Kim, Depew earn All-CIF accolades
La Cañada High girls’ volleyball player Eirene Kim and Jack Depew, of the Spartans boys’ water polo team, led their respective teams in two ways this season.
Along with leading by example on the court, the two also were tops on their respective squads statistically.
The efforts of Kim and Depew didn’t go unnoticed when the All-CIF Southern Section teams were released, as both Spartans were elected to their divisions All-CIF first teams.
The Spartans girls’ volleyball team depended on Kim to anchor the back line, where her defensive prowess at libero balanced out the squad’s fierce offensive attack.
“Eirene was a leader in a lot of ways,” Coach Brock Turner said.
Kim brought more than just intangibles to her team, setting team highs in digs (435) and aces (49). La Cañada had more chances to notch kills, thanks to Kim’s ability to dig balls most players couldn’t get to.
The first-team All-CIF Division II-AA selection but an exclamation mark on Kim’s senior season. She was also named co-Most Valuable Player of the Rio Hondo League and led her team to a fine playoff run.
“Eirene pushed people not only to be good volleyball players, but she pushed her teammates to be better people,” Turner said. “She was a leader on and off the court, while inspiring her teammates to fulfill their own goals — both for the team and for themselves. I will miss her.”
Despite posting a 30-4 record and winning a league title with a 10-0 mark, the Spartans lost in the quarterfinals of the Division II-AA playoffs, falling short of winning a division championship, which was the team’s goal for the 2010 season.
The La Cañada boys’ water polo squad put up a fight in the postseason and improved in 2010. The Spartans went 28-8 overall (7-0 in league) and captured the Rio Hondo League championship after failing to do so in 2009. La Cañada was knocked out of the postseason in the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs.
La Cañada Coach German Lopez said Depew, along with the team, turned a corner this past season.
“He’s always shown a lot of potential and he became a threat in all aspects of the game,” Lopez said of Depew. “He stepped into his role and fulfilled it this year.”
Depew was a big reason for the Spartans’ rebirth, leading his team in goals with 68 and posting 17 assists, which was second-best for La Cañada. His play earned him the title of the Rio Hondo League Player of the Year, as well as a spot on the All-CIF Division III-AA first team.
“I thought he was capable of doing a lot more last year and I was really proud of him this year because he really reached his potential,” Lopez said.