH Lexi Williamson (So.), OPP Kara Robinson (Sr.), MB Colleen Gallagher (Sr.), S-L Therese Bubel (Sr.), OH Paige Hoffman (Jr.), L Tabatha Godoy (Sr.), L Alexa Hosn (Sr.), OPP Shea Green (Sr.), MB Dayna Walker (Sr.), OH Kim Yee (So.).
< NEWCOMERS: OH Caitlin Conners (So.), OH Kelly Reeves (Fr.), S Belinda Kraemer (Fr.), S-L Mariah Agre (Fr.).
< OUTLOOK: The Dons missed out on capturing the CIF Division III San Diego Section title in '05, losing to league rival La Jolla in the finale. Williamson (5-10), Robinson (5-7) and Gallagher (5-10) return from that group as starters and will be joined by Bubel (5-6), Kraemer (5-10), Walker (5-11) and Reeves (5-10) in some form. Hoffman (6-2) and Green (5-8) will contribute off the bench. Drobeck will miss a little time this season since she's close to having her second child this month.
< OTHER TEAMS: La Jolla, Scripps Ranch, University City, Point Loma, Christian, Mira Mesa.
COASTAL LEAGUE NORTH
(In alphabetical order)
CALVIN CHRISTIAN
< 2005 RECORD: 17-13, 2-4 (third)
< COACH: Sarah Schreuder
< RETURNERS: OH Andrea Marcus (Sr.), L Amanda Koolhaus (Sr.), BR-S Colleen Huston (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: S Danielle Gorter (Sr.), MB Liesje Brouwer (Sr.), OPP Nicole Vander Woude (Sr.), BR Megan Kelly (Sr.), BR Briana Jackson (Jr.), MB Nicole Tasooji (Jr.), OH-MB Bridgette Doig (Jr.), OH Michelle Baerg (So.).
< OUTLOOK: Schreuder, who took over as the coach when Gail Malone left for Santa Fe Christian, said she's counting on Gorter, Brouwer, Tasooji, Marcus, Baerg and Koolhaus as starters. Jackson and Huston will come into the back row off the bench. But the Crusaders are in a tough league again, even though Santa Fe Christian moves up to the Division IV playoffs this year.
SAN DIEGUITO ACADEMY
< 2005 RECORD: 13-19, 0-6 (fourth)
< COACH: Dexter Harvey
< RETURNERS: OH Leanne Stennett (Sr.), L-OH Gia Kobara (Sr.), OH Kami Tiano (Sr.), S Mackenzie Arias (Jr.), OPP Kayla Frost (So.), BR Felicia Gualda (Sr.), OH Kelly Flannery (So.), MB Ali McGregor (So.), S Kelsey Crowe (So.).
< NEWCOMERS: MB Vanessa Beach (Sr.), BR Anna Kobara (Fr.), MB Katherine Merchat (Fr.).
< OUTLOOK: The five returning starters ---- Stennett (5-10), Gia Kobara (5-6), Tiano (5-10), Arias (5-10) and Frost (5-10) ---- will be joined on the court by Beach (5-11), who transferred from La Costa Canyon last year. Harvey thinks this may be the deepest Mustangs team in the past decade. That's because there are seven players taller than 5-10.
SANTA FE CHRISTIAN
< 2005 RECORD: 24-11 (CIF Division V San Diego Section champion, Division V state champion), 5-1 (tied for first)
< COACH: Gail Malone
< RETURNERS: MB Amy Alkasin (So.), MB Sami Miller (Jr.), OH Maile Miller (Sr.), L Antonina Castagnola (Sr.), MB Karly Shoemaker (Sr.), S Leslee Lambert (Sr.), OPP Faith Steinweidell (Jr.), OH Kristen Miller (So.), MB Chelsea Oemcke (So.), OH Natalie Sun (So.), OH Sarah Francis (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: S Taylor Johnson (So.), MB-OPP Jenny DeVries (So.), MB Victoria Adelhelm (So.).
< OUTLOOK: The Eagles return four starters from last year's state championship club, but will take aim at back-to-back titles with 12 players taller than 5-10. Johnson (5-8) takes over the setting duties with Steinweidell (6-1), Sun (5-10), Maile Miller (5-10), Sami Miller (5-11) and Alkasin (5-10) scheduled to start. Francis (5-10), Kristen Miller (5-11), Shoemaker (6-0), Oemcke (5-10) and Adelhelm (6-2) figure to get significant playing time off the bench for Malone, who moved over from rival Tri-City Christian to replace Diane Pascua. "If we play three games in a match,'' said Malone, "we could have three different lineups and not have our performance fall off much.'' The Eagles move up to Division IV in the state playoffs, which means they could meet defending state champion Parker for the 2006 crown.
TRI-CITY CHRISTIAN
< 2005 RECORD: 28-7, 5-1 (tied for first)
< COACH: Kristen Wright
< RETURNERS: MB Kelly Clausen (Sr.), OH Ashley Pace (Sr.), S Aimee Bird (Jr.), OH-MB Alyssa Baker (Jr.), OH Taylor Shipley (Jr.), OH Breanna Schleicher (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OH Miranda Ramirez (Fr.), L Taoia Fleming (So.), OPP Rachel Willis (So.), S Taylor Mehl (So.), BR Christina Carabagal (Sr.), MB Brittany Thompson (So.).
< OUTLOOK: Wright, who came over from rival Santa Fe Christian, has four starters back from last year's league co-championship club. Clausen (6-1) is back in the middle, Bird (5-11) is the setter and Pace (5-9) and Baker (6-0) are on the outside. Ramirez (5-10) and Fleming (5-6) round out the lineup. Shipley (5-11) and Schleicher (5-10) give the Eagles plenty of support at the net. Nine players on this year's team will also be back in '07.
COASTAL LEAGUE SOUTH
CANYON CREST ACADEMY
< 2005 RECORD: 30-12 (JV)
< COACH: Ariel Haas
< RETURNERS: S Juliet O'Day (So.), S-BR Carissa Yamanisha (So.), OH Taylor Snell (So.), MB Alyssa Anton (So.), L Lindsey Walker (So.), OH Danielle Pifer (So.), MB Claire Andrews (So.), OPP Laura Plumb (So.), MB Megan Plumb (So.).
< NEWCOMERS: None.
< OUTLOOK: The first-year varsity program is made up of all sophomores, but all six starters from last year's JV team ---- O'Day (5-9), Yamanisha (5-5), Snell (5-8), Anton (5-9), Walker (5-6) and Pifer (5-8) ---- return. And the Ravens begin play in a new league, which is one of the best ones in the county.
< OTHER TEAMS: Bishop's, Horizon, La Jolla Country Day, Parker.
CITRUS LEAGUE WEST
(In alphabetical order)
ESCONDIDO ADVENTIST ACADEMY
< 2005 RECORD: 14-5, 11-3 (second)
< COACH: Doug Zimmerman
< RETURNERS: MB Jenny Buchheim (Jr.), BR Fabienne Leaf (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: S Ashley Perez (Sr.), OH Meghan McGee (Jr.), S Luisa Torres (Sr.), BR Philicia Ross (Sr.).
< OUTLOOK: Buchheim (5-10) is the only returning starter and will be a key player for the Hawks, along with McGee (5-8). Perez (5-7) and Torres (5-5) will handle all the setting duties, with the other two starting spots still to be determined.
VISTA CALVARY CHRISTIAN
< 2005 RECORD: 9-11, 7-7 (fourth)
< COACH: Katrina Hale
< RETURNERS: BR Amy Salvato (So.), MB Carey Sue (Sr.), MB Ciera Heimbigner (So.), OH Lindsey Stevens (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OPP Alyx Marascuillo (Fr.), S Taylor Waters (Fr.), OH Yesenia Ramos (Fr.), BR Kelly Moran (Fr.), OPP Christa Meier (Fr.), BR Megan Whetsel (Fr.), MB Amber Biernacki (Fr.), BR April Connal (Fr.), OPP Brooke Fenton (Fr.), OH Rachel Farris (So.).
< OUTLOOK: With the Citrus League breaking up into two leagues this year, the Lions begin with four starters back in Salvato (5-6), Sue (5-9), Heimbigner (5-8) and Stevens (5-6). Sue is the lone senior and the only player with a driver's license. Waters (5-1) and Farris (5-2) will also start on a team with nine freshman and, according to Hale, there will be more on next year's team.
SAN PASQUAL ACADEMY
< 2005 RECORD: Unknown
< COACH: Natalie Priester
< RETURNERS: S Ortisha Jones (Sr.), BR Alanna Ruiz (So.), S Karen Barker (Sr.).
< NEWCOMERS: OH Cynthia Esparza (So.), BR Veronica Faison (Sr.), OH Belen Gomez (Fr.), MB Marina Gonzalez (Sr.), OH Simone Hidds (So.), BR Karina Ricardez (Sr.), OH Adriana Ruiz (Fr.), OH Tieara Taylor (Sr.).
< OUTLOOK: This will be a fresh start for the Dragons, who return just three players from last year's team that was winless. Getting Gonzalez (5-10) from West Salem will be a big help up front for Priester, who came over from Mountain Empire this year.
GUAJOME PARK ACADEMY
< 2005 RECORD: Unknown
< COACH: Luis Llamas
< RETURNERS: OH Robin Rhine (Jr.), BR Natalie Chavez (Sr.), OPP Sarah Chavez (Jr.), S Amanda Serdanely (Jr.), S Carly Hunter (Jr.), UTIL Mirna Wasef (Jr.), BR Liz Ryan (Jr.).
< NEWCOMERS: UTIL Maya Koue (So.), S Jennifer Murray (So.).
< OUTLOOK: Llamas, a first-year coach for the Frogs, will start Rhine (6-1), Natalie Chavez (5-7), Serdanely (5-9), Hunter (5-6), Sarah Chavez (5-7) and Murray (5-9).
< OTHER TEAMS: San Diego Jewish Academy.
---- Terry Monahan
More Stories
Advertisement
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Advertisement