Huntington Beach Hasn’t Missed a Beat

Coach Rocky Ciarelli gave the Oiler girls’ volleyball team a rare day off Friday.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a day off from practice,” said Huntington Beach senior setter Allison Ciarelli, the coach’s niece.

Rocky Ciarelli couldn’t recall the last time he gave one of his teams a day off, but he knew his team definitely earned it.

Last week, Huntington Beach posted consecutive convincing victories over Esperanza, then-ranked fourth in Orange County, and Fountain Valley, then-ranked second in the county.

And the coach’s niece led the Oilers’ smooth ride past two of the Southern Section’s toughest teams to help Huntington Beach remain unbeaten this season.

Ciarelli’s setting is one of the big reasons Huntington Beach (11-0, 4-0 in league) is ranked No. 1 in Orange County and Division II-AA.

It might surprise some that the Oilers are so highly regarded considering the graduation losses of Melissa Wendt and Jill Meyers, both Times’ all-county selections. Although this year’s team lacks a dominant offensive threat, there are still plenty of options.

Ciarelli quarterbacks a balanced attack that features seniors Dana Atkinson, Stephanie Draeger, Julie Hinsche and juniors Lori Daedelow and Lauren Wilson among others.

“Everyone can hit, pass and play defense,” Allison Ciarelli said.

And Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn experienced Ciarelli’s use of that depth and balance when the Oilers thrashed the Sailors in three games Sept. 26.

“If one doesn’t get you, the other will,” Glenn said. “You don’t know who to stop.”

Said Rocky Ciarelli: “Allison has been more consistent this season and her set selection is so good that 99% of the time she sets to the right place.

“She’s smart, deceptive and will find a way to get our hitters up in a one-on-one situation. I think she’s the best setter in the county.”

But her development as a setter hasn’t been easy. Although Ciarelli started part-time as a sophomore, helping Huntington Beach advance to the State Division II finals, last season’s second-round loss to Newport Harbor in the section playoffs abruptly ended the season for the Oilers, then top seeded in the Division I playoffs.

“It was real disappointing the way it ended last season,” Allison Ciarelli said. “You get your hopes up so high that when you lose, it’s shocking. But I think that woke us up.

“We know what losing like that feels like and we don’t want it to happen again.”

Trying to avoid a repeat of last season, Ciarelli changed her mental approach and has asserted herself as one of the team’s leaders this season.

“Allison will tell everyone what she thinks,” said her father, Tony. “I know she loves bossing me around.

“With the team, she’s smart. She picks her spots and knows where and when to speak up.”

Besides the volleyball court, Allison also speaks her mind at all the family gatherings, which can be a local volleyball chalk talk.

Her younger sister, Maryn, is a sophomore on the Huntington Beach junior varsity. Two cousins, Dennis and Megan Masuda, also play in the Oiler volleyball program. Rocky’s wife, Cammy, is a former pro beach player who also coaches at Huntington Beach and Allison’s mother, Stephanie, is the team’s strength coach.

“Rocky will pick on me sometimes, but that’s because I’m always with him. At school, with family . . . I’m just there so we talk about the team.”

And this team has Rocky excited.

“They remind me a little of the ’93 boys’ team,” Rocky Ciarelli said.

That team was the first section championship team for Huntington Beach, and the Oilers won again in 1994.

“We haven’t won CIF or State,” Allison Ciarelli said. “So I’m really looking forward to [the playoffs].”