You’ve found The Notebook, our Friday weekly look at girls volleyball throughout the state of California.
The statewide top 25: Stability at the top, turmoil at the bottom
Did you see yesterday’s statewide top 25? The top 11 teams last week were the top 11 teams this week, with just slight movement among the teams. That’s a strong indication that those teams will hover around the top of the rankings all season long.
Did you see yesterday’s statewide top 25? The bottom 14 teams from the first ranking on Aug. 17 have lost half their members. That’s a strong indication that there will be volatility at the margin of the rankings all season long.
The seven teams out of the rankings, former No. 13 La Cañada, No. 17 Foothill of Pleasanton, No. 19 Lakewood, No. 20 Newport Harbor, No. 22 South Pasadena, No. 24 San Ramon Valley and No. 25 San Marcos of San Marco, were replaced by current No. 12 Santa Margarita Catholic, No. 15 Folsom, No. 17 Palos Verdes, No. 19 Westview, No. 23 Campbell Hall, No. 24 Redwood of Larkspur and No. 25 Amador Valley.
Santa Margarita's fast start justifies this picture, we s'pose
Of the newcomers, Santa Margarita has been easily the most dazzling and most likely to stick. The Eagles backed up their ranking with another win over state-ranked Edison last night but caught our attention on Monday by winning the Tesoro Tournament. Katy Daly’s team defeated Aliso Niguel, Edison (17-15 in the third), Palos Verdes, and Beckman consecutively to take the title, an impressive run!
“My two pins, senior Regan Shields and junior Brooklynn Drumwright are leading the way,” Daly said. “My senior setter Brooklyn Kostoff is setting a great pace and finding who’s hot. My freshman Ireland Real has been thrown in the middle and is making waves with her solid wall and quick over-the-top swing. Memphis Burnette is a ball of fire and pure athlete. Lastly, my Libero, Izzy Simon, is quick on her feet and a solid serve-receive passer.”
The most surprising entrant may be Palos Verdes, which graduated its first two contacts and then saw superstar hitter Kaci DeMaria opt not to play her junior year. The Sea Kings have gotten high-level play from OH Kendall Beshear, a club Open-level national champion averaging more than six kills per set; as well as strong defense from Molly and Mallory Labreche.
Sea Hawks on top at Lakewood
Redondo Union is all smiles in this selfie after winning the Molten Tournament
No. 9 Redondo Union moved up two spots in this week’s top 25 after sweeping both state-ranked Long Beach Wilson and state-ranked La Cañada on Saturday to capture the Tae Kim Lakewood/Molten Classic title. The Sea Hawks got terrific setting from Madi Collins and pins Vic Henkel, Abby Zimmerman, and Addy Benefield all hit .300 for the day.
“I was pleased with our focus, execution, and overall enthusiasm we had,” said coach Tommy Chaffins. “We have tremendous depth in all of the positions, but the starters were playing with such great rhythm in the finals that we only played eight players.”
Redondo continued its hot start to 2023 in a loss yesterday to No. 5 Sierra Canyon. The Sea Hawks and Trailblazers battled toe-to-toe into the fifth set before Sierra Canyon prevailed, 15-13.
“It is so important to be tested by great teams early in the season,” said Sierra Canyon coach Stefanie Wigfall. “We got better as a team last night because of Redondo’s relentless defense and ability to adjust. We had to work through communication lapses on serve receive and offensive consistency issues in order to squeak out this win. It was a fun match. Coach Chaffins is such a class act and Redondo are great hosts and a great team.”
Folsom makes early statement
Folsom hosted the Bulldog Bash last weekend, with many of the best teams in the Sac-Joaquin Section in attendance. Folsom, the fourth seed behind St. Francis of Sacramento, Rocklin, and Vacaville, won the tournament, defeating St. Francis in the semis and tall Granite Bay in the championship match.
“My standouts were senior middle Addie Kannegeiser, who is now committed to UC Irvine; and freshman middle Avery Masters, who is 6-3 and did amazing for her first varsity experience,” noted coach Devin Elmore.
Who Saugus coming?
Saugus, the 2022 Southern Section Div. 4 champion, is off to a 9-0 start to the season despite graduation and a key transfer ravaging the roster. How to explain it?
“Maturity of the junior core,” said coach Zach Ambrose. “Morgan Guardado filling in the role of setter, Leila Ballard taking most of the offense, and the improved play of already-spectacular libero Gabriella Cascione.”
The Centurions, who boast impressive wins over Santa Barbara and Northwood of Irvine, also are getting nice contributions from newcomers Leah Taylor (OH) and Ayden Jacobsen (MB).
All five are juniors.
“We should build some great chemistry this season and then it should carry over to next year as well,” Ambrose said.
Home sweet home
Redwood of Visalia defeated Frontier in its home opener on Tuesday. And it was quite the barnburner, as the first three sets were decided by 33-31, 34-32, and 29-27 scores!
What makes the win more significant is it represents the first time the seniors played on their home floor, after gym renovations closed the facility for four years!
Senior OH Kennedy Cutler had a great game with 20 kills, 10 digs, and three aces. Libero Devyn Castaneda dug up 23 balls and had six assists. S/RS Audrey Hyde contributed 24 assists, 10 kills, eight blocks, and two aces.
The Rangers followed up that win by rallying to defeat Clovis East yesterday in a reverse sweep. Hyde had 23 kills, 26 assists, and 18 digs in the win. Castaneda had 32 digs.
In key action Thursday from the state top 25…
Top-ranked Mira Costa improved to 11-1 with a sweep of perennially tough Harvard-Westlake.
No. 2 Cathedral Catholic and No. 3 Mater Dei, down in Austin, Texas for Volleypalooza, started their tournaments with 3-0 records following pool play wins.
No. 6 Marymount took care of Notre Dame Academy.
No. 7 Saint Francis of Mountain View won its season opener in four over Burlingame. No. 11 Archbishop Mitty and No. 20 Sacred Heart Prep, the other ranked Central Coast Section teams, also opened their 2023 campaigns with wins, over Los Gatos and Menlo-Atherton, respectively.
No. 14 Beckman continued its hot start with a win over Tesoro.
No. 18 JSerra got by defending state Div. II champion Chaminade.
No. 23 Campbell Hall, new to the top 25, validated its ranking with a win over tough Oaks Christian.
“Last night was an exciting and hard-fought match on both sides,” said Campbell Hall coach Kat Thyer. “I am very proud of how we adjusted throughout the match and kept our composure after losing the first set.”
Three in the top 25 did lose. No. 15 Folsom was stunned by Vacaville in four. No. 19 Westview fell to Eastlake to fall from the unbeaten ranks after defeating Eastlake just five days before. And No. 22 Edison fell again to Santa Margarita, though this wasn’t quite the nail-biter that Saturday’s Tesoro Tournament match was.
News and notes…
Mammoth got its 2023 season off to an auspicious start. In its very first set of the season last Friday, senior setter Madeline Le Francois served 24 straight points, with eight aces, in a 25-0 win…
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Indian Springs started the 2023 campaign with three straight losses, but between Aug. 14 and Aug. 17, the Coyotes won three matches in a row, marking the first three-match winning streak in school history! Junior OH Jizelle Castellanos had 30 aces for the week for Indian Springs, which matched its win total for all of last year in one glorious four-day span. UPDATE: The Coyotes have since added two more wins. MB Joceline Rosiles was Player of the Match in yesterday’s sweep of Perris…
With an experienced group of returners, Foothill is underway in the fall 2023 campaign. Featuring outside hitters senior Paige Bennet (Winthrop commit) and junior Kaycie Burdick, along with senior setter Katie Salonga (Colorado commit), the team is starting to put the pieces together for a strong run this season
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Foothill of Pleasanton lost to cross-town rival Amador Valley in the semifinals of the East County tournament this past weekend. Junior middle blocker Charlotte Kelly and senior libero Katie O'Sullivan played well in the victory for AV. Foothill got nice work on defense from freshman libero Kait Vogel and had effective right side options junior Paige Nelson and senior Ema Vukojevic. Foothill is looking forward to the return of junior middle blocker Lulu Hoenninger from last season's ACL injury suffered in the North Coast Section finals…
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Let's celebrate a thousand kills for Julia Tostova of Redlands, who needed just two years and a bit to reach that milestone
Tuesday’s win over Serrano saw Redlands’ senior OH Julia Tostova deliver 31 kills. One of those was career kill No. 1,000.
“I think this is pretty awesome considering she didn’t have a freshmen year due to Covid,” said coach Corinne Flowers.
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Newport Harbor freshman Ella Olson is exhibiting signs of stardom after amassing 100 kills over the Sailors’ first eight matches. The team is showing signs of brilliance and signs of youth in a 5-3 start, says coach Andrew Mabry. He expects good things to come as his team grows and improves…
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Pitman's Pride is showing after winning the season-opening Orestimba Tourney
Pitman went undefeated to win the Orestimba Tourney. The Pride returns nine of 11 from last year’s roster, which suffered defeat just twice…
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Rocklin is 6-1 with a roster that includes one senior, three juniors, and seven sophomores. This is the team that could be best in the Sac-Joaquin by year’s end.
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Mountain View recreates the iconic Abbey Road album cover
Last weekend, the Varsity and JV teams at Mountain View did scavenger hunts and managed not to get into trouble, said head coach Dave Winn. “One of the tasks was to take a Beatles Abbey Road pic and they pulled it off well,” he added.
More season outlooks
Last week, we wrote season outlooks for about 60 teams. Here are some more.
A lot more.
Prima Glorioso is now coaching Granite Bay after a successful seven-year run at Amador Valley. Granite Bay has started 4-1 behind a solid group of seniors led by OHs Malia Pilimai and Macie Kniesel and libero Mia Urosevic. What makes the Grizzly roster special, however, are the talented sophomores, including impact middles Allie Powell and Elishka Tupy. Watch out for this bunch!
Harbor of Santa Cruz graduated its libero off of a 30-win team but returns everyone else, including junior OH Isla Johnson and junior setters Maren O’Farrell and Sandy Enriquez. Gwen Grigsby, who sat out last year to work on her beach game, returns to play libero for her senior year after accepting a next-level offer from Cal State Bakersfield. She should be a strong back row option for veteran coach Matt Schutz, who has a deep roster of 17 all capable of seeing the court and producing.
Second in the Trinity League a year ago, Santa Margarita Catholic will look to challenge for the top spot once again despite graduating four starters: MBs Sophia Stalcup and Grace Jackson, RS Bridey O’Connor, and libero Grace Moss, all of whom are playing in college. The team builds around setter Brooklynn Kostoff and outsides Brooklyn Drumwright and Reagan Shields and will be formidable if it can find middles to help balance the offense. Freshman Irelan Real, who stands 6-4, is a nice foundational piece for coach Katy Daly, now in her 13th year at the helm.
El Capitain of Lakeside down San Diego way won 29 matches a year ago and its fifth straight league title. The Vaqueros return league MVP Madison Triplett, a 5-10 senior outside and the school’s career kills leader. Brennan Pau’s team also brings back eight other impact players, including junior attackers Madelyn Wutzke and Paige Worthem, senior libero Madison Liedecke, and senior setter Ruby Ennis.
San Juan Hills shared a league title a year ago with powerhouses San Clemente and Aliso Niguel. The Stallions suffered significant graduation losses, including both setters, two pins, and a middle, but coach Jess Papell believes she has talented athletes ready to fill in. Alex “Birdie” Stone, an outsid committed to Montana, leads the returning group. Pin Bella Iverson, libero Ella Dinnie and middle Claire Jones also will be featured performers this year. Papell said that her team should be strong offensively with tough serving. Setting and serve receive will dictate how far this talented team can go.
Helix Charter won the San Diego Section Div. III title last fall but must forge ahead without graduated studs Ella Giordano in the middle and Kylie Smith in the back row. The Highlanders have started 1-0 with five returning contributors, including S/MB Bella Barrios, MB Kyra Miles, and RS Temukisa Sagiao. Scrappy defense and a big block should be the calling cards for this team, which will endeavor to match its 20 wins from a year ago.
Looking for a sleeper team? How about Centennial of Corona? The Huskies landed a new coach in Joe Schnake, who guided Chino Hills to a state title in 2021. That’s good because the team was 6-18-1 a year ago. So why the optimism? Centennial will have four newcomers, two sophomores, and two freshmen, who all played on the Pipeline club team that won the 15 American division at Junior Nationals. That includes freshman setter Londyn Neal and 6-4 sophomore MB/RS Cydney Bryant, who is considered a top 50 national recruit in her class.
Central Valley Christian made the state Div. IV title tilt last year with a young team. The Cavaliers graduated a big chunk of their offense in Karlee DeGroot but returns another big chunk in 6-1 senior outside Lillinoe Spencer. The return of libero Grace Van Groningen and setter Sophia Fields gives CVC superior first two touches, which could lead to another push for a high state finish.
Those in the know in San Diego are not talking about La Jolla as likely to do damage this year. But the Vikings, who were 16-17 last fall, are a serious threat thanks to only two starters graduating and a very strong senior class. Eight in the Class of 2024 will lead the charge, led by setter Lindsay Laummann, outsides Bradleigh Ryan and Natalie Fu, and middles Tahlil Zadeyan and Anais Reneaum. Riley Lincoln, a junior setter from Bishop’s, should be a strong addition to La Jolla’s 11 returning players.
Stockdale graduated just one player from last year’s 13-20 team. The Mustangs have a good and talented coach in Maria Collatz, the only coach the school has ever known, but not much in the way of height or offensive firepower. The team should remain competitive thanks to tough defense and good serving. Players to watch include S/RS Vienna Perier and defenders Sophie Schonauer and Carly Hogg.
Saugus had a magical 2022 campaign, which included 35 wins and a Southern Section title in Div. 4. The Centurions will be good again this year, and opened the season with a win over Santa Barbara as proof. The team will lean on three juniors, libero Gabriela Cascione, OH Leila Ballard, and setter Morgan Guardado, who hit last fall. The loss of four-year starting setter Milani Lee (Long Beach State) to graduation is undeniable as is the transfer of kills leader Taylor Treahy, a 6-2 senior RS, to Marymount.
San Clemente’s dynamic hitting duo of Sofia Williams (Yale) and Quinn Loper (USC) should give opponents fits, but will the tritons have the pieces to replicate last year’s 24-win season? Coach Casey Swenson thinks he has the talent to replace the four standouts who graduated, but they will need to gain experience. The team has athleticism and passes well and should be a much tougher squad as the season progresses.
Rancho Bernardo was 10-26 in 2022 but should be much improved this fall, as it boasts an experienced roster with many offensive options. Pins Abby Miller and Abby Lesagonicz and tall, tall middles Ava Hoener and Hannah Jonick give the Broncos hope of returning to the state tournament after a one-year hiatus. Keep an eye on 6-1 freshman middle Ava Glenn. She’s a terrific athlete with a massive upside.
Leland suffered a down year in 2022. Head coach Erika Sick said the team put in the work in the offseason, is hungry for wins, and should turn things around this season. Key players to watch include outsides Sophia Sick and Natalie Zhou, setter Amaya Carillo, and MB Adrianna Wilkinson.
Pacifica of Garden Grove was another team that had a down season in 2022. The Mariners were very young, however, and had only one senior who played. Pacifica’s best players are tall outside hitters, 6-3 junior Natalia Walden-Schulz, and 6-0 senior Eva Fisher. Lia Santillan, a 6-1 freshman setter, is expected to be an impact newcomer.
Los Gatos has a new coaching staff and a new attitude after a down year in 2022. Head coach Nicole Ciari expects the Wildcats to be a top-notch team at controlling the ball, as well as efficient on attack, with the majority of its best hitters back. Players to watch include senior middle Ally Black, junior outsides Nicole Steiner and Mia Halsey, junior setter Maya Walker, and sophomore middle Portia Zeidler.
Bret Harte won 23 times last year and made an appearance in a Sac-Joaquin Section championship match (Div. 5) for only the second time in school history. The Bullfrogs graduated flashy senior smacker Aariah Fox as well as two other starters, but head coach Jacey Porovich is bullish about her team, which should be well-rounded and dynamic. Four seniors, OH Chase Silva, middles Makenna Tutthill and Sophie Bouma, and S/RS Abbi Molina, will lead the way.
Pitman won 30 matches in 2022 with a relatively young team. The Pride graduated libero Reese Carmona and middle Lauren Hamilton but brought back setter Payton Rowell, RS Ella Sniezak, MB Madison Eissayou, and outsides Aila Reich and Maryn Hall. Eight on the roster attended Junior Nationals this past club season, giving Pitman a chance to match or exceed what it did a year ago. The coaching staff is transitioning, as longtime coach Kristen Pontes-Chapman is sharing responsibilities this year with Ariah Amini.
A third straight CCAA Mountain League title and the graduation of just one starter, albeit an impact terminator; has San Luis Obispo head coach Kennedy Meany thinking big for 2023. The Tigers boast a great junior setter in Laela Burgess and very athletic middles in Tea Aebischer and Nina Moutafov. That trio, in conjunction with talent on the left side and the back row, should help SLO approach 30 wins this year.
Sunny Hills went 18-11 last fall and made the quarterfinals in Div. 5 of the Southern Section. The Lancers graduated three starters who were All-League performers, including their libero and setter. Fortunately, head coach Amanda Donaldson can rely upon two four-year starters, OH Kayla Taylor and MB Noor Francisco. Taylor was one of the leading attackers in the state a year ago. Sunny Hills also has two other solid pins, Dylyn Williams and Kayla Thienprisiddhi, making that a position of strength.
Lauren Winslow is the new head coach at Clovis North. Longtime coach Travis Herb stepped down after leading the Broncos to the Div. II state championship match last fall. Winslow inherits a team that graduated two great leaders, setter Kyra Miller and OH Peyton Bitter, but otherwise returns a ton of experience. This group, led by senior OH Siena Falk and four juniors, middles Kennedy Lingenfelter and Chelsea Haydock, RS Cayla Sutton, and OH Ava Rogers, plays with great passion and should be a threat in the TRAC.
Homestead of Cupertino graduated its best defender and a top hitter off of a 15-19 team last year. The Mustangs return a lot, however, including leading attacker Victoria Simpson, a 5-11 senior RS; senior setter Annabelle Yip, and 6-1 sophomore MB Linnea Moore. Strength passing the ball and a quick tempo offense should have Daniel Neri’s team over .500 in 2023.
Ojai Valley School is a small boarding school whose mostly non-local students don’t arrive until after Labor Day. As such, the volleyball team doesn’t begin practicing until September, which means a shorter season and challenges in building chemistry. The Spuds made the playoffs last year despite the challenges and expect their full team back. That means Elizabeth Ramsay at setter, Allyanna Westcott patrolling the back row, Annie Heinemann, Chloe Ronning, and Donahi Soriano on the pins, and Mieke Wells and Rory Liu in the middle.
Windsor went 22-12 last year and set records along the way as the first Jaguar team to win league undefeated and the first to back up a 20-win season with another one. The team graduated two impact players – a leader at setter and a big blocking middle – but returns league MVP Taylor Boyce, a 5-11 senior OH as well as several others who were key contributors a year ago. Six seniors and depth everywhere but the middle make coach Christen Hamilton very optimistic to make the state tournament for only the third time in program history.
Eight senior impact players graduated from last year’s Etiwanda squad, which went 22-4 last year and won league for the first time in almost two decades. This year’s Eagle squad will be very young, led by 6-0 junior S/RS Brooke Hansen, a Cal Poly recruit. Senior setter Keira Andrews and senior libero Alina Paralles are two others to watch.
Mission Hills graduated four major contributors from last year’s 13-17 team. Coach Susan Strickert will have six seniors in the rotation this season. That experience is nice, but a lack of height is not. The Grizzlies’ top player is sophomore libero Ashley Borg.
Excelsior Charter won the Southern Section title in Div. 9, the first in Eagles’ history. All starters return, including Div. 9 POY Faith Di Mola. Setter Carmen Barajas and middle Keira Ortega also return for a team that is a threat to repeat its championship no matter its divisional placement.
Standouts Karis Van Noord and Sophia Martinez are among five starters who graduated from St. Mary’s College High School, which went 22-6 in 2002. The Panthers may be building this season but can be counted on to play as a team and be solid defensively. Watch out for the emergence of freshman pins London Crawford and Corinne Jones.
Redwood of Visalia won 32 matches last fall, including going undefeated in league play for the third year in a row. The Rangers graduated OH Morgan Castaneda, one of the state’s kill leaders, but returned all other significant contributors, including S/RS Audrey Hyde, RS Ashlyn Guenter, libero Devyn Castaneda, and OH Ava Ferguson, all seniors.
Tracy burst onto the scene last year after winning the Christine Craft Memorial Tournament. The Bulldogs went on to win 20 matches and become a mainstay in the North Region rankings. Tracy graduated five contributors, including both big-hitting outsides and the league Libero of the Year. Those losses will be tough to overcome, even as several terminators remain, like Ling Han and Sam Chacon, a senior who missed all of last year injured. She could play on the outside or fill a glaring need in the back row.
Eagle Rock made the Los Angeles Section Division I semifinals a year ago as part of a 29-win season. The Eagles will go to battle in 2022 with six departed starters, including OH Morgan Elam, who led the Section last year in kills. This will be a young and undersized team led by senior pins Cameron Kim and Elsi Veliz.
Pomona Catholic won 19 times last year and won the Santa Fe League. The Pacers graduated two leaders who are playing at the next level and will be hard to replace. Seven returning contributors hoping to fill the void include RS Rhiannon Rodriguez and MB Betsy Hutt, both seniors; and 6-0 junior middle Aundrea Marquez.
Carondelet won 22 matches in 2022 and made the NorCal Regionals for a school-record fifth consecutive year. The Cougars graduated their two captains off of that team, a setter and outside who was an offensive threat from all areas of the floor. Despite the losses, veteran coach Jerry Mix is very excited to see what this year’s version can accomplish. Carondelet is very strong in the middle, with 6-4 junior Bella Ehrlich and 5-11 senior Tobi Hogan, and has some talented, but young, pin hitters. Senior libero Alexis Dwinell is a back row asset but depth behind her is a concern that the team hopes to have remediated by mid-season.
Northern Section dominator, Pleasant Valley of Chico, won another EAL title in 2022 even in a down year by Viking standards. Coach JJ Mitchell’s squad graduated a standout hitter, now at Sacramento State, but will have six back for 2023, including three Div. I beach volleyball recruits in senior pins Sadie Moore, Kayla Johnson, and Sophia Winter, all of whom stand 5-10 or taller. Pleasant Valley also brings back its starting libero, Kendal Thau; and starting setter, Grace Ferro; but the team is hampered by having no indoor club volleyball players.
West Valley may be the Northern Section’s best team for 2023. The Eagles won the Section’s Div. 3 title last fall and returns six senior impact players, including libero Whitney King, OH Bentley Chaffin, and MB Shelbie Rogers, the team’s kill leader. “We have made deep runs in the state playoffs the last two years and we expect to do the same this year,” said head coach Justin Byxbe.
Mountain View went 23-8 a year ago and finished one game behind Los Altos for the league title. The Spartans graduated their setter, league MVP Andi Turner, and virtually the rest of their starting lineup, so this may be a building year for coach Dave Winn. Defender Kendyll Winn and RS Mallory Berent are players to watch. Both are juniors.
Los Altos, the De Anza League champs in 2022, graduated their starting libero and setter, and now appear to be heading into 2023 without standout sophomore hitter Aviya Russo, who led the Eagles in kills and was second in digs a year ago. Junior RS Stella Pruette is back, as are a slew of capable back row players for a team that will win when its first contact is solid.
Palo Alto started last year 13-3 before injuries to three starters derailed its momentum. The Vikings went 4-12 down the stretch but still managed to finish over .500 for the season. Five starters have graduated, including two who missed significant time due to injury. That leaves coach Chris Crader with two strong middles, 3-4 good pins, and a solid setter. Players to watch include junior setter Sophie Mies, junior middles Sophie Pan and Naama Green, and outsides Kylie Yen and Mina Lee Hwong Bartlett.
Folsom went 26-11 in coach Devin Elmore’s first year with the Bulldogs. The team is off to a fast start in 2023 after winning the Bulldog Bash season-opening tournament. Folsom graduated both of its starting outsides from a year ago, so its fast and dynamic middles, Addie Kannegeiser and freshman Avery Masters, as well as converted middle Lindsey Olsen, should be the focal point of the offense. The Bulldogs have a great libero in sophomore Khloe Wong, capable setters in Kelly Wong and Grace Poort, and pins with live enough arms to be dangerous.
Scripps Ranch struggled to just seven wins in 2022 despite having a senior-laden roster. The Falcons should be much improved in 2023 behind two strong middles, senior Audrey Hilliard, a four-year starter; and 6-2 sophomore Bryce Leatherwood, a top recruit in her class. The team also expects Ella Fournier to set in six rotations and for beach standouts Bailie Bishop and Elyst Taschner to be back row assets.
Maria Carillo won 24 matches in 2002 and finished second in its league. The Pumas should contend for league honors again in 2023 with a powerful offense paced by pins Sophia Heller, Jordyn Volmerding, Ailani Murphy, and MB Katie Davis. The graduation of three multi-year starters leaves some voids in the lineup, especially along the back row, but if veteran coach Jeff Nielson finds adequate replacements, another 20-win season is likely.
Santiago won its last league match of the year in 2022 to forge a three-way tie for the title, part of a 17-15 campaign for the Sharks. Courtney Krueger’s team returns its starting setter, Jayla Johnson, and big hitter Fallyn Blotzer, but had a top attacker transfer to Orange Lutheran and graduated its best passer and top middle. The Sharks will have “Émmie Squared” – Emerson Newton and Emery Tubbs – in the middle this year, and a lot of young talent. Santiago has only two seniors on the roster, so if not this year then next.
James Logan is a tough test for any opponent year after year despite seemingly always playing with a height disadvantage. This year may be no different for a Colt team that won 22 times last fall. Logan returns all of its starters, including setters Leann Jung and Kaitlyn Anderson, middles Kemi Adediji and Hannah Issenmann (the lone six-footer on the roster), and OH McKenzie Anderson. Matt Guzman’s team will play good defense and the offense will be fast, which should be good enough for 20+ wins again in 2023.
Vacaville won its league without a loss in 2022 and made the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. 2 championship match for the first time in two decades. The Bulldogs graduated three starters and will be relatively young, but they are talented enough to at least match their success of a year ago. Players to watch include junior OH Ebony Lewis, senior middle Ashley Chiong, junior OH/libero Aria Woltz, and senior RS Reese Rogers.
California High of San Ramon was over .500 in 2022. The Grizzlies have a new head coach in William Gratteau and an experienced roster, including senior middle Brooke Johnson, junior setter Chelsea Zhang, and junior libero Sophia Bonifacio, which will be bolstered by some exciting freshmen. Improved passing could make Cal High one of the North Coast Section’s sleeper teams.
Whitney won the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. II title a year ago but will have a hard time replicating that feat in 2023. That’s because the Wildcats graduated five starters, including two defensive standouts, a dynamic hitter, and S/RS Kaitlyn Cochran, arguably the best player in Northern California. Kami Kazel’s team this season will build around 6-2 senior middle Evelyn Hendrix, 6-0 senior OH Addie Hamilton, and 5-10 junior setter Paige Hall. This will be a young team, Kazel said, but one that works hard and does not know the meaning of the word “quit.”
Carlsbad graduated its two high Division I talents from a 17-15 team a year ago. The Lancers have 11 seniors for 2023, including transfer pin Charlee Ellena from nearby San Marcos. The best players are senior OH Adina Dixon, senior libero Gabby Fowler, and junior setter Delaney Fitzpatrick-Hill. Veteran coach Tom Bloomquist says that his team will go as far as the passing and setting take it.
Liberty of Bakersfield had an extraordinary 2022 campaign, which included winning 32 matches and the Central Section title in Div. 1. Morgan Dake’s team will look a little different this fall, as virtually the entire starting lineup graduated, including superstar hitter Emma Fredrick and standout libero Paige Sentes. This year’s roster is very young, with seven sophomores and a freshman. Senior setter Maya Barron will be a steadying influence and the team will be scrappy defensively, led by junior Ashton Rogers.
Notre Dame Academy of Los Angeles is off to a 5-2 start one year after winning just nine matches. The Regals are building around three underclassmen: 6-0 sophomore S/RS Ava McBride, 5-8 sophomore setter Nessa Nyblade, and 5-9 junior Shelby McAlpin, the Southern Section POY in basketball’s Div. 4. McAlpin has a big leap and heavy arm that is certain to produce lots of points. Two seniors in the mix are pins Olivia Leigh and Maddy Pieronek.
Wilcox made the semifinals of Division 2 of the Central Coast Section playoffs but will venture forth in 2023 without the services of nine graduated impact players. The Chargers will rely on seniors Mia Smith Perez, Claire Sugrue, and Bianca Burke to lead a rebuilding, defensive-oriented team.
Westview is off to a fast start to 2023 after going 18-13 a year ago. The Wolverines have a good ball control squad, anchored by senior libero Makenna Roberts; and a balanced attack led by S/RS Ava Zamora, OHs Nia Thompson and Vivian Roberts, and freshman MB/RS Gabrielle Ngo.
Del Oro won 15 times last year. The Golden Eagles graduated an impact middle and libero Frankie Rasi, but returns enough talent to stay in the top 10 in Sacramento all season long. Players back include sophomore setter Bella Rasi, sophomore outside Sophia Sampson, and junior MB/OH Talula Crandell. The team should be pin heavy this year, with balance being provided by the arrival of 6-2 freshman middle Sydney Weber.
Superstar Claire Little, a four-year starter, has graduated from Vista Murrieta, leaving a gaping hole that will be impossible to fill. There is talent returning for the Broncos in senior setter/RS Katrina Catalan, libero Miliani Villareal and 6-4 middle Liliana Montes, and the team will be very competitive but will be hard-pressed to duplicate last year when they romped undefeated through the Southwestern League and won the Southern Section Div. 2 title.
Berean Christian enjoyed a 25-win season in 2022, capped by the state Division V title. The Eagles graduated setter Aunyka Uresti and libero Rebeca Freitas, called the “heart and soul of the team” by head coach Lucas Abbott, but return both outsides, both middles and an impact defender. The team will not lack for effort. If it sorts out who will set and lead the back row, another outstanding season is likely.
Redlands won 22 matches a year ago and its first league title in at least 15 years. The Terriers could be even better this fall with the return of seven contributors, including 6-0 senior OH Julia Tolstova, who had 541 kills in 2022. Others to watch include OH Saniyah Sobers, setter Lauren Reiter, and 6-1 senior middle Diana Castro. The team also will benefit from the transfer of junior pin Devi Lucas once her sit-out period is up.
Clovis West head coach Rhonda DeRuiter has 600 wins and counting, which makes her the right person for the job after the Golden Eagles graduated seven major contributors off of last year’s 25-15 team. This year’s team is young but “crazy athletic” according to the coach. The Golden Eagles will cover the court defensively, frustrating opponents, but may struggle to score consistently with a relatively small team. Players to watch include outsides Kalani Soares, Haley Rangel, and MB Riley Walls. Look for sophomore transfer Eve Dixon to eventually claim the starting setter job.
Kathleen Thyer takes over a Campbell Hall program that won its league last year and finished second in the Southern Section Div. 4 playoffs. The Vikings, who have impressed in a 2-0 start to 2023, return all of their starters, including setter Althea Morris, libero Isabella Marrero, and pins Parker Van Zyl, Sierra Starkman and Mila Mijailovic. The squad will be “attack heavy” with good ball control to compensate for a relative lack of height.
Wiseburn Da Vinci won 11 matches a year ago. Mylah Wessels is the school’s new head coach. Her team will be small but volleyball-smart, led by the senior quartet of Allie Kim, Katana Santiago, Mariezl Portock, and Ashlynn Wells.
Passing will be a strength at Coalinga, which returns senior libero Devany Garcia and three junior outsides, Haylee Vega, Sam Vega, and Sophie Walker, as well as new talent that head coach Kolbe Gillette expects to make an immediate impact on the club’s fortunes.
Mammoth won 30 matches last season and captured its second consecutive league title. A positive going into 2023 is the return of nine seniors. One downside is the loss of the school gym for the year due to construction. The Huskies welcome back senior setter Madline Le Francois, the league MVP. OHs Mila Knight and Olivia Tenedora and middles Jocelyn Campos and Jennifer Cecena, both of whom missed time last year due to injury; are other key returnees, as is Jenna Lynch, who will assume the libero role for Mammoth’s lone graduate.
Verdugo Hills set a school record for wins in 2022 with 32. The Dons also won their tenth East Valley League title. Two All-Section performers have graduated and their loss is significant. Ana Vasquez was the school’s most prolific hitter, Ika Vukic its record-setting libero. Coach William Reinhart will rely this year on senior S/RS Yahaira Vazquez, a three-time All-Los Angeles Section pick, as well as junior setter Jaedyn Smith. Two transfers, sophomore defender Nixia Gonzalez from Alemany and sophomore OH Joy Useh from Sylmar, should impact the roster when they are eligible.
After a 30-win season a year ago, Crescenta Valley has started 2023 by winning two of its first three. The Falcons graduated four, including both outsides; but returns league MVP Sophia Shin, a junior libero; junior setter Caden Pinto and junior MB Isabel Haytayan. Matt Simons’ team won’t start any seniors, so if CV can’t repeat a league title in 2023 after winning it for the first time in 20 years last fall, it should certainly do so in 2024.
Wheatland Union graduated seven seniors off of a 10-15 team. The Pirates bring six regulars back, including senior setters Aniya Duham and Karli Gaylord, and has strong hitters in Hallie Prather, Kaitlin Langeloh, Lia Azevedo, Gabby Trujillo, and Hannah Golenor, the arms on which team improvement rests.
Based on its start to 2023, Poway could be a tough out in the San Diego Section. The Titans own a win over Aliso Niguel and are riding the duo of setter Kiki Remensperger and MB Mackenzie Parsons, both Div. I recruits. Sophomore libero Havani Embry is another player to watch.
Indian Springs is riding a four-match winning streak after winning just three times all of last year. The Coyotes are having success thanks to five returning regulars, including junior OH Jizelle Castellanos, the team captain, kills and aces leader, and one of seven juniors on the 10-player roster.
Las Lomas goes into 2023 without four graduated starters and searching for a setter to facilitate a pin-oriented offense that includes senior Madi Thomas and junior Gigi Navarro. The Knights, who won 20 matches a year ago, also should be a good blocking team.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy was a little better than breakeven in 2022. The Tologs graduated a lot of their offense, meaning look for a ball control, first contact, and strong serving team to see the court. Players to watch include senior pins Luisa Madrigal and Veronica Udell and senior libero Lindsey Du.
Santa Barbara won its league a year ago and returns many of its starters. The Dons did graduate their best all-around player, OH Shae Delany, as well as experienced starter Gracie Meinzer, a S/RS, so this year’s version will be small and more defensive-oriented. Three seniors, defender Tessa de Albergaria, OH Emmy Werner, and setter Stella Borgioli, bear watching.
Escalon had a dream 2022 campaign, capped by the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. 3 title. The Cougars have a new head coach, Shaylynn Beam, and go into 2023 without six graduated players, including four-year starting outside Emily Vickers and three-year starting setter Rylie Lattig. Those who return are hungry and motivated to match last year’s success. Early-season standouts include OH Sophia Martin, MB Lisa Murga, and setter Karisa McNeil.
Bishop Diego boasts one of the nation’s top juniors in 6-3 OH Eliana Urzua, a UCLA recruit. The team surrounding her is young and gaining experience. This may be a building year for the Cardinals, who always play a demanding schedule.
Walnut has started 4-0 despite being one year removed from having do-everything Ashley Li, a Cal Berkeley signee, on its roster, as well as eight other seniors. The Mustangs will feature pins Caylin Caballero and Emely Lopez, senior middle Daniela Luna, and sophomore libero Joya Shen, who is described by coach Charles Tran as an “energizer bunny.”
Jon Daze is in his first year coaching Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. The Knights will be strong on defense, both at the net and in the back row, led by libero Lauryn Martinez and MB Joann Ferro. Junior OH Mahlia Priestly is the top offensive threat.
Buckley reached the state Div. III championship match last year in head coach Otis Glasgow’s first season in charge. The Griffins had two graduate from that team, including libero Emma Daly, the back court glue; and OH Tate Drageset, the team’s leading attacker, transferred. Buckley remains strong at setter with Charlotte Reff, and MB Sophia Wolfson is a high-ceiling middle with the ability to dominate the net if the team can get the ball to her. This is a capable team, but most likely not one that can return to last year’s form.
Setter Abby Hupp has graduated from Credo, which won 12 times a year ago. The Gryphons will build around senior middles Vienna Lindner and Bryn Wygel-Murphy and senior setter Issa McIninch. Junior setter Lauren Cervantez, a Novato transfer; and sophomore OH Lucia Kuhlman are two newcomers to keep an eye on for a team that should serve tough and be good defensively.
Santa Cruz won 27 matches a year ago, won its league outright for the first time in two decades, and made the Central Coast Section Div. III championship match. The Cardinals won’t look quite the same in 2023, with big-time OH Hannah Fleming graduated, Div. I OH Sadie Jeffrey out with an injury and standout MB Jordan Simpkins having moved out of state. But coach Harlina Manley Diaz still has a talented group, led by senior setter Antonia Wilson, senior libero Summer Pederson, and 6-1 sophomore OH Natalie Monroe. The first two contacts, with Pederson and DS Shelby Leonardich, and Wilson, should be particular strengths.
How to see YOUR SCHOOL in The Notebook
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Thanks! Be back next week with more news and notes on volleyball in the Golden State…