All County Girl's Volleyball Photo Gallery

Camarillo, Rio Mesa athletes honored by PVL www.thecamarilloacorn.com Camarillo Acorn

Girls’ volleyball
First-team honors go to Noelle Berry, Taylor Egizi, Dani Helland and Hailey Keairns of Camarillo; and Rio Mesa’s Riley Nizdil and Jasmine Sagisi.
Second-team players are Emily Ochsner of ACHS and Rio Mesa’s Montana Beifuss of Rio Mesa.
Camarillo’s Rob Vandermay is the coach of the year.

California Heat: Heaters Youth Volleyball

California Heat has a coed developmental program on Fridays from December 4th to April 30th with 2 age groups 9-11 and 12-15.

Heaters Youth Volleyball

If anyone is interested please give Cindy Smith a call at 805 657-6700 or email at calheatvbc@roadrunner.com

This looks like a wonderful program to get our young players off to a great start! It's a great opportunity to work with some great coaches! Be sure to check it out!

Girls Volleyball Club Tryouts and Makeups This Weekend

If you are still looking for Club Tryouts or need to attend a makeup tryout, there are still some happening this weekend. Be sure to call for specifics, if not mentioned on the website.

Achieve Volleyball Club

California Heat Volleyball Club

Channel Islands Volleyball Club

Conejo Crush Volleyball Club

Reef Volleyball Club

Ventura West is still looking for players.
For more information contact Doug Messner at 805-218-2610 or e-mail at Spotter22056@aol.com


If your club is still having tryouts and would like to be added to this list, please email vcvolleyball@gmail.com and we'll be happy to add your club!

CLU Boasts All-Americans, West Rookie of the Year
Exline selected third team all-American

Wednesday,Nov 18, 2009 11:30 am

Jackie Russell (L) and Erin Exline are 2009 AVCA All-Americans. Photo: Erik Hagen/Kevin Baxter · Hi-res image


LEXINGTON, Ky. - Several Cal Lutheran volleyball team members earned multiple postseason accolades for their athletic performances during the 2009 season. This group of Regals is highlighted by junior Erin Exline who earned third team All-American status, announced earlier today.

Official Release: AVCA Division III All-America Team
Official Release: AVCA Division III All-Region Team

Exline, a junior middle blocker earned her first American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) all-American selection along with first team all-West region and first team all-SCIAC in 2009. She ranked second in the SCIAC with a .285 hitting percentage and was also named to the NCAA West region all-Tournament team and chosen as SCIAC Female Athlete of the Week earlier in the year.

Freshman setter Jackie Russell made a lasting impression in only her first season earning honorable mention all-American honors. Russell was named all-West region and all-SCIAC Freshman of the Year to go along with a first team all-conference selection.

She became only the second setter in CLU history with over 1,000 assists finishing her rookie campaign with 1,144. Russell was the conference leader in assists and ranked sixth with 37 service aces.

Junior Allison Kerr was named all-West region honorable mention after leading the SCIAC as the only player to hit over .300 this season. She also ranked top-10 in the conference averaging .75 blocks per game.

Five CLU players in total earn postseason honors as outside hitters senior Cori Hayes and freshman Rachel Smith were named to the first team all-SCIAC along with Exline and Russell. Kerr was named second team all-conference for the fifth and final Regals selection.

Cal Lutheran finished the season 21-12 and in the West region semifinal of the NCAA tournament. It was the program's 10th trip to the NCAA postseason, fourth in the past five years and third straight earning at least one victory.

Local roundup: La Reina's strong year ends in semifinal loss» Ventura County Star

Local roundup: La Reina's strong year ends in semifinal loss» Ventura County Star: "Local roundup: La Reina's strong year ends in semifinal loss
By From staff reports
Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.
EmailDiscussShare »
DiggFacebookLinkedIn MySpace PrintAAAThe La Reina High girls’ volleyball team had its sensational season come to an end on Tuesday night, losing at Elsinore 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-20) in the CIF-Southern Section Division II-A semifinals.
Madeline Rumer had six kills and 10 digs to lead the Regents, which finished 23-5. Sara Anselmo had five kills and 10 digs, Katty Workman had eight kills and nine digs and Kristin Wendell finished with 24 assists and three aces.
An experienced Elsinore (29-2) simply outlasted a La Reina team that will have 11 of its 16 players back next season.
“I felt good about the way we came on strong” as the season progressed, La Reina coach Don Hyatt said.
Community college women’s volleyball
moorpark 3, oxnard 0
(Scores: 25-13, 25-12, 25-10)
At Moorpark
Moorpark: Rachel Olink had 11 kills, three blocks and six aces. Shakila Balkhi added five kills and a block. Sara Justin had two blocks.
Record: Moorpark 18-2, 11-1 WSC.
Santa barbara 3, ventura 0
(Scores: 25-15, 26-24, 25-20)
At Santa Barbara
Ventura: Justine O’Connor had 21 assists, nine digs and six kills. Anne Westbrook finished with seven kills and Jessica Lara had three aces.
Record: Ventura 10-11, 5-5 WSC."

CIF pairings: November 17, 2009» Ventura County Star

CIF pairings: November 17, 2009» Ventura County Star: "Girls’ volleyball
Today, 7 p.m.
School Div. Round Site Opponent
La Reina II-A SF Away Elsinore"

CLU rallies for victory in women's volleyball» Ventura County Star

CLU rallies for victory in women's volleyball» Ventura County Star: "CLU rallies for victory in women's volleyball
By From staff reports
Posted November 13, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.

A stiring comeback produced an important win for the Cal Lutheran women’s volleyball team in playoff action Thursday.
Down 2-1 in games, the Regals rallied for a 16-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-18, 15-11, victory over Puget Sound in the first round of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships at Redlands.
Freshman setter Jackie Russell notched 51 assists, junior Erin Exline finished with a match-high 18 kills on 33 attempts. Freshman Rachel Smith had 12 kills and a match-high 25 digs. Senior Cori Hayes had 13 kills and junior Allison Kerr finished with 10 kills and eight digs as Cal Lutheran improves to 21-11.
The Regals, seeded No. 5, will take on No. 1-seed Colorado College today at 4:30 p.m.

Women’s volleyball
Ventura 3, Oxnard 0
at Oxnard
Ventura: Kayla Phipps had 11 kills, three blocks and three aces, and Chelsea O’Mara had 11 kills. Justine O’Connor had 32 assists and Taylor Edsell had 16 digs.
Record: Ventura 10-10, 5-4."

Oaks Christian sharp in win » Ventura County Star

Oaks Christian sharp in win » Ventura County Star: "Oaks Christian sharp in win
By Jeffrey Dransfeldt
Posted November 13, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.


Christian School emerged from Tri-Valley League play a week ago tested and ready for the rigors of one-and-done playoffs.
The TVL continued its recent mastery of Pacific View League volleyball teams Thursday night as Oaks Christian extended its playoff run with a three-game sweep of host Camarillo, 25-20, 26-24, 25-22.
Oaks Christian (22-6) advances to play the winner of La Cañada and La Habra in the quarterfinals.
“That was one of our best matches this year,” Oaks Christian coach George Hees said.
Camarillo (16-11), which earned a share of the Pacific View League title with Oxnard, had earned a first-round bye and hosted the CIF-Southern Section Division II-A second-round matchup."

CLU not just happy being selected, wants to get back to Elite Eight» Ventura County Star

CLU not just happy being selected, wants to get back to Elite Eight» Ventura County Star: "CLU not just happy being selected, wants to get back to Elite Eight
By Rhiannon Potkey
Posted November 12, 2009 at midnight
matter how much she thinks her Cal Lutheran women’s volleyball team deserves a spot in the NCAA Division III Championships, Kellee Roesel can never rest easy unless the Regals secure an automatic bid.
That meant Roesel had to endure a few restless hours last weekend waiting for the at-large berths to be announced.
But Roesel’s confidence was rewarded on Monday when CLU’s name appeared in the draw for the fourth time in the last five years.
“We are excited to be in it, but I want to win it,” Roesel said. “I am competitive and so are these girls, so after we spent an afternoon being happy about making it, it was back to business in the gym.”"

VC draws WSC rival Cuesta in regional playoffs opener» Ventura County Star

VC draws WSC rival Cuesta in regional playoffs opener» Ventura County Star: "The Golden rule: Steve Burkhart had an interesting spin on the Moorpark College women’s volleyball team’s dramatic five-game loss at Santa Barbara City Tuesday night, when the Raiders saw their 11-match overall and 18-match conference winning streaks snapped.
“For 17 years, we’ve watched Golden West lose about this time and use the experience to refocus,” said the Moorpark coach.
The theory matches the coaching adage that you learn a lot more about yourself from a loss than you do from a winning streak.
The Huntington Beach school has 17 state championships."

SBCC vs. Moorpark

Moorpark fails to clinch title» Ventura County Star

Moorpark fails to clinch title» Ventura County Star: "Moorpark fails to clinch title
By From staff reports
Posted November 11, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.

Moorpark College women’s volleyball team had emerged from a dramatic third game on the brink of clinching its second straight Western State Conference title.
That’s when Santa Barbara City began defending its home court.
Maria Mayer, Nicole Bergmann and Emelia Shugrue had 13 kills apiece as Santa Barbara City, ranked No. 6 in the state coaches poll, came roaring back to take the fourth game and a decisive fifth game, 15-11, to win its 15 straight home match and pull within a flat-footed tie with No. 6 Moorpark on Tuesday night.
“They really stepped it up and we just didn’t respond,” said Moorpark coach Steve Burkhart. “I thought they played better defense.”
Things fell apart for the Raiders after gutting out the third game, 28-26, to take a 2-1 lead.
“We lost our composure a little bit in that fourth game and it went to the fifth game, where anything can happen,” said Burkhart.
The Vaqueros (17-2, 7-1) were led by star middle blockers Bergmann and Jenn Waddill, who hit .440 and .346, respectively, in combining for 24 kills.
Una Siljegovic had 19 kills and three blocks, Rachel Olinyk had 10 kills and five blocks and Mimi Sander had 26 digs for Moorpark (17-2, 7-1), which had dropped just two games in winning 11 straight matches overall, including a four-game win over the Vaqueros at Raider Pavilion on Oct. 20.
“I wasn’t disappointed with our effort,” said Burkhart.
The Raiders, who had won 19 straight in WSC North play since Nov. 2007, face the tough road trip to Cuesta on Friday."

The week's top performers in Ventura County: November 10, 2009» Ventura County Star

The week's top performers in Ventura County: November 10, 2009» Ventura County Star: "Girls’ volleyball Today, CIF-SS playoffs, first round, Oak Park at Oxnard, Edison at Newbury Park, Palos Verdes at Royal, Valencia/Placentia at Oaks Christian. Second round on Thursday"

CLU adds junior varsity teams

CLU adds junior varsity teams News & Information Cal Lutheran

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Nov. 4, 2009) At a time when many college athletic departments are making cuts due to the economy, California Lutheran University has added junior varsity teams to its 19 NCAA Division III sanctioned sports.
Beginning this fall, CLU carried junior varsity volleyball and women's soccer teams. The winter will feature both women's and men's basketball teams, and junior varsity baseball will debut in spring.
The CLU junior varsity teams have slightly shorter seasons and fewer practice sessions, helping students transition into college life while building relationships through sports participation.
"The addition of JV programs gives students the chance to participate in intercollegiate athletics while also enjoying many other opportunities at CLU. It is interesting to note that more students are now considering participation in multiple sports," Athletic Director Dan Kuntz said. "These programs foster participation and inclusion which is very much part of the NCAA Division III athletic philosophy."
The programs also have provided more students the opportunity to use the campus' new athletic facilities. The $18 million Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which opened in 2006, houses the 1,500-seat Gilbert Arena, the Soiland Recreation Center, the Forrest Fitness Center and a dance studio. CLU has also added a new aquatics center, softball field, baseball stadium and tennis courts in the last three years.
CLU officials hope to offer additional junior varsity programs in the future.

Youth sports sign-ups: November 3, 2009» Ventura County Star

Youth sports sign-ups: November 3, 2009» Ventura County Star:

"VOLLEYBALL GIRLS’ TRYOUTS:

The Ventura West Club will hold tryouts for girls 17 and under on Nov. 15, from 2 to 5 p.m., at L.A. Fitness, 1760 Victoria Ave., Ventura. There’s a $15 guest fee to be paid at the front desk. Information: Doug Messner at 218-2610."

Camarillo nets big win over Oxnard

Camarillo nets big win over Oxnard » Ventura County Star
By Jeffrey Dransfeldt

Hailey Keairns was momentarily speechless.
The Camarillo High senior had just watched fans storm the court following the volleyball team’s win over Oxnard in which she played an integral role.
Keairns was on varsity last season, but has made her presence felt this year with a larger role. She had four service aces, including two straight to clinch Game 1.
“It was such an amazing win,” Keairns said. “People were crying. It was really emotional.”
Host Camarillo placed itself in position to secure a share of the Pacific View League title for the second straight year with a four-game win over Oxnard, 26-24, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22.
The Scorpions (15-10, 7-1) can clinch it with wins next week versus Channel Islands and Rio Mesa.
“It’s not ours yet,” Camarillo coach Rob Vandermay said of the title. “The girls have to remember that. I think they will.
“We’ll celebrate this tonight. We’ll have a lot of fun, but we have to come in next week prepared to do work again.”
Thursday night’s loss marked just the third league defeat for Oxnard (12-8, 7-1) in 12 years, with all three coming against Camarillo.
The balanced Camarillo attack featured eight kills apiece by Noelle Berry and Emily Ochsner, seven from Danielle Helland and six by Taylor Egizi. Helland also had six aces and three blocks. Ochsner had four aces.
Thursday marked a complete turnaround for Camarillo from three weeks ago when it was swept by Oxnard. Keairns admitted the Scorpions were caught off guard then.
“We expected that they were going to be ready, but we weren’t ready for how strong that they were,” she said.
On Thursday, Camarillo rose to the challenge.
The Scorpions led 13-9 midway through Game 1, but even after Oxnard went ahead 15-13, Camarillo tied it at 22 and Keairns finished it shortly thereafter with consecutive ace serves.
Oxnard knotted it at a game apiece with a 25-23 win in Game 2, and the Yellowjackets jumped out to a 4-1 edge in Game 3, but Camarillo answered.
Ochsner had three straight service aces to make it 12-9 as Camarillo built an 18-11 lead before winning 25-20.
Oxnard pushed ahead 14-12 in Game 4, only to see Camarillo stay close.
The Scorpions went ahead 20-18 on a kill by Nicole Pompilio, and Camarillo clinched the game and match a short time later, 25-22, with Camarillo fans streaming onto the court.
Oxnard setter Alysha Rivera had six kills and 23 assists. Leading hitter Nicole Jarvis collected 16 kills and four stuff blocks, while Kalene Deguzman had eight kills and 10 digs.
“We did not deserve to win, but we were capable of winning,” Oxnard coach Pat Casey said. “We had our opportunities.”,

Nordhoff clinches second straight Frontier crown

Nordhoff clinches second straight Frontier crown » Ventura County Star

Nordhoff High defeated visiting Santa Clara 3-0 on Thursday night, clinching its second straight Frontier League girls’ volleyball title in the process.
The Rangers (12-6, 8-0) won by scores of 25-20, 28-26, 25-17, but assistant coach Sean Clark said Santa Clara provided Nordhoff with its toughest test of the league season.
Nordhoff’s Meggie Graham led the way with 17 kills and 11 digs.
Laila Litonjua added 11 kills and 14 digs.
“Our two setters, Kortney Whaley and Jessica Ammerman both played really well,” Clark said.
Elida Becerra provided a spark on offense with 10 service points and four stuff blocks.
“Our girls were really determined,” Clark said. “They never gave up.”
Nordhoff has won 18 straight Frontier League games over the last two seasons.
Santa Clara (5-3, 4-2) was led by Heaven Silveira, with 13 kills and 13 digs. Rachael Valovcin contributed nine kills and 13 digs. Vanessa Flores finished with three kills and a pair of blocks.
la reina 3, oaks christian 2
(Scores: 25-13, 21-25, 25-17, 24-26, 15-8)
At La Reina
La Reina: Katherine Workman had 27 kills and 17 digs. Madeline Rumer contributed 18 kills, 14 digs and five blocks as the Regents clinched at least a tie for the Tri-Valley League championship. Kristin Wendel collected 48 assists and 16 digs.
Records: La Reina 20-4, 10-1 Tri-Valley League; Oaks Christian 19-6, 9-2.
St. bonaventure 3, Malibu 0
(Scores: 25-8, 25-13, 25-13)
At St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure: Hannah Hill had 10 kills, three blocks and two aces. Kara Van Duzer had eight kills and five digs. Alyssa Tamsing had 15 assists and three aces. Tawnia Almaraz finished with eight digs.
Record: St. Bonaventure 11-4, 6-4 Tri-Valley League.
WESTLAKE 3, AGOURA 0
(Scores: 25-23, 25-11, 25-19)
At Agoura
Westlake: Hannah Schuett collected 30 assists and Paige Harris had 24 digs.
Records: Westlake 10-12, 4-8 Marmonte League; Agoura 2-10 league.
royal 3, Moorpark 0
(Scores: 25-12, 25-17, 25-21)
At Moorpark
Royal: Maddie Simpson dished out 28 assists. Kathleen Wright had 11 kills and 13 digs. Abbey Prusa chipped in with eight kills and eight blocks.
Moorpark: Lauren Rohach had eight kills and Taylor Frederick notched 18 assists.
Records: Royal 19-3, 12-0 Marmonte League; Moorpark 11-14, 4-8.
rio mesa 3, Pacifica 0
(Scores: 25-22, 25-17, 25-14)
At Pacifica
Rio Mesa: Kayla Lindquist had nine kills. Hannah Tasker added eight kills and six digs.
Record: Rio Mesa 8-5, 5-3 Pacific View League.
hueneme 3, channel islands 0
(Scores: 25-15, 25-13, 25-18)
At Fillmore
Hueneme: Paulina Ruiz had six kills and four aces. Julie Miranda had five kills and six aces. Mariana Garcia racked up 16 digs.
Channel Islands: Brooke Reed had six kills, three blocks and one ace. Shannon Addison had five blocks.
Records: Hueneme 3-9, 2-6 Pacific View League; Channel Islands 4-11, 0-8.
villanova 3, fillmore 0
(Scores: 25-15, 25-19, 25-4)
At Fillmore
Fillmore: Chianti Sumaran had four kills, six digs and one ace.
Record: Fillmore 3-12, 2-6 Frontier League.
Grace brethren 3, santa paula 0
(Scores: 25-9, 26-24, 25-17)
At Santa Paula
Grace Brethren: Sara Wall had eight kills and seven digs. Sarah Lewis had six kills and two blocks. Carline Fallon contributed seven kills and nine digs.
Santa Paula: Jasmine Perez had six digs, three kills and three aces. Lindsey Lippert had three kills, four aces and two digs.
Records: Grace Brethren 4-7, 3-5 Frontier League; Santa Paula 1-13, 1-7.
Hillcrest Christian 3,
newbury park adventist 0
(Scores: 25-8, 25-13, 25-6)
At Hillcrest Christian
Hillcrest Christian: Noelle Mueller had 18 kills and three aces. Kassi Berg dished off 12 assists and had three aces.
Record: Hillcrest Christian 10-6, 7-2 Omega League.

Ventura College vs. Santa Barbara City College

Oaks Christian outlasts Oak Park

Oaks Christian outlasts Oak Park » Ventura County Star

Christina Nelson had 15 kills, Shayne Kybartas contributed with 19 digs and Kim Koros finished with 47 assists as the Oaks Christian School girls’ volleyball team edged visiting Oak Park in five games Tuesday night.
The Lions dug out of a 2-1 hole in games, 17-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 15-11, to improve to 17-5 overall, 9-1 in Tri-Valley League.
Rachael Band had 14 kills and three blocks for Oak Park (14-10, 7-3). Hayley Verner added 12 kills and three blocks. Rachel Gam had 11 kills and four blocks. Lauren Varney finished with 20 assists.
St. Bonaventure 3,
Carpinteria 0
(Scores: 25-16, 25-16, 25-15)
At Carpinteria
St. Bonaventure: Hannah Hill had nine kills and three blocks. Kara Van Duzer had nine kills. Alyssa Tamzing had 18 assists. Tawnia Almaraz had seven digs.
Record: St. Bonaventure 10-4, 5-4 Tri-Valley.
La Reina 3,
Bishop Diego 0
(Scores: 25-12, 25-14, 25-20)
At Bishop Diego
La Reina: Melissa Bloomgren had 10 kills and 13 digs. Kristine Wendel had 47 assists. Katti Workman had 15 kills and 18 digs.
Records: La Reina 19-4, 9-1 Tri-Valley; Bishop Diego 3-9, 2-8.
rio mesa 3, channel islands 0
(Scores: 25-11, 25-12, 25-21)
At Rio Mesa
Rio Mesa: Hannah Tasker had nine kills and four aces. Montana Beifuss tallied a match-high 11 kills. Kelsea Swan finished with three aces and three kills.
Channel Islands: Brooke Reed had three kills, two blocks and two aces.
Records: Rio Mesa 7-5, 4-3 Pacific View League; Channel Islands 4-11, 0-7.
oxnard 3, hueneme 0
(Scores: 25-9, 25-5, 25-15)
At Hueneme
Oxnard: Alysha Rivera had four kills and 17 assists. Sarah Carinio added five kills, seven digs and two aces. Nicole Gorenflo had nine digs. Oxnard plays at second-place Camarillo on Thursday.
Record: Oxnard 12-5, 7-0 Pacific View League.
Camarillo 3, Pacifica 0
(Scores: 25-16, 25-10, 25-10)
At Pacifica
Camarillo: Emily Ochsner had five kills and eight aces. Margaret Mehrali had five kills.
Records: Camarillo 13-10, 6-1 Pacific View League; Pacifica 6-8, 3-4.
Nordhoff 3,
Villanova Prep 0
(Scores: 25-13, 25-23, 25-18)
At Villanova Prep.
Nordhoff: Laila Litonjua had nine kills. Meggie Graham had seven kills and 14 digs.
Record: Nordhoff 11-6, 7-0 Frontier League.
Fillmore 3,
Santa Paula 1
(Scores: 25-18, 20-25, 25-16, 26-24)
At Santa Paula
Fillmore: Ana Morino had 18 assists, eight digs and four aces. Victoria Ayala had 11 kills and nine aces. Chianti Sumaran had six digs. Taylor DeZavala had four kills and nine digs. Santa Paula: Jasmine Perez had five kills and five digs. Sonia Ortiz had two kills, four digs and nine assists.
Record: Fillmore 3-15, 2-6 Frontier League; Santa Paula 1-12, 1-6.
Grace brethren 3,
Santa clara 2
(Scores: 26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 19-25, 16-14)
At Grace Brethren
Grace Brethren: Freshman Sara Wall had nine kills and 31 digs. Caroline Fallon finished with six kills and 19 digs. Shainah Gist contributed 20 assists.
Santa Clara: Rachael Valovcin had 17 kills, three aces, six digs and two blocks. Heaven Silveira finished with 10 kills, 10 digs and two aces. Sabrina Rivas added two kills and three digs. Lauren Peraza had 12 digs and Sarah Veloz had two kills.
Records: Grace Brethren 3-7, 2-4 Frontier League; Santa Clara 5-2 in league.
Thousand OAks 3,
Simi Valley 1
(Scores: 25-19, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22)
At Simi Valley
Thousand Oaks: Summer Esseff had 17 kills. Karis Schneider had 14 kills. Katie Deamer had nine digs.
Simi Valley: Corrine Ostrovsky had 46 assists.
Records: Thousand Oaks 9-5, 9-2 Marmonte League; Simi Valley 8-7-1, 7-4.
moorpark 3, Calabasas 0
(Scores: 25-13, 25-17, 25-20)
At Calabasas
Moorpark: Kayla Sears had nine kills and seven aces. Allison Smeck finished with nine kills. Madison Gillette had five kills and Taylor Frederick had 25 assists.
Record: Moorpark 11-13, 4-7 Marmonte League.

Seniors spark Santa Clara revival

Seniors spark Santa Clara revival » Ventura County Star
By Loren Ledin

Hungry for success? The Santa Clara High girls’ volleyball program might be better described as downright ravenous.
The combined record the previous three seasons is 7-42, including 0-17 in 2006 and 2-14 in 2007. The last playoff berth came in 2000.
Now comes the turnaround.
Buoyed by a core group of eight strong seniors, Santa Clara started the week a heady 9-3, including 5-1 in the Frontier League. Last week’s 3-0 sweep over Villanova Prep gave the Saints control of second place in the league chase and set up a showdown on Thursday with first-place Nordhoff.
The playoff drought will end in two weeks. With a win over Nordhoff this week, Santa Clara would likely end up a co-champion.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a team this good,” says Mike Arnold, Santa Clara’s coach since 1995. “We’ve got a strong senior group that was determined to have a good season. They wanted to go out as winners.”
Among the team leaders have been two club players. Senior outside hitter Rachael Valovcin leads the Saints with 114 kills and junior setter Kelli Russell has 132 assists, 29 digs and 134 service points.
Balance has also been a key. Senior Vanessa Flores has a team-high 46 blocks and 35 kills, junior Heaven Silvera has 87 kills and 43 service aces and senior Mykella Kershaw has 76 assists and 134 service points.
“It’s a close group,” said Arnold. “They were confident coming into the season that this could be a good year. Our top goal this year was to make the playoffs, and it looks like that is going to happen. To finish first or second in the league would be a big deal.”
Toppling defending champion Nordhoff would be no small achievement. The Rangers won the first meeting at Santa Clara in four games, 21-25, 25-23, 25-7, 25-17.
“Our girls know we’ve got to play a great match,” said Arnold.
No matter what occurs with Nordhoff, the Saints could be in for an extended run in postseason.
“It’s going to be one match at a time,” said Arnord. “I want our girls to have fun and enjoy the experience.”
Oaks on a roll: As one of four ranked teams in its own Tri-Valley League — including defending champion and last year’s CIF-Southern Section Division II-A runnerup La Reina — Oaks Christian has been decidedly under the radar this season.
But the Lions are headed into a monumental stretch that could thrust them into the spotlight.
Oaks Christian owns a share of first place in league at 9-1 (17-5 overall) and would claim sole possession of the league’s top spot with a victory Thursday night at La Reina (9-1, 19-4). Oaks Christian handed La Reina its only defeat in league with a four-game victory on Oct. 6.
Lions coach George Hees said he’s enjoying the ride.
“I love the competition,” he said. “If you earn a playoff berth in this league, you’re definitely ready for the playoffs.”
Hees said his players have made the adjustment to life in a uber-competitive league.
“There are so many big matches,” he said. “I think the first time around the league it was tough for them. But they’re learning that they have to be ready to play every night.”

Volleyball Raises Money for Breast Cancer

Volleyball Raises Money for Breast Cancer CLUsports.com
Regals get involved with Breast Cancer awareness
Monday, Oct 26, 2009 12:00 pm

The 2009 Cal Lutheran volleyball team poses for a picture during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Regals raised over 500 dollars.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Cal Lutheran volleyball team joined the cause of raising awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Awareness, during the month of October. CLU raised more than 500 dollars for breast cancer while joining the nationwide effort.The Regals match at Pomona-Pitzer on October 24 was the official "Power of Pink" contest as the other Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) schools supported the cause at their respective games.Volleyball programs at institutions across the country supported the effort and shared their stories at the American Volleyball Coaches Association Website.

Volleyball Tryouts Today

California Heat Volleyball Club will be hosting tryouts for their 12's, 13's and 14's teams today at their gym in Camarillo, from 12:30 - 3:00 pm.

For more information, check out the California Heat Website or contact Director Cindy Smith at calheatvbc@roadrunner.com or 805 657-6700.

~~

Channel Islands Volleyball Club will be hosting tryouts today at Ventura College:
14's boys team from 12:30-2:45
13's and 14's girls teams from 2:30 - 4:45
12's and under girls teams from 4:30 - 5:45

For more information, check out the Channel Islands Website or call 805 659-1620.

VCS Preps: Nordhoff sweeps Villanova

By Ted Cotti Posted Friday, October 9, 2009

Photo by Joseph A. Garcia
Nordhoff High’s Laila Litonjua, left, hits the ball back over the net while Villanova Prep’s Hannah Kolbecktries to block during their Frontier League match on Thursday night.

The swagger is back at Nordhoff High.
Back in the ’80s and ’90s — under 2009 Ventura County Hall of Fame inductee coach Cher Glass — Rangers volleyball teams dominated: eight league, four CIF and two State titles.
Current coach Rene Nakao-Mauch, who was an assistant under Glass, now has four league titles of her own, but this is perhaps her first team that carries itself with the outward confidence of those Glass squads.
Nakao-Mauch’s Rangers, who went undefeated in Frontier League competition last year, parlayed that confidence into a three-game, 25-11, 25-10, 25-9, sweep of visiting Villanova Thursday, improving to 6-6 overall and 2-0 in league.
“Volleyball is a pretty big head game, and a lot of how the girls do has to do with what their mind-set is even before the game starts as well as how they handle adversity during the game,” said Nakao-Mauch. “Tonight, the way we played — fired up and confident and together — meant that we weren’t going to get down after a mistake or a point, that we were going to pick each other up and just go about business and get the next point.”
And the points came fast and furious for the Rangers, who never trailed.
Led by senior Laila Litonjua — MVP of the Carpinteria Tournament, which Nordhoff won — and teammate Ashley Sandefur, the Rangers converted 28 of its 60 hits while limiting the Wildcats to just 17 of 82, outblocking the guests 18-4.
Litonjua and Sandefur each recorded a dozen kills, and Leah Paquette and Meggie Graham added seven — in large part thanks to the adept passing of Courtney Whaley and Jessica Ammerman, who combined for 17 assists.
“It’s so different than a couple of years ago,” said Litonjua. “After winning league last year and the way coaches are so positive now, we come into the gym and (know we’ve done the work) and expect to play well and expect to win.”
Despite the best efforts of Villanova’s Hannah Kolbeck (seven kills, four blocks and six assists), Lilian Miles (two kills, eight digs), Ava Plasmyer (three kills) and Kaylee O’Malley (seven digs), Sandefur was the force at the net, consistently disrupting the Wildcats offense, knocking down a match-high eight blocks — including a pair of impressive block-kills at the end of Games 2 and 3.
What Sandefur missed at the net, Graham (seven digs) and Jessica Lugotoff (nine digs to go along with more than a dozen perfectly executed serve-receive passes) covered.
Meanwhile, Villanova coach Loren Wiggens felt his team lacked confidence as much as Nordhoff exuded it.
“We were flat the whole night,” he said. “The girls scaled back and were afraid of making mistakes. We weren’t hitting our seams and instead hitting right at people, but that’s something we can work on for next time.”
Nordhoff will put its two-year league win-streak on the line again next Tuesday when it travels to Santa Clara.

From VC Preps:

girls’ volleyball

Royal 3, Thousand oaks 0
(Scores: 25-14, 25-15, 25-22)

At Thousand Oaks
Royal: Kathleen Wright had 16 kills and 21 digs. She also scored nine straight jump serves to lead the third-game rally. Maddie Simpson had a team-high 28 assists.
Thousand Oaks: Karis Schneider had 12 kills, while Rachel Cookus added 12 digs.
Records: Royal 13-3, 6-0 Marmonte League; Thousand Oaks 5-4, 5-1.

simi valley 3, westlake 0
(Scores: 25-19, 25-15, 25-23)

At Simi Valley
Simi Valley: Amber Clemons had nine kills and Christina Slenker had seven digs.
Record: Simi Valley 5-5-1, 4-2 Marmonte League.

moorpark 3, agoura 0
(Scores: 25-12, 25-13, 25-15.)

At Agoura
Moorpark: Taylor Sears had 11 kills and eight aces, Lauren Rojas had six kills and 10 digs and Ashlea Smith had six kills.
Record: Moorpark 9-10, 2-4 Marmonte League.

newbury park 3, calabasas 1
(Scores: 25-12, 25-13, 25-15.)

At Newbury Park
Newbury Park: The Panthers extended their league win streak to four in a row.
Record: Newbury Park 5-1 Marmonte League.

oxnard 3, hueneme 0
(Scores: 25-11, 25-13, 25-11)

At Oxnard
Oxnard: Alysha Rivera had five kills, 20 assists, six digs and three aces. Mary Ann Ferrer had six kills and Kalene Deguzman added seven kills and nine digs.
Hueneme: Janelle DelCarmen had nine digs and five kills. Mariana Garcia added 14 digs. Julie Miranda had 12 digs and one kill.
Records: Oxnard 7-5, 2-0 Pacific View League; Hueneme 0-2 in league.

Rio mesa 3, Channel Islands 0
(Scores: 25-7, 25-9, 25-9)

At Channel Islands
Rio Mesa: Montana Beifuss had seven kills and four blocks. Kelsea Swan added four kills, while Jasmine Sagisi dished out 20 assists and had five aces.
Records: Rio Mesa 4-3, 1-1 Pacific View League; Channel Islands 0-2 in league.

camarillo 3, pacifica 0
(Scores: 25-15, 25-11, 25-16)

At Camarillo
Camarillo: Dani Helland had 16 assists, nine aces and four kills, Emily Ochsner had six kills and three aces, and Taylor Egizi had five kills. Noelle Berry added three kills and seven aces.
Pacifica: Brooke Dixon notched 12 kills and Anissa Keown had 16 digs.
Records: Camarillo 9-9, 2-0 Pacific View League; Pacifica 4-5, 1-1.

Santa Barbara 3, Buena 0
(Scores: 25-21, 25-13, 25-22)

At Santa Barbara
Buena: Taylor Greig had six kills, while Lauren Bevan added five kills.
Brooke Ranger dished out 19 assists.
Record: Buena 2-2 Channel League.

ventura 3, san marcos 1
(Scores: 25-15, 27-29, 25-20, 25-19)

At San Marcos
Ventura: Amy Lanski had 22 kills and eight aces. Carly Roberg had eight kills. Morgan Slater dished our 15 assists. Zoey Gilberthas 13 assists and two aces.
Record: Ventura 6-4, Channel League.

La Reina 3, Oak park 0
(Scores: 25-18, 25-23, 25-9.)

At La Reina
La Reina: Kathy Workman had 16 kills and 25 digs. Madeline Rumer chipped in with eight kills, three aces and 19 digs. Sara Anselmo added 14 kills and 14 digs. Kristin Wendel had 33 assists and 10 digs.
Oak Park: Rachel Gam had 13 kills and four blocks, Hayley Verner had four kills and three blocks, and Rachael Band had five kills.
Records: La Reina 15-4, 5-1 Tri-Valley League; Oak Park 10-9, 3-2.

st. bonaventure 3, bishop diego 1
(Scores: 22-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-16)

At Bishop Diego
St. Bonaventure: Tawnia Almaraz notched 13 digs, Alyssa Tamsing had 32 assists and two aces, and Hannah Hill had 22 kills and seven digs. Kara Van Duzer collected 18 digs and 12 kills, and Hunter Young had 13 kills and two blocks.
Record: St. Bonaventure 7-1, 4-1 Tri-Valley League.

fillmore 3, santa paula 1
(Scores: 15-25, 25-17, 25-15, 16-25, 15-8)

At Fillmore
Fillmore: Ana Morino had 20 assists, Torri Ayala collected 13 kills, eight digs and two blocks, and Taylor DeZavala had eight kills, 10 digs and two aces. Tatiana Gonzalez added six kills, seven digs and two aces.
Records: Fillmore 2-6, 1-1 Frontier League.

Santa clara 3, grace brethren 1
(Scores: 25-20, 25-9, 12-25, 25-14)

At Santa Clara
Santa Clara: Rachael Valovcin had 14 kills, three aces and three blocks. Heaven Silveria had eight kills, five aces and eight digs. Kelli Russell had 14 assists.
Grace Brethren: Caroline Fallon had five kills while Beka Adams had five kills and seven aces. Emma Churik and Shainah Gist each had nine digs
Record: Grace Brethren 1-5, 0-2 Frontier League; Santa Clara 4-2, 2-0.

Returning to a rivalry

Returning to a rivalry » Ventura County Star
By Rhiannon Potkey

A young male coach returns to his alma mater with a goal of building the girls’ volleyball program into a Channel League title contender again.
The description fits the profile of Jared Godinez. It also fits the profile of Cameron Ohl. The first-year head varsity coaches have a lot in common.
There is just one big difference — they happen to coach at rival schools.
Godinez has taken the reins at Ventura this season, while Ohl is across town at Buena.
Despite the rivalry’s inherent friction, they share a mutual respect for each other’s abilities and aspirations.
Their teams will square off tonight as Ventura (5-3, 0-2) hosts Buena (9-3, 1-1) at 6:30.
“I feel like we are all friends off the court, but once we are on the court, we are going to be playing some hard volleyball,” Ohl said. “That’s not only going to make our team better, but I think it will also bring more attention to the sport in our area.”
Ohl, 32, was a three-year varsity player at Buena before attending Northern Arizona and obtaining a minor in athletic coaching.
“I only tried out for volleyball at Buena because I didn’t want to do P.E.,” said Ohl, who is now, ironically, a physical education teacher at Rio Vista Middle School in Oxnard. “I was one of those who played basketball, football and baseball my whole life and volleyball was always looked at as a girls’ sport. But once I tried out, I fell in love with the pace of the game and the teamwork aspect of it.”
Ohl returned to Buena as an assistant boys’ volleyball coach right after college, and watched some guy named Godinez “pretty much take over and whoop us pretty bad” when Godinez was a senior at Ventura.
Following a one-year stint as an assistant girls’ coach at Ventura, Ohl spent last season at St. Bonaventure assisting former Buena girls’ coach Jack Richards.
“It helped me out a lot just to be able to be near Jack and listen and watch him,” Ohl said. “I have been lucky enough to learn a lot from him as I have from a lot of other coaches.”
After Godinez, 27, graduated from Ventura, he accepted a volleyball scholarship to UC Santa Barbara.
During his college career, Godinez began coaching club volleyball in Santa Barbara and realized how much he enjoyed it.
“I was itching to get back to toward Ventura,” said Godinez, who works for the Pacific Coast Business Times in Santa Barbara. “It is my home and it is really where most of my volleyball support came from. I wanted to start giving back.”
Having spent time in both counties, Godinez understands why the schools up north have been successful in the Channel League.
“I get to see how much the Santa Barbara community gets involved in volleyball and I think Ventura struggles to keep that consistency,” Godinez said. “It seems like we have waves when the high school teams do really well here. That is why I am glad to see someone like Cameron at Buena. He will do a great job.”
Godinez has assembled an impressive coaching staff at Ventura. His assistants include Maurice Shimabuku, who led Hueneme High to a state title in 1986, former Ventura head coach Debbie Litten and former Ventura College assistant Melissa Yeto.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity. I doubt I will ever get a chance to work with this high caliber of coaches again,” Godinez said. “I am really learning a lot from them.”
It’s also helped prevent any family feuds. Godinez’s younger sister, Cheyenne is a junior outside hitter for the Cougars.
“It is an interesting dynamic,” Godinez said with a laugh. “I have my challenges with her like I have with any other player and that is why I think it’s really important to have Maurice involved for the time when it breaks down beyond the coach-player boundary.”
Buena and Ventura have already registered some big wins this season and have shown definite signs of progress.
“This is probably one of the stronger teams we’ve had in a long time here,” Ohl said. “We have a lot of experience and everyone plays club volleyball, so we have high hopes. It’s a great group of girls and parents. I have been really happy so far.”
Godinez can say the same, even if he’s been forced to coach on crutches after rupturing his achilles tendon for the second time.
“I have been enjoying it immensely,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what happened in my day, good or bad, coming into the gym you feel completely focused on what needs to be accomplished.”
As Godinez and Ohl settle into their new roles, they can’t help but ponder the future of their programs.
“I am excited not just for this year, but down the road,” Godinez said. “We are positioning these girls to dream big and set goals that we think we can accomplish.”

Coed League and Club Tryouts

Youth sports results: October 6, 2009» Ventura County Star:

"VOLLEYBALL
Coed League
The Thousand Oaks Teen Center will offer a coed intramural fundamentals league on Fridays starting Oct. 16. The league is for players in seventh and eighth grade. Fee is $120, including a T-shirt. Players may register as as individual or a team. Information: http://www.thousandoaksteencenter.com/.

Channel Islands Tryouts

The Channel Islands club will hold tryouts on Sunday at Ventura College. Boys 14s will be at 12:30 p.m.Girls 13s and 14s will be at 2:30 p.m. Girls 12U will be at 4:30 p.m. Girls tryouts will be Nov. 8, 15 and 22. A parent must attend tryouts with the player.
Players need to bring medical insurance information and a $20 tryout fee. Information: 659-1620 or http://www.channelislandsvolleyball.net/."

Club Volleyball Tryouts Today

California Heat Volleyball Club will be hosting tryouts for their 12's, 13's and 14's teams today at their gym in Camarillo, from 12:30 - 3:00 pm.

For more information, check out the California Heat Website or contact Director Cindy Smith at calheatvbc@roadrunner.com or 805 657-6700.

~~

Channel Islands Volleyball Club will be hosting tryouts today at Ventura College:
14's boys team from 12:30-2:45
13's and 14's girls teams from 2:30 - 4:45
12's and under girls teams from 4:30 - 5:45

For more information, check out the Channel Islands Website or call 805 659-1620.

Volleyball Fun

Some volleyball fun for the younger fans; just print these out and pass out some crayons!

Volleyball Coloring Page 1

Volleyball Coloring Page 2

Volleyball Coloring Page 3

Thousand Oaks vs. Westlake

Club Season Approaches

It's time to start thinking about Club Volleyball!

We have received tryout information from some of our local Ventura County Volleyball Clubs. (If you know of other tryouts, please send us the information at vcvolleyball@gmail.com. Thank you!)

ACEZ Tryouts

California Heat Volleyball Club Tryouts

Channel Islands Volleyball Club Tryouts

Conejo Crush Tryouts

Pacific Volleyball Club Tryouts

Reef Volleyball Club Tryouts

Spectrum Volleyball Club Tryouts

Girls Club Volleyball Tryout Dates and Commitment Dates

Southern California Volleyball Association:

"Girls Tryout Dates and Commitment Dates

Beginning with the 2007/2008 season, the Southern California Volleyball Association will be implementing regulations on tryout dates and commitment dates.
For the 2009/2010 season, all junior girls clubs are eligible to host tryouts for the various age divisions on the following dates:

1. Girls 14 and Under Divisions - October 1st, 2009
2. Girls 15 and 16 Under Divisions - November 8th, 2009
3. Girls 17 and 18 and Under Divisions - November 15th, 2009

Please note, the SCVA highly recommends and encourages all junior players to wait until their high school season is over prior to trying out for the club season.

For the 2009/2010 season, all junior girls clubs will have a commitment date no earlier than the following dates for the various age divisions:

1. Girls 14 and Under Divisions - October 19th, 2009
2. Girls 15 and 16 and Under Divisions - November 23rd, 2009
3. Girls 17 and 18 and Under Divisions - November 30th, 2009

A commitment date is defined as the first date that a club can obtain a deposit as a means for accepting a spot for their club team and have the deposit be non-refundable.

In addition, no club may offer a spot on a team before the following dates for the various age divisions:
1. Girls 14 and Under Divisions - October 1st, 2009
2. Girls 15 and 16 and Under Divisions - November 8th, 2009
3. Girls 17 and 18 and Under Divisions - November 15th, 2009

Please note, that for a club to be eligible to receive an invitation to the Las Vegas Classic, the club must abide by the tryout and commitment dates set forth by the SCVA. However, abiding by the tryout and commitment dates does not guarantee entry into the event."

Pepperdine Waves vs. Hawaii Wahine

Youth sports sign-ups: September 22, 2009» Ventura County Star

Youth sports sign-ups: September 22, 2009» Ventura County Star:

"VOLLEYBALL JUNIOR TOURNAMENT:

The ninth annual Junior Tournament of Champions for private and public middle school girls will be held Oct. 3 at Oxnard High. Grades 6-8 will participate. Early bird fee is $100 if paid on or before Thursday (Sept. 24). The fee is $125 after Thursday. Entry deadline is Sept. 30. Information: Andrew Palomares, tournament director, at 655-5522 or ajpvolleyball@aol.com."

From today's Ventura County Star:

girls’ volleyball
La Reina places third: Led by all-tournament selection Katherine Workman, La Reina finished third out of 28 teams at the San Luis Obispo Invitational, played Friday and Saturday.
La Reina went 3-1 in pool play, beating Santa Ynez (25-10, 25-22) and Camarillo (25-18, 25-14) and losing to Bullard (21-25, 25-19, 14-12).
The Regents defeated Clovis (25-16) and top-seeded Arroyo Grande (25-18, 25-23) to reach the semifinals. Buena, which finished the tournament in second, defeated La Reina 25-17, 25-23 in the semifinals. The Regents won the third-place match.
Workman, an outside hitter, finished with 75 kills, 63 digs and six aces. Senior middle blocker Madeline Rumer had 32 kills, 11 blocks and four aces.
Junior outside hitter Sara Anselmo had 32 kills, 13 aces and 32 digs. Senior libero Melissa Bloomgren had 58 digs.
Oaks Christian finished in fourth, while Oak Park and Moorpark tied for fifth.
Buena places second: The Bulldogs lost to Frontier High of Bakersfield 25-23, 21-25, 9-15 in the championship game of the San Luis Obispo Invitational. Senior outside hitter Bree Gruppioni and senior setter/right side player Jessica Soprano made the all-tournament team.
In the gold playoff bracket, Buena defeated Bullard 25-23, Moorpark 25-15, 25-18 La Reina 25-18, 25-20 to reach the championship match.

Simpson leads Royal volleyball team loaded with talent

From today's Ventura County Star:

Simpson leads Royal volleyball team loaded with talent

By Loren Ledin (Contact)

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Photo by Chuck Kirman

Whether its an affection for beach volleyball, an affinity for clutch plays or even her sunny disposition, Maddie Simpson can take the heat.
For the Royal High senior setter, that’s one key reason why she ranks among the region’s top players.
The pressure to excel not only manifests itself in Royal’s matches, but in Highlanders practices as well.
Since Royal coach Heidi Buonauro was herself once a star setter in the program, she has made it a mission to fine-tune Simpson’s development.
Simpson appreciates any and all criticism, er, attention.
“I like it,” she says with a characteristic smile. “If I get yelled at, so much the better. It helps me to focus and keep improving. I know coach only wants me to become a better player.”
Buonauro said any constructive criticism has been geared toward Simpson achieving her potential.
“Actually, I’ve been easier on my setters than any Ferguson,” said Buonauro, whose father Bob, mother Sandy and brother Travis have all been esteemed head coaches in the Royal boys’ and girls’ volleyball programs. Bob currently assists Heidi on the girls’ team.
“But one of the things I do like to do is put pressure on my setter in practice. If she can handle those situations well, I know she can handle whatever comes up in a match.”
Truth is, Simpson doesn’t figure to warrant much criticism this season.
Now a sage and heady senior, the 6-foot-1 setter oversees a savvy, veteran team that earns the nod as the Marmonte League favorite.
Seven seniors, all with starting experience, form the core of a team with great expectations. Most have played together since the eighth grade.
“We’re very excited about our chances this season,” said Simpson. “We feel like we’ve grown up together, and learned how to win in this league. We’re ready to take the next step.”
The Highlanders placed third in league two seasons ago, and were second last year. If Royal is to win the league championship and improve on last year’s playoff performance, when it reached the second round in Division I, Simpson will play a starring role.
As a junior, she earned first-team all-league honors by racking up 754 assists and demonstrating her versatility with 46 kills, 35 blocks and 125 service points.
This season, Simpson is off to a rousing start after contributing 49 assists in Royal’s 23-25, 25-12, 25-19, 27-25 victory over Oak Park.
Simpson’s rise as a volleyball talent came with a painful decision.
A promising basketball player, Simpson was the starting center for the Highlanders as a sophomore. Following her 10th-grade season, she made the decision to focus entirely on volleyball.
“It was very difficult,” she said. “I really enjoyed basketball, and still watch all their games. I miss it a lot. But I knew if I wanted to reach my potential in volleyball, I had to focus 100 percent on the sport. Now I play volleyball all year round, and it’s made a big difference for me.”
During club season, Simpson plays for highly regarded Sports Shack, which has hastened her development. Last summer, Sports Shack won the silver medal at the Junior Olympics in Miami, Fla.
“It’s been a great experience, especially playing with so many great players, Simpson said. “It’s definitely enabled me to improve at all facets of the game.”
Along with her physical gifts, Simpson has matured into an accomplished team leader. She clearly has the respect of her teammates.
“I’m not a yeller, but if something goes wrong I’m not afraid to point it out and say it,” Simpson said. “The good news is that my teammates all listen to me. They know if I’m saying something, it’s for a good reason.”
While focused on the present, Simpson also has an eye on her future. She’d love to secure a scholarship to play volleyball in college, and might rely on her versatility.
Simpson has long enjoyed playing beach volleyball, and has involved many of her teammates in the sport.
In fact, Buanaro took the Highlanders to Manhattan Beach for a session of beach volleyball during training camp.
“I know college teams are starting to play beach volleyball, so maybe I could end up doing that in college,” said Simpson. “It’s a hard sport to play, and it’s definitely has helped my training for indoor volleyball. I do loving playing both.”

From today's Ventura County Star:

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Oxnard 2, San Lorenzo Valley 0 (25-16, 25-20); Madera 2, Oxnard 1 (25-17, 22-25, 15-12): Alysha Rivera recorded 28 assists and six aces for Oxnard (1-1) in the first day of the San Luis Obispo Tournament.
Nicole Jarvis had 12 kills, nine aces and four stuff blocks.

Santa Clara 3, Malibu 2 (17-25, 25-16, 12-25, 25-14, 15-11): Rachael Valovcin had nine kills, four aces, six digs and six blocks in the season opener Thursday night match. Heaven Silveira added seven kills, five aces and 15 digs. Kelli Russell had seven assists and Mykella Kershaw had five assists.

From today's Ventura County Star:

Volleyball roundup: Nordhoff volleyball team opens with win


The Nordhoff High girls’ volleyball team’s strong season a year ago may be in for an encore.
The defending Frontier League champions rode 11 kills from Laila Litonjua and 28 assists from Kourtney Whaley to a 25-14, 25-12, 25-13 sweep of visiting Hueneme in the season opener for both teams.
Ashley Sandefur added seven kills.
For Hueneme, Taulini Ruiz had seven kills and three blocks; Nicki Bruno had 12 assists and Marianna Garcia recorded 16 digs.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
St. Bonaventure 3, Santa Paula 0 (25-5, 25-10, 25-6): Hannah Hill had seven kills, and Kaitlin Maxwell and Hunter Young notched six kills apiece as the visiting Seraphs swept their season opener. Lindsey Lippert notched five digs and two kills for Santa Paula, while Sonia Ortiz finished with four digs and three assists.

Royal 3, Oak Park 1 (23-25, 25-12, 25-19, 27-25): Rachael Band led host Oak Park with 14 kills. Rachel Gam had 10 kills and Hayley Verner finished with eight kills and three blocks. Maddie Simpson had 49 assists to lead Royal (1-0). Amanda Soper led the Highlanders with 17 kills and Kathleen Wright added 16. Kasey Ring contributed 21 blocks.

Fillmore 3, Channel Islands 0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-19): Torri Ayala collected 12 service aces, five digs and four kills and Chianti Sumaran had eight aces and two kills as Fillmore won its season opener at home. Anna Moreno contributed four assists and three aces. Channel Islands (0-1) was led by Brooke Reed with three aces, four blocks and eight kills.

Ventura 3, Moorpark 0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-18): Cheyenne Godinez and Katie Miller each had seven kills to lead visiting Ventura (1-0) to the win. Amy Lanski added three aces and Emily Carman contributed eight digs.

Westlake 3, Beverly Hills 2 (15-25, 17-25, 25-19, 25-15, 15-13): Hannah Schuett dished out 42 assists and recorded five kills to help host Westlake (1-0) rally from two games down to defeat Beverly Hills (0-1). Casey Levitt, 18 digs, and Paige Harris, 15 digs, keyed the Warriors defensive charge.

Orange Lutheran 3, Thousand Oaks 0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-17): Karis Schneider finished with five kills and nine digs as the Lancers opened their season with a loss at home.

Women’s college volleyball

The Masters College 3, Cal Lutheran 2 (21-25, 13-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-12): Emily Gray dished out 33 assists to lead the Master’s attack. Jackie Russell had 37 assists for visiting Cal Lutheran. Erin Exline had 17 kills and Allison Kerr added 14 kills for the Regents.

Volleyball Freshman Thriving

From today's Ventura County Star:

Volleyball freshmen thriving

By Rhiannon Potkey
Thursday, September 10, 2009

Cal Lutheran women’s volleyball coach Kellee Roesel expected her incoming freshmen would barely survive the first week of practice.
Roesel figured she would work them into the rotation later in the season once they were more comfortable.
But plans changed.
Not only did the freshmen survive, they thrived.
“They stepped up immediately,” Roesel said. “They gave the returning players everything they could handle and were winning drills. That was really a pleasant surprise.”
The early indoctrination continued over the weekend at the Trinity River Classic in Texas. Freshman Rachel Smith won the starting outside hitter spot for CLU () after a performance that earned the 5-foot-7 Newbury Park High graduate all-tournament honors.
“She proved she could really be something special at this level,” Roesel said. “It looks like there is nothing to her, but she jumps out of the gym. That kid does a lot of the right things.”
CLU, ranked No. 14 in the nation, will be hosting its own tournament on Friday and Saturday. The Cal-Lu-fornia Invitational features 14 teams, and each team is guaranteed four matches.
“We have a lot of good West Region teams coming, so it should really give us an idea of what we are going to be facing in the playoffs,” Roesel said. “Plus, we get to see all the strong teams in our conference and that will be an advantage.”
CLU finished last season as the NCAA West Regional runner-up and returns 11 players from that squad.
Allison Kerr, Erin Exline, Cori Hayes and Megan Thorpe are among the statistical leaders back in the rotation.
But it’s the seven freshmen, which includes setters Lindsey Walsh and Jackie Russell of Newbury Park, who could determine CLU’s potential.
“This could be the best recruiting class I have had,” said Roesel, in her fourth season. “Every day at practice is going to be so competitive and a battle for positions. That is exactly the way I want it. It will push everyone to improve.”
The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is holding a conference tournament for the first time this year in volleyball.
The top four teams will meet in early November to determine the SCIAC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
“We just need to be playing really good by the end of the month and just keep getting better,” she said. “The conference is going to be an all-out battle and hopefully our kids can step up to the challenge. But I am pretty excited about this group.”

Invisible Volleyball

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Ventura County College Volleyball

It's that time of year again...

California Lutheran University Volleyball

Moorpark College Volleyball

Oxnard College Volleyball

Ventura College Volleyball


No Volleyball Teams for CSUCI this year, but stay tuned for future developments.