First Team

Toni Anderson

Esperanza,

Senior

Anderson, a 5-foot-10 setter, was co-MVP of the Sunset League this season and is part of a strong USC recruiting class that also includes Newport Harbor’s April Ross and Torrance Bishop Montgomery’s Katie Olsovsky. Esperanza lost to Newport Harbor in the Southern Section Division I-AA semifinals and the Aztecs also missed out on the state playoffs. Still, Anderson proved she was the most athletic and diverse setter in the county. Her quickness allowed her to chase down errant passes and she was also a good blocker, not to mention a top-notch distributor of the ball. “When Toni’s on the floor, she just makes all of her hitters look better,” Esperanza Coach Kurt Kersten said. “She’s not real flashy, but she gets the job done. She’s something special.”

Krista Dill

Newport Harbor,

Senior

At 6 feet 2, Dill produced one of the most imposing blocks in the county. College coaches noticed the potential and she has committed to Duke. Although teammate April Ross garnered most of the attention, it was Dill and fellow middle blocker Heather Cullen who reaped the benefits and made opponents pay for cheating toward Ross. Dill had 18 kills and hit .480 in the state Division I final victory over Stockton Lincoln, earning MVP honors to help the Sailors win a second consecutive state championship. It took a while for Dill to jell with sophomore setter Katie King, but the two peaked at the right time. “That’s how Krista can really hit,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said about the state final. “It was good to see her finish that way.” Dill, like Ross, was a part of three consecutive Southern Section Division I-AA championship teams.

Monique Gerlach

Santa Margarita,

Senior

The Eagles’ emotional lightning rod, Gerlach produced results worth hollering about this season in helping Santa Margarita win its first state title. In the Division II state final, Gerlach had 22 kills and 11 blocks in a four-game victory over Mountain View St. Francis, the team that beat Santa Margarita in the previous two Division II state finals. Gerlach also had 22 kills in the Southern Section Division II-AA final victory over South Torrance. Gerlach, a quick and athletic middle blocker who has committed to Colorado, is versatile enough to play outside. “Monique didn’t start for us last season,” Santa Margarita Coach Eddie Rapp said. “So this year, she stayed in all the time and was an impact player. Her fire and determination were key for us.”

Lindsay Pavlik

Mater Dei,

Senior

Pavlik’s contributions to the Monarchs go beyond just the numbers and her obvious physical presence. Her team leadership helped first-year Coach Craig Pazanti ease into the job and nudged the Monarchs to a share of the Serra League title. Mater Dei also reached the section Division I-A finals and state quarterfinals. Pavlik played with a severely injured wrist in the state tournament, an injury that has sidelined her for the first few weeks of basketball season. “You can’t say enough about what she meant to this team,” Pazanti said. “I just wish we could have sent her out with a championship.” At 6-feet, Pavlik was one of the county’s dominant players at the net but also showed versatility with her passing and defensive ability. She has committed to Northwestern.

Caroline Skacel

Santa Margarita,

Senior

Skacel is the least flamboyant of the Eagles’ top players, but she may be the most versatile. Although she didn’t play with the same fiery emotion as teammate Monique Gerlach and didn’t hit with the same power as fellow outside hitter Michelle Davis, the Division II state championship MVP, Skacel was the Eagles’ steadiest player. Her passing and defense were unflappable during Santa Margarita’s championship run, which concluded with the team’s first state title. And her offense wasn’t bad either. Skacel was nearly flawless against Mountain View St. Francis in the Division II state final, finishing with 20 kills, a .435 hitting percentage and no hitting errors. Skacel also became the first player in section history to be a part of four section girls’ volleyball titles.

Becky Warnick

Capistrano Valley,

Senior

“Becky is Wonder Woman,” quipped Dana Hills Coach Mark Rivedeneyra. Although her team finished as the No. 3 seeded team out of the South Coast League for the Southern Section playoffs, league coaches still voted Warnick league co-MVP with Kimberly Noble of league champion San Clemente. One of the county’s most explosive attackers, Warnick’s all-around play helped earn a scholarship offer from Brigham Young, where she has committed early for next season. Warnick played all over the place for the Cougars. Although Coach John Gipe used her primarily as a middle blocker, setter Andrea Delsigne found Warnick whether she attacked from the left, middle or right side this season. “I don’t know where we would have been without Becky this season,” Gipe said.