Auburn Journal

August 21, 2007

Placer smoothes over tough break
Expectations still high despite the transfer of Div. I recruit McDowell

By: Todd Mordhorst, Journal Sports Editor

Their 6-foot-2, blue-chip, Division I recruit left town over the summer, but the Placer High volleyball players refuse to let it derail their momentum.

After a season in which the Lady Hillmen captured the first league championship in the history of the volleyball program, Sydney McDowell was expected to lead Placer even further this fall. Instead, her father - former Placer teacher Bill McDowell - took a teaching job in Mission Viejo, sending Sydney south.

"It was definitely a blow to our team," Placer senior Mandy Wagner said of the departure of the two-time all-league selection. "She's a great person and a great player all around, but it's not going to inhibit us in our playing. I think we've adapted well. We'll miss her, of course, but we're still planning and hoping to do just as well."

Placer still brings back plenty of talent from a team that tied for the Pioneer Valley League championship with Colfax last year. The Lady Hillmen finished 21-5 overall after an 11-1 PVL campaign. They fell to Sonora in the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. IV playoffs.

Coach Jennifer Wright begins her second season on the Placer sideline. A former UCLA player, Wright is not lowering the bar for her squad despite the loss of McDowell, who verbally committed to play at Cal State Fullerton last month.

"We all had to get over the shock of the whole thing," Wright said. "But we've got a lot of good returning players and some good incoming juniors."

Junior Melissa Stoll will be called upon to pick up many of the kills that McDowell claimed last year. She was an all-Pioneer Valley League pick as a sophomore and brings boundless energy as an outside hitter.

"We have very high expectations," Stoll said. "We're expecting to do as well, if not better than last year. Nothing's really changed attitude-wise. We have some new people, but we're getting acquainted really fast. We're really expecting to do really well this year."

Senior Emylee Brodhead is back after a strong junior year. At 6-2, Brodhead can be a force in the middle and alongside Wagner (6-2), gives Placer one of the tallest front lines in the area. Sophomore Kelsey Johnson got a taste of varsity action last year in the playoffs. As a freshman, she showed tremendous potential and Wright is expecting her to be a major contributor this fall despite her youth.

"I was really nervous last year, I was like shaking when I went into the game," Johnson said of her varsity experience. "Now I feel like I've really meshed with everyone. I'm ready to make a name for myself."

Seniors Tiffany Harrington and Brittany Turner bring great athleticism to the back line and juniors Sydney Leftridge and Shelby Madigan are both talented and versatile.

In her third year on Placer's varsity volleyball and basketball teams, Wagner might as well have her mail forwarded to Earl Crabbe Gym.

"This gym is like my second home," the senior said. "Really anything on this court, I'm pretty comfortable with. It's even a little bit better because soon I'll be doing everything here for the last time, so hopefully I can go out with a bang."

Wagner is unsure if she'll pursue volleyball or basketball at the college level, but she will no doubt be a key piece of the puzzle for Placer in both sports this year.

"She really stepped up last year and she's gotten better since then," Wright said of Wagner. "She's such a competitor. She's a great leader for us."

Placer opens its season on Friday, hosting Granite Bay. The non-league schedule includes a Foundation Game clash with Del Oro and matches with Rocklin, Casa Roble, Bella Vista and Ponderosa.

The PVL title chase may come down to Placer and its increasingly intense rival to the east - Colfax. The two teams split their matches last season and their first meeting this year is set for Sept. 26 at Placer.

"I think we're just going to keep building on our momentum this year," Stoll said. "We're getting better every practice, so hopefully we can win league, win it all - no split this year."