Girls’ Volleyball Preview: Providence hoping for continued success
With CIF Southern Section realignment, success in the playoffs usually means a bump up in divisions the following season.
However, despite advancing to the Division VIII semifinals in 2016, the Providence girls’ volleyball team stayed put.
“I think we are going to be in the top 10 in the division this year,” said Pioneers coach James Jimenez, whose squad is listed on the preseason Division VIII watch list. “I was looking at the power rankings and all the top teams that were in the top 10 in Division VIII last year have moved up to Division VII, except for us. The top teams from Division IX have moved up, so there will be a whole different group in the playoffs.
“I think the fact that we stayed in Division VIII will hopefully benefit us in the playoffs.”
Providence lost some key players, but retained a group of impact athletes, as is also the case with Burroughs. Burbank has most of its lineup returning and Bellarmine-Jefferson is under the direction of a new coach. At Lycee International of Los Angeles, the Lions will look to build on last season when they qualified for the postseason for the first time.
PROVIDENCE
The Pioneers (20-9), who tied for third in the Liberty League, enjoyed the most successful season in program history. Providence advanced to the program’s second CIF Southern Section semifinal, losing to Katella and made a first-ever appearance in the CIF State Division IV playoffs.
Despite losing All-CIF middle blocker Ava Midkiff, the Pioneers return a number of players from a year ago.
“It is always tough to lose players like that, but I think we definitely have a good group back,” Jimenez said. “We had a good summer and I think that we’re ready.
“From summer, we kind of know what our lineup is going to be and we have been plugging in people in those spots that we lost and we’ve been rolling with that. We have good chemistry with our starting rotation and I think we have pretty good depth.”
Among the returners is All-Area senior outside hitter Talia Patterson, who had 139 kills and 133 digs in just 12 matches. Also back are senior outside hitter Giselle Camanayan and junior middle Ayah LaBrane. New to the squad is junior setter Justine Nunez and sophomore libero Isabella Mahan.
“In our league, I expect Archer to be up there, they usually are,” said Jimenez, the 2016 All-Area Coach of the Year. “I think it’s going to be a four-team competition for those three automatic playoff spots, with us, Milken and Glendale Adventist probably battling it out.”
BURROUGHS
The Indians have the top local player back for her senior season, All-CIF outside hitter Marin Grote, who has committed to the University of Washington. She helped Burroughs (22-10) finish runner-up in the Pacific League behind Arcadia last season. The Indians advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division II-A quarterfinals.
Grote, who was voted a tri-Pacific League Player of the Year, led the Indians with 182 kills in 12 league matches.
“She has played a lot during the summer and she is going to be ready to go for us,” Burroughs coach Edwin Real said. “She has played a lot for us the last few years and she definitely has the experience. She is going to play mostly on the outside, but we can move her around of we have to. ...We look for more good things from Marin for her senor season.”
Also returning for Burroughs is junior Juliana Van Loo, who has been moved from the middle to the right side, senior setter Lauren Zedlar, junior opposite/setter Shea McGovern, senior libero/defensive specialist Sabrina Sullivan, senior middle Ricki Patenaude and senior defensive specialist Luzzy Jessen. New to the team is Lidia Grote, Marin’s younger sister, who will be on the outside.
“We have played a lot in summer, so I hope that is going to help us,’ Real said. “We also play in some tournaments and we will get in a lot of games, so that is only going to help us as well.”
In the race for the Pacific League championship, Real said he expects Arcadia to be tough and Glendale to be much improved.
BURBANK
The Bulldogs are coming off a season in which they went 16-11-2 and placed fourth in the Pacific League.
“I think that we have a lot to work on to be the kind of team that I think we can be. But other than that, I think our team chemistry is strong and we have seven senior returners and those are seven seniors who have been through things and they know what to expect,” Burbank coach Karl Rojo said. “That group is really leading the way for the other young players.”
Leading the group of Bulldogs returners is All-Area senior outside hitter Melissa Daniel, who had 151 kills and 172 digs last season. Another key player who is back is sophomore outside Katie Treadway.
Returners also expected to contribute are senior middle Arpi Garibyan, senior middle/opposite Bene Snyder and senior middle Erin Lashkari. The team’s setter will be sophomore Ashley Eskander.
“For the most part, we have an idea who the starting seven will be for us,” Rojo said. “But every day these girls go into practice and battle for their spots, which is nice to see.
“We just want to avoid burnout when we’re midway through our league and we want to stay strong, stay together and finish the season strong.”
Like Real, Rojo said he thinks Arcadia should be the team to beat in league, but also expects challenges from Burroughs and Crescenta Valley.
BELLARMINE-JEFFESRON
The Guards (1-14-1) are coming off a season in which they didn’t win a match in the Santa Fe League to finish sixth out of six teams.
But Bell-Jeff has a new coach in Erick Beck and should benefit from the addition of a pair of decorated athletes.
“It has been really great with this group so far and they have been open to some of the changes that I’ve brought to the program,” Beck said. “They have been willing to learn and experiment with things in hopes of improving. We started off with seven players and no we’re up to 13.
“What had been positive is seeing some of the players having success with some of the things that we’ve been teaching. I have been pleasantly surprised at their athletic maturity.”
Not new to the team but back to devote their full-time to volleyball is a pair of seniors, middle blocker/outside hitter Claire Borot and senior right side Cosette Balmy. The two, who are All-CIF basketball players at Bell-Jeff, decided to compete in volleyball exclusively after splitting time with cross-country last season. In 2016, the pair helped the Guards cross-country squad to a league championship and a berth in the state meet.
Returning to bolster the Guards are junior outside hitters Dalila Rincan and Madison Gibson. Also expected to contribute are senior setter Cathryn Sunpayco and sophomore utility Kayla Advetante.
“We just want to be competitive and be ready when our league starts,” Beck said. “I will be happy if we can take care of what we can take care of on our side and hopefully that will help lead us to success.
“The big thing for me is to be able to see improvement and that’s what I’m looking for.”
LYCEE INTERNATIONAL
The Lions will embark on their third season of CIF Southern Section play.
In 2016 under coach Leonardo Granato, LILA had an 8-4 record and placed second in the International League, qualifying for the postseason and losing in the first round of the Division X playoffs.
“We are kind of getting a late start to the season and we won’t even have our tryouts until Monday,” Granato said. “Some of our girls are still in France. So I really won’t know all that I have until after that.
“We do have a few core returners and I hope they will be able to lead the way for the younger girls.”
Key returners will be senior outside hitter Chloe Whyte, junior outside hitter Dylan Priestley and senior setter Cynthia Randriananja.
“I know that some of the girls we had last year are really excited to come back and see what they can do this year,” Granato said.
“We just want to keep riding the wave that we started last season. Also, I think that loss in the playoffs last year has really motivated them to work hard and make it to the playoffs again.”
Twitter: @jefftsports
