A growth topic
High school girls beach volleyball is growing in California and becoming much more than a sport played only in coastal communities.
This year, 16 schools in the Central Section are offering the sport. There are 13 playing beach in the North Coast Section, eight in the Sac-Joaquin, 14 in the Los Angeles Section, a handful in the Central Coast Section, and 45 in the San Diego Section.
It's only a matter of time…
Polling place
In the Southern Section, where they’ve been playing beach outside CIF for years but within the Southern Section purview since last year, there are so many schools competing on the sand (140 at last count) that there are two divisions and a regular poll to track the top teams.
In Division 1, here is the current ranking:
1. Mira Costa
2. JSerra
3. Redondo Union
4. San Marcos, Santa Barbara
5. Edison, Huntington Beach
6. Santa Margarita
7. Huntington Beach
8. Aliso Niguel
9. Mater Dei
10. Los Alamitos
In Division 2, the top 10 is as follows:
1. Crean Lutheran
2. Bishop Montgomery
3. Windward
4. Peninsula
5. El Segundo
6. St. Joseph, Lakewood
7. Campbell hall
8. Pacifica Christian
9. Ontario Christian
10. Oaks Christian
Taming the Mustangs?
Mira Costa indoor stars Audrey Flanagan (left) and Taylor Deckert also are beach standouts for the vaunted Mustang crew
The graduation of four starters has not prevented beach volleyball powerhouse Mira Costa from opening the season with 11 straight dual wins. The defending CIF-SS Division 1 champs (and winners of nine straight IBVL titles before that) have had two very competitive matches with Redondo Union, including one decided by a 3-2 score; but most have been sweeps.
Notable players thus far include Giselle and Savanna Lau, Taylor Deckert, Audrey Flanagan, Simone Roslon, Kate Morley, and Olga Nilkoleava. Costa owns wins over the likes of JSerra and Oaks Christian but has been pushed hardest by its Bay League rivals and sister city.
“The pressure will always be on Costa, which is a challenging position to play from for these athletes,” said coach Nancy Mason. “I am proud of them for continuing to rise to the challenge and sticking together as a team.”
La Jolla takes home jewels
La Jolla won a tournament this weekend in cold, rainy conditions
The 2nd Annual La Jolla Beach Classic Varsity Tournament finished on Saturday in rainy and cold conditions. The event was held not on the beaches of San Diego (due to permitting difficulties) but instead at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (formerly the US Olympic Training Center).
Ten schools competed with host La Jolla going 6-0 on the day to win. The Vikings swept Eastlake, 3-0, in the final. Our Lady of Peace and La Costa Canyon tied for third. Standout pairs from La Jolla were Lindsay Laumann and Lana Ferrell, Bradleigh Ryan and Natalie Fu , and Kira Shepanski and Katie Murray. All but the junior Murray are seniors.
La Jolla currently is 11-2 overall with approximately three weeks remaining in the regular season.
NOVA blocks?
NOVA Academy of Santa Ana is a new school and new to all sports, including beach volleyball.
Said assistant coach Brittany Adame:
“It has been a challenging yet rewarding start to the season. Not only are the student-athletes learning the rules of beach volleyball, but they are also learning the rules of volleyball, the movements, the techniques, and the skills. It is very apparent that many of them want to compete at a high level as well as learn the game better. In order to do this, the team is working on their communication skills, something that, as both new players to the game, and new athletes in general, is a skill in itself. When put to the test, NOVA players rise to the challenge.”
NOVA’s first match came against Calvary Chapel and NOVA’s players were nervous, as none had ever played in a game before.
“The first game for NOVA Academy is a game that neither the coaches nor the players will forget,” Adame said. “All the amazing players and coaches at Calvary Chapel knew it was our first year and they were so kind and supportive. During the matches, they encouraged our players not to give up, helped with pointers on technique, and helped our girls with correct form, as well as displayed the utmost respect and sportsmanship. The coach of Calvary Chapel was also very helpful and helped NOVAs players.”
After that dual, Adame said that she started to see a shift in the team’s players.
“NOVA athletes have learned that when they mess up, it's ok and to keep going for the next point,” she explained. “The girls began to work harder in practice, during both weight sessions and at games. The bond of the team strengthened, and the communication has gotten better. The team is still young and has a lot to work on, but each day, all the players are getting better, working hard, and having fun. NOVA is proud of its team and looks forward to seeing the team grow over the years.”
News and notes
Valley Christian Academy of Santa Maria is in its third season and plays in the league that is the farthest north to be included in the Southern Section. The Lions are currently 4-2 at the season’s midway point and they are undefeated in league play.
The team’s top player, Carissa Maples, is the Lions’ only senior and has been with the team from the beginning.
“She is unique as a multi-talented student-athlete,” her head coach said. “Her accomplishments include playing French horn in the band, singing in and playing the piano for the choir, captain of three separate sports and earning all-league in them, volunteering weekly at her church, and likely this year’s valedictorian.”
On the sand, Maples not only fights hard each game for each point but plays smart with well-placed shots and excellent serves.
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La Jolla Country Day had a dream 2023 campaign, which included a 7-0 run through the Coastal Conference title and a trip to the San Diego Section semifinals. The Torreys have benefited greatly from the sand facility built on campus in the summer of 2022, which has created endless opportunities for beach.
This season has not gone as well as hoped for Country Day, with four graduated seniors and unexpected injuries testing the depth of the roster. The team is catching its stride, said coach Lynne Galli, and is now 5-4 (5-1 in conference play).
“We are progressing well each week, led by our senior captains Malia Brown and Emily French,” Galli said. “These two are excellent leaders, experienced and disciplined athletes, and have stepped up their game.”
Another pair to watch is the dynamic sister duo of Calin and Regan Schneider.
“This dynamic pair has amazing on court chemistry and some of the best hand setting in San Diego,” Galli noted. “The rest of our athletes have all shown immense hustle, determination, and growth in the first half of our spring season. We hope to continue developing our younger players at a steady pace and to make a nice run in the playoffs at the end of April.”
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Harbor (Santa Cruz) is 2-0 on the season to date. The Pirates play in the only league in the Central Coast Section and have a large roster of 19 pairs of athletes.
“Our challenge is finding matches for all of the girls!!!” exclaimed coach Matt Schutz.
Next week at Main Beach is the showdown with Santa Cruz.
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Classical Academy’s top pair, Rachel Perrington (left) and Heiress Afalava, are undefeated this season when paired together
Coach Thomas Lloyd took over as coach of Classical Academy, an Oceanside school, last year when it had barely 10 players and little equipment. Through fundraising, the Stingrays were able to purchase all new net systems with lines and antennas to be able to host matches this season. The team grew to 21 athletes and has doubled its win total already this season.
“We are starting to create a love for the sport of beach volleyball at our school,” Lloyd said.
Classical’s top pair, Rachel Perrington and Heiress Afalava, are undefeated this season when paired together and aspire to continue playing in college. Perrington, a senior, had a minor injury that prevented her participation in a few duals, but she is back and, according to Lloyd, the pair is “back together and hungry to finish the rest of the season.”
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Cuyama started last year with just four players. The Bears now have seven players, with the goal of growing the program each year. The team captain is a freshman, Josie Russell. She keeps the Bears motivated and enthusiastic about the sport.
Cuyama played it first home game on its own sand court last week and we will move to beautiful Pismo Beach to finish out its slate.
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JSerra has a sophomore star in Sara Moynihan
JSerra is currently ranked No. 2 in Div. 1 of the Southern Section and its only loss has been to Mira Costa, 4-1. The Lions have gone from eight athletes in coach Julia Colapinto’s first season four years ago to almost 60 trying out.
“It’s a testament to how the sport has grown significantly due to it becoming a CIF sport,” the coach said.
The two sophomores playing on JSerra’s top pair, Sara Moynihan and Emma Champagne, are currently unbeaten on the season and top recruits in their class. The Lions also boast four Division I recruits, senior Jessie Bates, who will play indoors at UCI; and three juniors playing beach in college: Ruby Hill (UCLA), Grace Fogel (USC), and Nicole Thorp (Pepperdine).
JSerra currently stands atop the Trinity League and has yet to lose in league play.
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Oaks Christian won the Marmonte League with an undefeated run.
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Santa Margarita Catholic returned most of its team from last year and is having a fine year led by seven seniors. The Eagles are 8-3 overall with wins over Newport Harbor and Mater Dei and are on track to finish second behind JSerra in the Trinity.
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Mammoth's beach team is in its third year
Mammoth High School, in its third season of beach, is fielding a full JV and varsity squad for the first time. Returning beach players include Mila Knight, Madeline Le Francois , and Ashlynn Parsons.
The Huskies opened their season the weekend of March 8-0 playing in a friendly round-robin against Crean Lutheran, Xavier Prep, and Palm Desert.
“We won some, lost some, and figured out our pairings,” said coach Erin Le Francois.
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Arroyo Grande is 5-5 overall and 2-2 in league playing, having recently avenged an earlier loss to Mission Prep. The Eagles have three seniors and three sophomores in their varsity lineup. The team has wins over Santa Barbara schools Buena and Santa Barbara and competed earlier this year in a pairs tournament where AG’s No. 1 pair, Riley Glanville and Tana Long, finished second overall out of 15.
Head coach Macie Lachemann said that watching the sophomores rise to the occasion has been fun to witness. Lachemann is a 2023 graduate of Colorado Mesa University and in her first year coaching beach at her high school alma mater.
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El Camino Real is poised to challenge in the Los Angeles Section again this year
El Camino Real has been one of the top two beach programs in the Los Angeles Section for the previous two seasons. This year, Alyssa Lee’s team started 6-0, including two wins over Taft, which won the Teams championship in 2023.
ECR is led by top pair Audrey Choi (12) and Addison Choi (9). Audrey Choi is committed to UC Davis. Addison was a silver medalist at the 2023 AVP 14U Nationals.
Four other seniors make up the remaining varsity pairs. Among them are Claire Grasteit and Kamelia Tashakor, the 2023 LAS pairs champions.
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Venice has hit the sand running in its first year
Venice is playing beach for the first time and coach Charlie Styrbicki said the team is making history.
“If you watch our team, you would not think that it is our first year,” he said. “I was lucky enough to inherit some really skilled and hardworking players. We have had lots of success so far this season, with plenty of room to improve as well.”
Among Venice highlights: winning every competition during a tournament March 16; coming from behind to beat Taft in a very close match during a late February event; and seeing a pair brand new to beach win a match in a pairs/JV tournament!
“The main message is that I have a great team of players who support one another,” Styrbicki said. “I feel lucky to be their coach!”