3/16/2007

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The Santa Barbara Volleyball Club's 15-1 team won three playoff matches last weekend, including wins over No. 1 ranked Long Beach Mizuno 15-elite and No. 2 Encinitas 15-Jeanne. The 15-1 team remains in Division 1 and is currently ranked 11th out of 145 teams and expects to move up. In the next tournament, the team will be competing for a bid for the open division of the Junior Olympics.

"Every single one of the players on this team played a part to this tournament win," said coach Jake Hong. "Kelsey Soos really stepped up her game and set extremely well for us throughout the day. Emily Rottman also rose to the occasion especially during the playoffs . . . kill after kill without making any hitting errors."

The club's 12-Menehunes also went 3-0, playing Sunday at Cypress College, for its fourth straight tournament win in the last travel tournament for the team.

"Special mention goes to everyone on the team; all consistently provided key plays when they stepped on the court each game," said coach K.C. Collins. The team includes Teah Burdick, Mia Cattaneo, Gigi Hadid, Sophia Hampp, Tala Hishmeh, Megan Holmes, Karly Lawrence, Madelon Leiphardt, Frankie Lewis, Quincy Rhodes, Sarah Scarminach and Lauren Underwood.

The 15-2 team went 2-1 in pool play and 1-1 in playoffs to move up to Division 2 to compete against the top 32 teams. The team is currently ranked 42nd of 145 teams and will move up in rank.

"The team set a goal of moving to Division 2 and they made it a reality," said coach Greg Novak. "Everyone stepped up their service game, especially Jessie Ditmore, Rosie Lewis and Jordan Fuller. Now we have to set our sites on Division 1."

The 15-3 team went 1-2 in pool play and remains in Division 8.

The coach praised Stephanie Schaminach and Robin Zelko.

The 18-1 team and 17-1 team both went 0-3 in pool play. The 18-1 team went 1-1 in playoffs, with coach Jason Donnelly praising Meredith Nuckels, Kristen Dealy and Kati Cattaneo.

The team remains in Division 1. The 17-1 team lost in the first round of the playoffs. Coach Hong praised Kari Oslie and Maria Mayer.