Area netters have high expectations on the hardwood

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers RISE UP—Newbury Park High's Amber Glaab takes flight to meet the ball during varsity girls' volleyball practice at NPHS on Monday. Moorpark High girls' volleyball coach Brendan Hanson said his team's attitude this year reminds him of the one his 2004 squad had. He's hoping the Musketeers can produce similar results as well.

With seniors Rachael Kidder, Shannon Thompson and Teale McIntosh in the lineup, the Musketeers believe they can bring home the program's first Marmonte League title since the school split the league championship with Newbury Park in 2004.

Moorpark began last season by winning 12 of its first 15 matches. The Musketeers, however, then hit the skids by losing their next six matches and were never again a factor in the race for a league title.

Hanson is confident a midseason breakdown won't occur again.

"A big part of this team is how they respond once they lose a game, but I'm not so much worried about their mindset," Hanson said. "We have a veteran group, and we're all on the same page of what we want to do."

Another reason Hanson is so confident is because of Kidder, an outside hitter headed to UCLA in the fall of 2009.

Kidder "has really started to tap into her potential," Hanson said. "She's finally recognized the player she is, and because of that she's more confident than she's ever been. She's going to shock a lot of people this year on just how well she plays."

Other Musketeers that will contribute include senior outside hitters Lauren Rohach and Kaitlin Priebe, as well as junior opposite Sarah Hagen.

Although Moorpark is strong on paper, the odds-on favorite has to be Thousand Oaks, which is ranked seventh in the CIFSouthern Section Division I-AA coaches' poll.

Over the last three years, the Lancers are 41-1 in league play, with their lone loss coming to Moorpark in 2006.

Thousand Oaks will be led by senior setter Hannah Clancy, who was the league's Most Valuable Player last year. Clancy will set up senior outside hitters Kat Luft, Ellen Querrey and Kelsey Van Uden. Senior middle blockers Shannon Pearson and Paige Mitchell, as well as sophomore Karina Alofaituli, will also make a major impact.

"Our team is hungrier this year," Thousand Oaks head coach James Park said. "We have a lot of experience, which is just one of those things you can't teach.

"We could do a lot of damage in the playoffs, but in this league we need to play at a high level all year and play one match at a time."

Westlake head coach Ernest Rittenhouse agreed that the Marmonte will be more competitive than usual.

"In terms of preseason predictions, I believe this year the league is more balanced than it has been lately," Rittenhouse said.

"There are so many good teams in the league that I can see a lot of home-and-away splits between teams. I wouldn't be surprised if a coin flip determines the last team that makes the postseason."

Westlake was the surprise of the league last year by finishing in second place. With WHS returning senior outside hitter Michelle Ketter, who will join Kidder at UCLA in '09, and senior setter Dena Gallucci, the Warriors won't be surprising anyone this time around.

Sophomore opposite Hannah Schuett, senior libero Megan Tuttle and junior middle blockers Melissa Johnson and Chloe Yates are all key players for Westlake.

Finishing in third place last season was Royal, who should also be in the championship mix with the return of junior setter Maddie Simpson.

Simpson, a secondteam AllMarmonte selection last year, has impressed head coach Heidi Buonauro.

Simpson "is a very wellrounded player that has a great attitude," Buonauro said. "This will be her third year on the varsity squad, and she is definitely starting to come in to her own."

Other Highlanders that will contribute include rightside hitter Carley Hunter, junior middle hitter Abbey Prusa and junior outside hitter Kathleen Wright.

The team's X-factor, however, may be Buonauro's father, Bob Ferguson, who will serve as an assistant coach. Many of the Highlanders' faithful remember that Ferguson helped guide the RHS boys' volleyball team to 14 straight league titles from 1989 to 2002.

Newbury Park, an at-large playoff team in '07, will attempt to get back into the postseason thanks to a senior-laden squad that includes outside hitter Rachel Smith and setter Jackie Russell.

"One of our biggest strengths will be that we score by committee," Newbury Park first-year head coach John Haroun said.

"We have a lot of different players that can score from many different directions. If we have one or two players having a tough day, we'll still have a chance to win."

Other Panthers to watch for include senior middle blocker Chelcy Westphal and junior outside hitter Andreya Van Buren.

Smith's twin sister, Erika, will be the Panthers' libero.

Calabasas struggled last season and failed to win a match, but a young incoming freshman class led by outside hitters Emma Gottlieb, Lauren Goff and Marissa Rossi has head coach Marla O'Hara excited about the team's future.

"We're in a very tough league, and for the last few years we've been near the bottom of it," O'Hara said.

"We have some new players coming in that have played club volleyball in the summer, and that will help us. It takes time to build a good program, and you have to walk before you run. I feel like we're now starting to jog."

Calabasas senior outside hitter Christina Cicione, a four-year varsity player, and senior libero Jennifer Passovoy are two to watch for.

Another team looking to improve will be Simi Valley, which finished in sixth place last season. Head coach Melissa Stites feels the Pioneers will fare better in '08 due to their work ethic in practice.

Simi Valley will be led by three seniors. Kasey Ullery will play outside hitter; Breanne Metcalf will play opposite, and Jen Donato will be the Pioneers' libero. Juniors Corrine Ostrovsky, a setter, and middle blocker Erica Burns will also contribute.

Brock Redmond will begin his first year as head coach with Agoura after serving two years as head coach at Newbury Park.

Redmond replaces Carlos Cojulun, who guided the team to a seventh-place finish.

The Chargers return senior opposite Hillary Barner, who led the team in kills with 119. Barner was also second on the squad with 119 digs.