By Pete Borello
Prep volleyball preview
Los Altos High
League: Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division.
Coach: Jason Mansfield, fourth year.
Last season: Fifth in division; 16-18 overall; reached CCS Division I finals; lost in first round of Northern California playoffs.
Key returners: OH Ashley Bjorklund; OH Heather Smith; MB Suedy Ezzatyar; RS Andrea Cummings; OH Allison Miller; MB Sadie Lerch; MB Juli Winterbotham; OH Ashley Watson.
Top newcomers: S Kristen Luxton; DS/S Michelle Nelson.
Outlook: Mansfield has guided the Eagles to the CCS finals the last three seasons and expects to continue the tradition this year. Although all-CCS middle blocker Alex Brown has graduated, the coach said this year’s team is stronger top to bottom. Los Altos returns eight players, including four starters. Junior Bjorklund, an All-American selection at the National Junior Olympic in July, will be the main hitter and do some setting as well. Mansfield said Luxton, a senior transfer from Hawaii, could be the division’s best setter. Smith and Ezzatyar also have all-league potential, according to the coach. Freshman Nelson has been “a big surprise,” Mansfield said.
Coach’s quote: “We’re a little undersized and probably aren’t going to block a lot of balls or have a big-time hitter, but we have a lot of smart hitters and hopefully we’ll be deceptive and balanced.”
Next match: 7 p.m., Thursday, hosting Menlo.
Mountain View High
League: SCVAL El Camino Division.
Coach: Peter Kim, third year.
Last season: Fourth in division; 17-16 overall; reached CCS Division III quarterfinals.
Key returners: S Kelsey Finkelstein; MB Anna Carlstone; OH Colleen Schumacher; DS Marie Holston.
Top newcomers: RS Erin McConnell; OH Rose Wei; MB Colleen Nichols.
Outlook: With only two returning starters, Kim said this is the least experienced team he’s had at Mountain View. But the coach said his hard-working squad has plenty of potential. Carlstone may be the team’s best hitter and 5-foot-11 junior McConnell is also emerging as an offensive threat. Finkelstein has moved from outside hitter to setter, where Kim expects her to have an all-league year. Holston and sophomore Nichols will be counted on for defense. Freshman Wei has impressed the coach with her ball control. The Spartans should finish in the middle of the league or a little higher, Kim predicts.
Coach’s quote: “The keys for us are ball control and defense. If we do those things really well, we’ll have a good year. If we don’t, it could go the other way.”
Opening match: 7 p.m., Tuesday, hosting Prospect.
St. Francis High
League: De Anza Division.
Coach: Dave Gambelin, 13th year.
Last season: Division champion; 43-1 overall; captured state, NorCal and CCS Division II titles.
Key returners: OH Jessica Gysin; MB Diane Copenhagen; RS Colby Lyman; MB/OH Kamala Sipin.
Top newcomers: S Christa Conom; S/OH Ashley Dutro;
MB Annie Connor; MB Taylor Whittell.
Outlook: The Lancers last year became the first team to win five state titles and seem to be in good position to add to that total this season. St. Francis returns 11 players and is ranked No. 1 in the nation by vball.com. Sophomores Gysin, Copenhagen and Conom, a transfer from Presentation, and junior Lyman were named All-Americans at the Junior Olympic. Gambelin calls sophomore Dutro, a transfer from Hawaii, “a fabulous little athlete” who likely will share setting duties with Conom and play outside. The versatile Sipin can play three positions. With six 6-footers, this is the tallest team in St. Francis history. This also may be its youngest team, as Gambelin plans to have four sophomores on the court most of the time. However, these girls don’t lack big-game experience.
Coach’s quote: “I’m nervous about being so young. Someone’s going to have to step up to a leadership role to get us to the level we want to be at.”
Opening match: 7 p.m., Sept. 18, hosting Lynbrook.
Pinewood School
League: Private Schools Athletic League.
Coach: David Winn, first year.
Last season: Fifth in division; 8-15 overall.
Key returners: OH Didi Collins; S Marian Sorensen; OH Beth Mela; S/OH Kristin Mitchell.
Top newcomers: MB Caroline Jordan; OH Brett Smith-Hams; MB Preeya Jayakar.
Outlook: The Panthers are on their fourth coach in as many years, but that apparently has not dampened their spirits. Winn said his team is focused on making the playoffs and has a good shot at a winning record. With only 10 players, however, Winn said the Panthers will need to stay healthy to reach their goals. Collins may be the squad’s best player and hitter. The athletic Smith-Hams and quick-footed 5-11 Jordan, both returning to Pinewood after playing elsewhere last season, should provide a boost. Mela, is a small but solid outside hitter. Winn, who stresses accurate serving and passing, plans to use a two-setter offense featuring juniors Sorensen and Mitchell.
Coach’s quote: “All the girls have great attitudes and are very enthusiastic about the sport, and that’s what I like. The desire is there.”
Opening match: 5 p.m., today, hosting Cupertino.
Homestead High
League: El Camino Division.
Coach: John Milkovich, second year.
Last season: Second in division; 23-11 overall.
Key returners: OH Adrienne Hoopes; OH Patty Withrow; OH Julie Colvin; DS Tiffany Lim; MB Ashley Mason; MB Kristina Amaya; S/OH Megan Page; S Bonnie Berridge.
Top newcomers: OH Erin Grolle; S Julie Norton; DS Neda Shapourian; MB Lyra Guidi.
Outlook: The Mustangs missed the playoffs by less than a point last season. Milkovich has good reason to believe they won’t miss the CCS boat again this year. With nine returners, including division MVP Hoopes, the coach expects his team to win the El Camino. The coach considers Withrow the best defensive player he’s ever had. Mason and Colvin are both great athletes, Milkovich said, as is senior lefty Grolle, in her first year with the program.The biggest question mark is at setter, where Page, Norton and Berridge are battling for the starting spot.
Coach’s quote: “We really have to continue to push each other and put our team first. If you’re not playing a lot, you still have to work hard and be ready to play.”
Opening match: Friday at the High Sierra Tournament in Reno.
Gunn High
Girls volleyball remains one of this area’s strongest sports.
Teams at all six high schools appear capable of contending for berths in the Central Coast Section playoffs and a few of them have even higher aspirations.
Here’s how the teams shape up for 2001:
League: El Camino Division.
Coach: Evan Barth, second year.
Last season: Third in division; 18-12 overall.
Key returners: MB/OH Audrey Milo; MB Liz Johnson; S Sarah Walatka; RS Megan Cole; OH Jennifer Rea; MB Michelle Rybka; DS Julianna Fusaro.
Top newcomer: S Kathleen Laning.
Outlook: Like Homestead, Gunn barely missed the playoffs last year. Barth said the best way to avoid repeating this scenario would be to win the division. With five returning starters, the team should certainly be in contention for the division title. Barth said the Titans are blessed with good talent and depth, but still can’t afford the injuries that have plagued them in recent years. The coach said Los Altos Hills resident Walatka is a talented setter and a team leader. Cole, Milo and Rea are capable hitters, while 6-4 junior Rybka and 6-0 Johnson should give opponents fits in the middle.
Coach’s quote: “This is probably the strongest team I’ve ever coached. When we play six-on-six in practice we can get really competitive volleyball going, and I hope that gives us a competitive edge.”
Next match: Sept. 15 at the Lynbrook Tournament.
