Girls’ Volleyball Preview: Improvement key for city squads
Though there are significant differences between the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, La Cañada High and Flintridge Prep girls’ volleyball teams, each has a common goal of constant improvement as the 2016 season is about to get underway.
At Flintridge Sacred Heart, the news is mixed.
On one hand, the Tologs graduated All-Mission League first-teamers Clare Lund (1,103 assists, 176 digs and 82 kills) and Ali McCollum (255 kills and 36 digs) along with two others.
On the flip side, Flintridge Sacred Heart returns All-Area Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year Kayla Lund. The University of Pittsburgh-bound outside hitter was a true force last year with an area-best 554 kills, 273 digs and 37 aces.
She’s joined by a handful of returners, including junior outside hitter Ellis DeJardin (251 kills and 160 digs) and junior defensive specialist Katherine Lund (383 digs), along with senior middle blocker Mady Martinez.
With so much turnover, Tologs Coach Ernest Banaag is remaining cautious.
“We’re going to be competitive, but honestly we have a lot of new players on varsity and a lot players who are returning, but who will also be asked to make an impact,” Banaag said. “It’s been a struggle for a lot of them who we’re going to have to depend on. We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully, we just keep improving.”
Last year, the Tologs recovered from a 1-2 start to league play to rally for a 26-9 overall mark and a 6-2 record in league to split the league title with Marymount.
Flintridge Sacred Heart was defeated in the first round of the Division I-AA playoffs by visiting San Clemente in a five-game thriller.
“That was a special team and we’re not close to being there yet,” Banaag said. “Right now, I’m juggling pieces and rotations around and just trying to make it. We aren’t a normal team by past standards.
“So, we can’t run normal rotations and a normal system. Right now, we’re just putting girls in position not to harm us, but to help us. As we move along later in the season, we’ll make changes.”
Flintridge Sacred Heart opens the season Friday hosting crosstown rival La Cañada at 6:30 p.m.
Unlike the Tologs, the Spartans are trying to get past a forgettable 2015 campaign.
Last season, La Cañada battled until the final match of the regular season and was forced into a tie-breaker with San Marino. The Spartans dropped the match, 3-1, and finished seeded fourth in league though the team officially ended tied for third.
Overall, the Spartans ended 11-17 and 6-4 in league and missed the postseason for the first time this century.
“We’re definitely going to have a bounce-back year this year,” said La Cañada second-year Coach Chris Sullivan, who is in his fifth year overall with the volleyball program. “I think a lot of the girls back from last year are going to use that experience to really push themselves forward this year.”
The Spartans graduated two of three All-Rio Hondo League selections, including first-team pick Megan Reilly.
However, La Cañada returns seven players from last season, including league second-team selection Elizabeth Gannon, the squad’s libero, who finished 399 digs.
“She’s on a club team that won the gold medal for junior nationals, so she comes back to us with a lot of confidence,” Sullivan said.
On offense, the Spartans have junior outside hitter Chloe Kerstein and junior setter Hailey Belcher back. Kerstein finished with 194 kills, while Belcher tallied 503 assists.
The 2015 season was a difficult one for Flintridge Prep.
The Rebels posted a 3-15-2 record and were 2-10 within the Prep League. Flintridge Prep graduated its one all-league selection in senior outside hitter Lauren Stiles (182 kills), along with four other seniors.
Even with a few seniors back, longtime head coach Sean Beattie knows his team is going to be green this year.
“So far so good in practice,” Beattie said. “They’re doing well and having fun. Honestly, we’re going to be very young this year and will be starting and playing several freshmen and 10th graders. While I’m not 100% sure of our lineup, I do know that we’re going to be short on experience.”
The Rebels do have some championship experience returning in seniors Renae Tamura and Taylor Yoshida, valuable guards on the Division V-AA girls’ basketball title team. Tamura has played outside and opposite hitter the last two seasons and will be making another switch to middle blocker.
“She’s one of those girls who’s so athletic, we’re just going to put her where she helps out the team the most,” Beattie said.
Yoshida returns as a crucial leader at libero and will be aided by junior setter Jade Whaley and sophomore outside hitter Courtney Johnson. Beattie also has a pair of freshmen he thinks can be impact players in Ellen Cheng and Jada Gritton.
“I’m excited to see how the younger players mesh with the older ones,” Beattie said. “It should be a fun process and I think we’ll continue to grow and improve.”
Flintridge Prep will begin the season Sept. 1 at St. Genevieve.
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Andrew J. Campa, andrew.campa@latimes.com
Twitter: @campadresports
