Back in Santa Teresa, Bulldogs could challenge for league crown
this fall
MORGAN HILL — When Danny Chan attended his first practice as girls volleyball coach at Sobrato High School a few weeks ago, he was worried — his players weren’t able to practice together regularly during the offseason.
That all changed once Chan saw the Bulldogs in action.
“There’s a lot of potential with this team. They’re learning fast,” Chan said Tuesday after Sobrato played tough in a home-opening three-set loss to Valley Christian. “I’ve scheduled a lot of tough teams for us to play in preseason, and they’re coming out and doing pretty well against them. These girls just want to learn and get better.”
The Bulldogs are indeed hungry to improve off a 4-10 conference finish that led to them dropping down a level in the Blossom Valley Athletic League for the first time in history.
The current seniors were freshmen when Sobrato won its last of two straight league titles in 2007. The Bulldogs have not been to the Central Coast Section playoffs since.
“We definitely want to make it back there this year. My class hasn’t been to CCS,” senior hitter Andreya Simoneau said. “We want to go out with a bang this year. If we play our hardest every game like we expect, it’ll be great.”
Sobrato has ample opportunity to go far in 2010 as the newest member of the Santa Teresa Division. With veterans at key positions and a fresh crop of talent, the Bulldogs could be an immediate league-title contender.
The linchpin is senior setter Kayla McElvy. Sobrato graduated its two leading hitters, Kelsey Westall and Kayla Unger, and will need McElvy to help groom the team’s younger hitters.
She has done a great job so far.
“Kayla’s turning into a leader for this team,” Chan said. “She’s involved with every play at setter. It just comes naturally to her. A lot of the younger girls look up to her.”
Though mostly inexperienced, the Bulldogs frontline has decent height with 5-foot-11 junior Jessica Westall at middle blocker and Simoneau (5-foot-9) at outside hitter. Both started last year.
Sophomore hitters Rebekah Inouye and Emily Kyle held up well Tuesday and could make an impact this fall.
“Our hitters look really good,” McElvy said. “Me and the hitters are getting to know what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are. With setting, you have to know who your hitters are, and you have to know what their tendencies are. I’ve been setting with them more and more and feeling comfortable.”
Simoneau has felt the same way toward McElvy since freshman year, when they began playing together.
“She’s an amazing setter, and she gets better every night,” Simoneau said. “I can always count on her for a nice set.”
Sobrato’s backline is led by senior defensive specialists Jennifer Hinman and Bobby Fox, and senior libero Alex Palacios. Miranda Wertz, a freshman, chips in digs as a setter and outside hitter.
The team’s defense has improved from last year.
“We have a lot more energy,” Hinman said. “If we can keep reading and adjusting off each other and talking more, there’s no way we can be bad this year.”
Chan hopes to see more consistency as his team continues nonleague play this weekend in the Wildcat Open at Los Gatos High School.
“We’re still forming expectations right now,” said Chan, who was an assistant coach on Homestead High’s state runner-up team in 2008. “We just want to improve.”
