By Pete Borello
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4 local teams have new coaches; 3 switch leagues
Los Altos High
League: Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division.
Coach: David Winn, first year.
Last season: Second in division; 26-8 overall; reached Central Coast Section Division III final; lost in first round of Northern California playoffs.
Key returners: S Ashley Bjorklund; RS Andrea Cummings; OH Allie Miller; MB Juli Winterbotham; OH Ashley Watson; S Michelle Nelson; DS Kristen Matilainen.
Top newcomers: DS Becky Slack; UTIL Amanda Burke.
Outlook: With St. Francis safely out of the De Anza, the Eagles have a realistic shot at winning the division title. Winn doesn’t want to measure the season by wins and losses, but the former Pinewood coach clearly has high expectations - and so do his players. Los Altos, which has reached the CCS finals four years in a row, returns all-leaguers Cummings, Miller, Watson and Winterbotham. The versatile Bjorklund, who missed most of last season for medical reasons, moves from outside hitter to setter to join sophomore Nelson. Winterbotham and Miller, each with vertical jumps of nearly 2 feet, should be active around the net. Slack and Burke are expected to contribute off the bench.
Coach’s quote: “I have a great group of girls. They’re super motivated and good athletes, and they’re fun to coach.”
Next match: 6:45 p.m., Thursday, hosting Mitty.
Mountain View High
League: De Anza Division.
Coach: Gerrie Phillips, first year.
Last season: Fourth in the SCVAL El Camino Division; 21-15 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division III playoffs.
Key returners: OH Colleen Schumacher; OH Rose Wei; MB Colleen Nichols; S Amy Chinn; RS Erin McConnell.
Top newcomers: OH/MB Sariah Alcaraz; OH Abby Damm.
Outlook: The Spartans are back in the De Anza after a four-year absence, but there’s some debate about whether they belong in one of the CCS’ toughest divisions. Mountain View returns only three starters and lost its two all-leaguers to graduation. The Spartans also will have to overcome injuries; leaper Wei is coming off a sprained ankle and Chinn will be out at least a month after fracturing her hand last week. Schumacher and Nichols will be counted on to deliver at the net, with Phillips hoping to get a boost from talented youngsters Alcaraz (sophomore) and Damm (freshman). Despite an arduous schedule, the coach still expects to finish above .500.
Coach’s quote: “We really need to play as a team. I don’t know if the girls are used to playing as a team; there were a lot of individuals at the beginning of tryouts and they’re still getting used to playing together.”
Next match: 6:35 p.m., Thursday, hosting Branham.
St. Francis High
This is a year of change for local girls volleyball.
Of the six high school teams the Town Crier covers, four have new coaches and three have switched leagues or divisions. This includes reigning state champ St. Francis High, which is working under a new coach and competing in a new league.
Will change be for the better? We’ll find out when the playoffs roll around in November.
Here’s how the teams shape up for the 2002 season:
League: West Catholic Athletic League.
Coach: Kim Oden, first year.
Last season: De Anza Division champion; 30-2 overall; won state, NorCal and CCS Division II titles.
Key returners: OH Jessica Gysin; MB Diane Copenhagen; RS Colby Lyman; S Christa Conom; S/OH Ashley Dutro; MB Annie Connor; MB Taylor Whittell; DS Brianna Galvin.
Top newcomers: OH Nichole Clark; OH K.C. Fox.
Outlook: The Lancers, who have won back-to-back state titles and six total, seem primed to add to their trophy collection. St. Francis returns 11 players - including five starters - and is rated No. 1 in the nation. The Lancers may have the best junior class in the country with amazing all-leaguers Gysin, Copenhagen, Dutro and Conom. Lyman recently accepted a scholarship to UCLA, and fellow seniors Connor and Whittell also have impressed new coach Oden, a former U.S. Olympian and Stanford star. Sophomores Clark and Fox are expected to make an impact as well. Moving into the new, ultra-competitive WCAL makes winning league more of a challenge, but it should also help toughen
