Canyon Volleyball Coach Tries To Make Fans Forget About Football

Even though the Canyon High girls volleyball team has won 20 straight league matches, Coach Ardyce Masters is having an identity crisis.

Most of the talk in Canyon Country these days revolves around Harry Welch and his Canyon football team, which has won 39 consecutive games.

“They call me the Harry Welch of volleyball,” Masters said. “I want to say, ‘Why don’t you call him the Ardyce Masters of football?’ ”

Masters, who plans to retire after this season, is hoping to tackle more than a lack of respect. She’s after the Southern Section 3-A title, which has eluded her throughout a 16-year coaching career. And if ever there was a year for a title, this is it.

Only one player--All-Southern Section hitter Tammi Aldrich--is gone from the team that reached the quarterfinals last season. Ten of 11 team members are returning seniors.

During Masters’ career at Canyon, her teams put together streaks of 30-0 in league in 1970-72 and again in 1979-81. But she says this year’s team is the best group she’s ever had at Canyon.

Most of the current team has been together for four seasons. The players have won league titles on every level, including the Golden League championship last season.

“They’re just an incredible group of athletes,” Masters said. “Usually you get three to five good kids per class. When this group goes, it’s going to be a lot different around here.”

Masters is not alone in her assessment of Canyons’ talent. The Cowboys are ranked No. 8 in the Southern Section 3-A preseason poll after defeating every Valley team they faced this summer and placing second to 5-A powerhouse Hueneme at the recent Ventura tournament.

A summer of success, however, was tainted when the Canyons’ team was disqualified from the L.A. Games after winning the championship with an ineligible player.

“It was a very disheartening thing and it took a while for us to come back from that,” said Masters, who mistakenly thought that Aldrich, a graduated senior was eligible to participate in the tournament. “But then we affectionately named ourselves the L.A. DC’ers--Los Angeles Disqualified Champs.

“I think after we were disqualified, it made us hungrier to win the Westlake tournament and to do well at Pierce summer league. If we struggle because we’re not pushing ourselves, we can look back and be able to draw on it.”

Canyons most likely won’t be pushed until the playoffs. The Cowboys have depth, but better yet, outstanding players in key positions. Leicha Wojciechowski, a 6-0 middle blocker, is Canyons’ most physically impressive player.

“I think she could do anything she put her mind to,” Masters said. “Wojo is quick and strong. She is an exciting player to watch.”

But the thread that holds Canyon together is Debbie Phillips--the team’s lone junior, who was elected team captain. Phillips, a starter on the right side, is the team’s emotional leader.

“Debbie for all practical purposes is a senior: I mean the way she plays and the way she acts,” Masters said. “She’s my leader. She just really brought the team together.”

Said middle blocker Jenny Pinkerton: “She always has a smile on her face. She’s constantly going out of her way. She’s more worried about how you perform than how she does.”

While Pinkerton and Wojciechowski hold down the middle, all-league hitters Julie Badillo and Shannon Miller are expected to repeat or surpass last season’s performances.

Even with a surplus of talent, however, there are several factors that could keep Masters and her team from winning a Southern Section title.

Many Canyon players participate in year-round club programs. The stress on individual skill development returns some club players to their high school teams ahead of the game physically--but drained mentally.

Senior twins Stacy and Shannon Miller have played year-round since their freshman year. Stacy admits it has become a problem.

“It’s hard to stay into volleyball if you’ve played it for so many years,” Stacy said. “It’s too routine. You need a break.”

Over time, Masters has seen a trend developing with the Millers and others.

“They’re good players, but they fight apathy,” Masters said. “Because they play so much, it’s old. I fight that with a lot of these kids. But I love the club program. I encourage them to play if they’re serious.”

TEAMS TO WATCH

ROYAL--Only three seniors return from the team that was defeated by eventual champion Nordhoff in a 2-A semifinal last season. With 12 of 20 players participating in year-round club programs, however, Royal earned a No. 1 ranking in the Southern Section 2-A preseason poll. The Highlanders were young at the outside hitting position last season, and their offense depended heavily on the middle and right-side attack. Coach Bob Ferguson is pleased with the inroads made in the off-season by outside hitters Lura Braden and Chris Barrett. Braden’s forceful hits have been her trademark, but Ferguson believes an ability to vary her hits has made her more consistent. “The strong point of our team is that we’re nine, probably 10 deep,” Ferguson said. “I wouldn’t hesitate to play any of them.” Susie Koonter and Sara Toring, a second-team All-Marmonte League selection last season, will start in the middle. Royal will run a two-setter offense around junior Julie Dahlberg and senior Julie Myers, both all-league players. “We had double session workouts for two weeks,” Ferguson said. “I worked them harder than any team, and they ate it up.”

CALABASAS--Calabasas could produce its highest placing team. Nine players return from last season’s team that was eliminated by Westlake in the Southern Section 2-A quarterfinal. The Coyotes and the Frontier League have been moved up to the 3-A division. Second-year Coach Kristy Olson has an experienced team with senior middle blockers Sandi Thomsen, an All-Frontier League volleyball and basketball selection last season, as well as Tracey Gonzalez. Senior setter Heidi Thorsen played on a club team last fall and developed the ability to run the quick offense. Being left-handed makes Thorsen an added threat in the front row with the option to set or attack the ball. Kelly Martin, Carolyn Blake and Tammi Ellman will start at the three outside hitting positions.

THOUSAND OAKS--First-year Coach Ron Beick said his team’s development will depend on the improvement of middle blockers Kristin McIntyre and Kristin Cleary. “We’re further along than I thought we’d be,” Beick said. “They’ve never run a quick middle before. But probably the reason we’re doing so well, so fast, is our middle players.” Beth Welch, an all-league setter last season, is also one of the team’s best hitters. “I think she’s the strongest setter in the Marmonte League,” Beick said. “She’s an excellent athlete and is capable of setting a ball in a hittable position from anywhere on the court.” Setting with Welch will be 5-4 freshman Amy Chellevold. Amy’s sister, Julie Chellevold, will start on the outside along with senior Randi Rond. Thousand Oaks finished 2-14 last season, which is the primary reason the Lancers were overlooked in the Southern Section 2-A preseason poll.

WESTLAKE--The Warriors are favored to repeat last season’s performance when they reached the semifinals and are ranked No. 3 in the Southern Section 2-A preseason poll. Senior Dana Simone is only 5-7 1/2, but her 24 1/2 vertical jump makes her a force at the outside hitting position. Also on the outside is senior Sandy Kranz. Coach Dave Rubio is counting on a steady performance at the net and in the back row from middle blocker Tristan Graham. Rubio, however, predicted that by the end of the season, 6-1 junior Ann Hollman will be the “best middle blocker in the Marmonte League.” Said Rubio: “She will become a more dominating player as the season progresses. She tracks the ball well, has great lateral movement across the net and makes herself available for the quick attack.” Senior Karen Margozewitz will handle all the setting duties. She is a steady player who feeds off the experience of having been a four-year varsity player. April Devine is a consistent middle blocker who doubles as an effective passer in the back row.

LOUISVILLE--Senior Tina Kohler is only 5-6 but talented enough for Chaminade Coach Mike Lynn to call her “By far the best player in the San Fernando Valley League.” Kohler, who was a first-team all-league selection last season, is a setter but hits well enough for Louisville Coach Barbara Gomperz to use her to the left side in several rotations. “She’s the best athlete out there,” Gomperz said. “She’s a team leader. She’s become more confident, stronger and smarter. She has the drive to win. In practice, I’ll tell her to do 20 push ups and she does 30, and makes everyone else do 30. But they don’t say ‘Hey, Tina, shut up.’ They respect her.” Maureen Gaffney will also start in Louisville’s two-setter offense. The Royals graduated both starting middle blockers but have found steady replacements in Nancy Hawkins and Lisa Fouts. Gomperz is looking for power on the outside from Kohler, Coleen Storey and Claudia Viozzoli.

CHAMINADE--The Eagles were undefeated in the San Fernando League the past two seasons, but the team graduated three of the Valley’s finest players in Daiva Tomkus, Melissa Ingalls and Kathy Ahl. “We lost three big guns,” Eagle Coach Mike Lynn said. “We’re not a power team anymore. We’re going to have to be a defense and finesse team.” Outside hitters Lisa Macias (5-5) and Crisanne Cassazza (5-4) both played back row last season. Lucy Braker and Anna Suarez will run the offense for the Eagles. Kathy Hayes (6-1), who played right side last season, has moved to middle blocker. Chaminade is ranked No. 6 in the Southern Section 4-A preseason poll.