September 26, 2007

Griffins at the top of the local pack
Returning starters key to 2007 success.
By Earl Williams, Staff writer

Here's a view of the top 10 teams in the area

1. Los Alamitos

Earl says: Despite the graduation of Geena Urango and several other key players, coach Dave Huber isn't hurting for talent. Douglas, Crosby, Holford - starters for the 2006 state Division I championship team - are supported by a mixture of returning players such as Kelby Carey, Carlie Jones and Catherine Aragon as well newcomers in Jane Croson (freshman), Brianna Dixion (junior), and Emily Hartong (sophomore).

The Griffins have beaten nationally ranked Santa Margarita, Marymount and Harvard-Westlake twice and Lakewood. And they will have to get past Newport Harbor twice to win in the Sunset League, arguably the best league in the Southern Section.

2. Lakewood

Earl says: Last week, coach Mike Wadley and the Lancers beat Poly for the first time in three tries and is a front-runner for the Moore League title. Freshman Megan Moenoa has been a great addition to the starting lineup, but the Lancers don't feed their money players enough when the match is on the line and suffer meltdowns. Thomas, Orozco and Taylor Hollins bring the thunder when it counts. The Lancers experienced defensive specialist Sam Martinez became academically

ineligible. So this puts more pressure on Gabby Pulig, a MB/OH last year, and Madison Moss to fill the void. Playing tougher defense, with a killer instinct all the time and going to Thomas, Orozco and Hollins in the crunch are the Lancers' biggest challenge.

3. Poly

Earl says: Poly coach Jeff Eyanson still has the most talent in the area. Finding the most effective combinations to compete on the floor each time out will be his biggest challenge.

Jessica Colberg, a senior outside hitter, is his most complete player and the emotional leader on the floor. Zoe Bowens, Naomi Iosia and Emily Dougan are all interchangeable players who can fill in at middle blocker, and outside and right-side hitters. The Jackrabbits are so stacked at those positions that Nicole Forlan, who started last season, has seen very limited time. Nailah Waterfield and Katrina Alaelua head a strong, agile core of quick defensive specialists. The Jackrabbits inexperienced setters have also improved. The league title and how far the team advances in the playoffs may depend on their development.

4. St. Joseph

Earl says: The Jesters' future looks bright. First, they were able to land Kevin Wray to replace Mike Hinton. Wray, who has coach at the NCAA Division I level, inherits a team without setter Dana Vargas, who is now at UC Santa Barbara. This year, Christine Edwards and Justyn Bonomi have more help with the arrival of several freshman, including setter Jianna Bonomi.

Three weeks ago, the Jesters defeated a good Cypress team in the finals of the Mayfair Tournament. Right now, Bishop Montgomery is the favorite to win the Del Rey League title. St. Joseph, the 2006 co-league champs with Bishop Montgomery, however, is not going to take a backseat.

5. Wilson

Earl says: The Bruins lost Genie Francisco, Elise Hendricksen and several other key players to graduation. Right now, Wilson hasn't played many matches, and coach Susan Pescar is still experimenting with her lineup. They didn't play with much energy or sense of urgency against Vista Murrieta on Saturday. But expect Courtney Curran, Amanda Pacheco, Deveney Pula, Woolever, Michelle Drennan, Stevey Anderson - most of the core returnees from a year ago - and newcomers Janisa Johnson, Marti Reed and Kellie Culberson to be in the thick of the league race. Floor time should improve their play.

The five-time Moore League champs are not going to lay down.

6. Millikan

Earl says: Coach Greg Kautz returns for another stint at the helm of the Rams. Over the years, he has been masterful at taking a group of mostly untrained athletes and making them contenders for the Moore League crown. He did it with the boys. Now, he has a chance to make the girls a major player in the league race. Senior setter Kelsea Seymour, sophomore middle blocker Lina Pulu, senior outside hitter Marilee Frost and the rest of the Rams put on a defensive show against Downey at the Steve Lewis Memorial VolleyFest over the weekend. It could be a sign that things have already turned for the better.

7. Warren

Earl says: With great achievements come even greater expectations.

Bears coach Scott Lane brings the toughness and the know how to achieve the unthinkable.

Like Kautz, he knows how to get the most out of his talent. Lane loves to fly under the radar. Last year, he led two seniors and seven freshman, who didn't look like they could beat a recreation team at the beginning of the 2006 season, to second place in the San Gabriel Valley League and surprised everyone by reaching the CIF-SS Division III-AA finals and advancing to the Southern California Regional playoffs. This young group of Bears is led by Chelsea Cabrajac.

8. Downey

Earl says: Erin Saddler is now at Cal State Fullerton. Maritza Montes, a senior middle blocker/outside hitter, and Lacey Dietlin (a senior libero), are now in charge. They and the rest of the Vikings, who have dominated the SGVL League for the past seven seasons, put on an amazing defensive display against Millikan last Saturday. Right now, Warren is the favorite unseat the Vikings. But Downey is too good to count out. Neither the Bears or the Vikings can become overly confident because Gahr has improved significantly, and may not be an automatic win for the top teams.

9. La Mirada

Earl says: Right now, the Matadores appear to be the front-runner in the Suburban League.

Seniors Kiki Salazar, Michelle Gayhart, Dana Salas, Grace Makshanoff and Monica Perez-Guerrero and junior Miranda Doing gave a strong performance at the Mayfair Tournament, where this crew upset a good, but shorthanded Valley Christian team. The Matadors biggest opposition for the league title will likely come from Holly Clarke, Kelly Hasengager and the rest of the Mayfair Monsoons.

10. Valley Christian

Earls says: New coach Erica Streetman inherited a solid group of Crusaders from last year's squad that advanced to deep into the playoffs. Ashley Tennant, one of the best setters in the area, has three other solid players around her in Kelsey Wall, Charlotte Haun and Denise Rock. A questionable call, in the playoffs at the Mayfair Tournament two weekends ago, prevented the Crusaders from beating Cypress, which finished as the runner-up. Once again, Brentwood is Valley Christian's biggest opposition for the Olympic League title.