7/11/2008

Volleyball Club's Team 15-Elite places 3rd at Junior Olympics

NEWS-PRESS STAFF REPORT

July 11, 2008 7:23 AM

The Santa Barbara Volleyball Club's Team 15-Elite won a bronze medal in the top division (open) at the Girls Junior Olympics in Dallas.

The team, coached by Jake Hong and assisted by Jared Godinez, lost in the semifinals in a tight 25-22, 29-27 thriller against the Laguna Beach 15 Wizard. Making the all-tournament team were outside hitter Samantha Wopat and setter Paige Craine, both of Dos Pueblos High School.

Also helping the team take third nationally were Cheyenne Godinez, Sally Yingst, Megan Smith, Emma Campbell, Lauren Capritto, Amy Lanski, Aly Squires and Eve Ettinger.

The 14-1 team took 15th nationally in the open division, winning three straight matches before losing its final contest against NKYVC 14-Tsunami of Kentucky 25-16, 23-25, 19-17.

The team, coached by KC Collins and assisted by Steve Zelko and Greg Novak, caught fire after losing its first five matches.

It started its winning streak after getting docked 11 points to start the first game of its sixth match against Victory 14-Gold (Texas), having arrived late because of an earlier refereeing assignment. Santa Barbara wound up winning that game 25-20 and the next 25-14.

Team 18-Elite, coached by Liz Towne-Gilbert and assisted by John Haroun and Ed Gover, took fifth place in the National Division (33rd overall). After winning all eight of its matches during the first three days, the team lost a 25-19, 21-25, 15-13 heartbreaker to Tampa United 18s.

Jane Hinkle and Kristen Dealy, both June graduates from Santa Barbara, were named to the National Division's All-Tournament Team.

Middle blocker Carly Wopat of Dos Pueblos High is also competing with the U.S. Girls Youth National Team at the NORCECA Continental U-18 Championships at Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

Another one of the team's players from DP, Caitlin Racich, is training with the USAV U-19 Beach Volleyball Team.

Team 16-Elite won a silver medal in the American Division (78th overall). The team, coached by Courtney Preston and assisted by her father Ken, formerly UCSB's men's coach, won all 10 of its matches before losing 25-19, 25-18 in the final to TAV 16 Molten of Texas.

All-tournament selections from Santa Barbara in the 16s American Division were hitters Mimi Cuttrell and Emi Rottman of Santa Barbara High, as well as setter Sammie Brown from Dos Pueblos High.