HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW: GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL : Beick’s Return Puts Thousand Oaks in the Driver’s Seat

Thousand Oaks High girls’ volleyball Coach Ron Beick traded his job for fatherhood a year ago. Instead of carting around clipboards and volleyballs, Beick became responsible for diapers and baby bottles.

But with his son, Kevin, now 13 months old, Beick has returned to head a Lancer program that again is ranked among the Southern Section’s best. Thousand Oaks is ranked fifth in the preseason Division I coaches poll.

In addition to Beick coaching the Lancer varsity, his wife, Molly, will direct the school’s freshman team. She coached the junior varsity in 1990.

“We missed volleyball,” Beick said. “It was a good choice to take a year off, but I was never intending to not coach again.”

Beick replaces John Bjerke, his one-time assistant who left Thousand Oaks to pursue a career in the insurance field. Bjerke, who guided the Lancers to a 12-6 overall record and a second-place finish in the competitive Marmonte League last season, leaves Beick with a squad that could challenge for a Southern Section Division I title this fall.

Titles are nothing new for Beick. In 1986 and 1987, his first two years at Thousand Oaks, he led the Lancers to back-to-back Southern Section 2-A Division championships. Thousand Oaks was the 4-A runner-up in 1988 and advanced to the quarterfinals in 1989 and 1990. Before coming to Thousand Oaks, Beick helped University High reach the City Section 4-A final four consecutive years.

Beick, 36, said it was “paternal aspects” that brought him back to a program he built into a powerhouse. “I still felt I could do more with the program,” he said.

When Bjerke decided to step down earlier this year, choosing a successor was easy for then-Athletic Director Dale Ackerman.

“We told Ron before he left that we would like him back someday,” said Ackerman, who retired in June after 25 years at Thousand Oaks. “He’s a very organized person. He knows the game. Foremost, Ron is a teacher.

“The kids have a lot of confidence in Ron. They believe in him and they like to play for him.”

Fortified by four transfers, Thousand Oaks is the favorite in a league that could have six teams battling for three playoff berths. Junior twin middle blockers Janette and Carolyn Penfield moved from Cleveland High with their sister Michelle, a senior outside hitter. That trio helped Cleveland to the City 4-A quarterfinals last fall. Tricia Tuley, a 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter, was an All-Channel League selection for Santa Barbara last year.

The returning cast also is impressive, starting with Jenny Mangels (5-8, senior outside hitter) and Gretchen Gulbranson (5-5, senior setter), a pair of second-team, all-league players. Other returning players who should contribute include hitters Jenny and Niki Hagen, who are twins, and setter Samantha Clarke, all seniors.

“We have a lot of depth,” Beick said. “We’ll be one of the top Division I teams.”

TEAMS TO WATCH: SOUTHERN SECTION

Nordhoff--Not many teams could afford to lose an All-Southern Section middle blocker before the season and still be considered a Southern Section title contender, but the Rangers (ranked No. 2, Division IV) fit that description. Senior Kortney Rogers is academically ineligible but Coach Cheryl Glass still can rely on two other All-Southern Section performers, four-year starting setter Sami Sawyer and three-year starting middle blocker Alison Nofrey.

The Rangers have two other four-year starters in outside hitters Sarah Wright and Joanna Sandefur. Tacy Franklin, an athletic 6-1 junior, will replace Rogers. Senior Allison Kerr, an outstanding leaper, and sophomores Jami Sawyer and Julie Sandefur will help.

Canyon--Veteran Coach Ardyce Masters is back after three seasons away from the girls’ program, and the No. 2-ranked Division III team could give her a championship, if the Cowboys can find a setter to replace standout Melysa Wilcox, who is at Azusa Pacific. Lynsey Best (5-4, sophomore) and Heather Pilatic (5-8, junior) are the top candidates.

The Cowboys do not have to worry about hitting with 6-1 senior Gina Sanchez back at middle blocker. Other strong attackers include Susan Brondell (6-4, junior middle blocker), Danika Frandsen (5-11, senior weakside hitter) and Darcy Frandsen (5-10, junior outside hitter). Keri Lemasters (5-2, senior defensive specialist) keys an outstanding defense.

Royal--The Highlanders (ranked 10th in Division I) will be without one of the school’s all-time hitting and blocking leaders in Jennifer Hamilton but will feature a more balanced attack. Hamilton has moved on to San Diego State, but Coach Bob Ferguson can still turn to middle blocker Kristen Fick (6-0, senior) and outside hitter Jill Enright (5-9, senior), a pair of All-Marmonte League performers last year.

Amy Moon (5-5, senior) will take over the setting duties, with Jenny Treglown (5-11, junior middle blocker) and Teri Enright (5-8, junior outside hitter) also providing punch.

Agoura--The Alan Segal-coached Chargers should challenge for a Marmonte League title and also could do damage in the playoffs with a squad that includes outstanding setter Tracy Heflin (5-7, senior). Heflin has support from twin middle blockers Amy and Diana Wiesbrock (5-10, juniors), middle blockers Alissa Chulack (5-10, junior) and Ginger Gallup (5-9, senior), and outside hitters Jenny Pavley (5-7, junior), Shannon Finney (5-6 1/2, sophomore) and Blair Thomas (5-7, sophomore).

Westlake--The Warriors are on the upswing under Coach John Streltzoff after compiling their first winning record last season and finishing fifth in the Prep Nationals tournament this summer.

Setter Stephanie Salm (5-8, junior) leads an attack that features middle blockers Jennifer Dunn (6-4, senior) and Terri Arroyan (5-11, sophomore), and outside hitters Kristen Lee (5-11, junior), Stephanie Valentino (5-10, senior), Laurie Corniea (5-10, sophomore) and Shanon Sincock (5-9, senior).

Newbury Park--The Panthers have a new coach in Robert Haar and an experienced standout in 5-10 senior Tracy Little. Haar, a former Cal Lutheran club coach and Moorpark High assistant, takes over a Panther team that finished third in the tough Marmonte League last fall.

Little will move from setter to outside hitter to add more punch to an attack that includes Heather Jones, a 5-8 senior outside hitter, and four talented sophomores--5-5 setter Kari Norberg, 6-2 middle blocker Kara McKeown, 5-11 middle blocker Christine Arguijo and 5-4 hitter Julie Wastell.

Ventura--Ball control, solid passing and strong defense again will be the key for Coach Mike Russell’s squad. Ventura lost a pair of standouts in setter Wendy Ward and Channel League most valuable player Danielle Braun.

However, a strong group returns, including junior middle blockers Jesaca Lepper and Tasha Johnson, and five seniors--setters Shelley Morrison and Nicole Bjorkman, outside hitter Jessica Richardson and defensive specialists Amy Hudson and Beth Su.

Moorpark--The Musketeers have reached the 2-A quarterfinals the past two years and are ranked fifth in the Division IV preseason poll.

But Coach James Park must rebuild after losing five starters, including two-time All-Southern Section outside hitter Kristie Evans. The best of the returning players are senior hitter Christina Freeman and sophomore setter Amy Thomas.

Saugus--The Centurions were surprised to learn that they are ranked eighth in the Division III preseason poll. It marks the first volleyball ranking in school history. Coach Bobbi Estes has built her squad around two strong outside hitters, her daughter, Lindsay, a 5-10 junior, and 5-7 senior Kezban Yagmur.

Senior Jodi Olfby gives Saugus the best setter in the reconfigured Foothill League. Amy Gillis (5-9, junior weakside hitter), Jennifer Luby (5-9, junior middle blocker) and versatile Laura Wagoner (5-8 1/2, junior) are additional weapons.

TEAMS TO WATCH: CITY SECTION

El Camino Real--After two consecutive runner-up finishes in the City 4-A, the Conquistadores will aim for a championship behind the play of outside hitter Jessica Dinaberg, a 5-9 junior considered the City’s best player.

Coach Lori Chandler can turn to a strong middle attack with 6-0 senior Samantha Small and 5-11 sophomore Gretchen Vandenberg. Joining Dinaberg on the outside will be seniors Heather Gibson and Cheryl Gurney, with junior Diane Sweet doing the setting.

Chatsworth--The Chancellors will try to rebound from the disappointment of a first-round playoff loss last season with a tall and experienced team.

Coach Steve Berk will build around three seniors, 5-11 middle blocker Gigi Ghattas, 5-10 outside hitter Rose Pasag and 5-6 setter Heather Mitchell. Katy Kosmala, a 5-10 junior, and Michelle Minjares, a 6-0 senior, are promising newcomers.