Thousand Oaks Wraps Up Title in Volleyball

A mobile In-N-Out Burger stand was parked outside the Newbury Park High gymnasium Tuesday night as part of a fund-raising drive for the Panthers’ girls’ volleyball team.

And as Double Doubles were being served outside, a whopper was dished up inside where Newbury Park--playing without its top hitter, Camille Mitchell--lost to Thousand Oaks, 15-9, 15-1, 15-12, in a Marmonte League match.

Thousand Oaks (15-1, 11-1 in league play) is awarded the league title--its third in a row--because the Lancers won more games (4 to 3) in head-to-head competition with Newbury Park (14-1, 10-1), which has one league match remaining.

Mitchell, an All-Southern Section outside hitter, was sitting out the final game of a 2-game suspension, said Coach Joe Wortmann, who would not discuss the reason for the suspension.

Newbury Park won the first meeting between these teams last month when 2 Lancer starters were suspended and did not play.

“It altered the whole structure of the team,” Wortmann said of Mitchell’s suspension. “The girls were under a lot of pressure because they were trying to fulfill new roles that they had learned only a few days ago.”

It did not help that Mitchell’s suspension came only 5 days before the Panthers played Thousand Oaks, the two-time Southern Section 2-A Division champion.

Laree Reynolds replaced Mitchell in the lineup but struggled with her passing and serving. Marlo Cormier, who led both teams with 17 kills, replaced Mitchell offensively but could not slow the Lancers’ attacking defense.

But even Mitchell’s strong net play might not have turned the match around for the Panthers. Thousand Oaks dominated both the front line and the serving line and finished Newbury Park off in less than 75 minutes.

“Even if they had Camille, I think we would have come out on top,” said Amy Chellevold, the Lancers’ setter-outside hitter who had a match-high 5 aces.

“Our team played like a machine. We did everything right.”

Once the Lancers’ juggernaut started rolling, Newbury Park couldn’t keep up. Thousand Oaks jumped to early leads in the first 2 games and broke a 7-7 tie in the third game with 5 consecutive points.

“The girls played absolutely great,” Thousand Oaks Coach Ron Beick said. “We attacked with our power game, our middle was much stronger and our defensive and passing skills were excellent.”

Middle blocker Betsy Moore led Thousand Oaks with 9 kills and 4 blocks and Kerri Black, also a middle blocker, added 8 kills and 4 blocks.