Mount Madonna volleyball team wins Division V CCS title,
advances to Nor-cal state tourney Staff Report Mount Madonna High
School’s girls volleyball team has gone from small fish in a big
pond to big fish in an even bigger pond. The Hawks were
co-champions of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League with Harbor
High School (enrollment 1,176). In comparison, Mt. Madonna has a
student enrollment of 50.
Mount Madonna volleyball team wins Division V CCS title, advances to Nor-cal state tourney
Staff Report
Mount Madonna High School’s girls volleyball team has gone from small fish in a big pond to big fish in an even bigger pond.
The Hawks were co-champions of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League with Harbor High School (enrollment 1,176). In comparison, Mt. Madonna has a student enrollment of 50.
Playing in the Division V Central Coast Section volleyball championships, the Hawks defeated Sacred Heart Prep 25-15, 25-16, 25-17 on Thursday in the semi-finals to advance to the division title game.
On Saturday the Hawks defeated Castilleja High School 25-19, 21-25, 30-28 and 25-22 to capture their first ever division title.
The Hawks feature four players from Morgan Hill: Ashley England, Shelby Botula, Camille Schwartz and Zoe Bostick, and also a nationally ranked setter, Erin Mitchell.
“A team can’t function without everyone giving everything they’ve got,” explains Mitchell who leads the SCCAL and CCS for assists (according to maxpreps.com), as well as being ranked sixth in CCS and 19th in the nation.
An assist is awarded to the player that passes or sets a ball to a player who successfully attacks the ball for a kill.
“What’s special about our team is that everyone is best friends and supports each other no matter what,” she said. With that attitude and philosophy Mitchell has been able to become a great teammate and core for the Mount Madonna girls’ volleyball program.
As setter, Mitchell runs the Hawk’s offense, which is a physical and mental workout.
Before each play she considers multiple scenarios and sets for each hitter, ultimately selecting and signaling her teammates with the next play.
“It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it when I get the set just right and watch our hitters fly in and kill the ball,” Mitchell said.
Despite years of experience playing for Mount Madonna School and for local club teams, Mitchell, a sophomore, says she had some doubts when she joined the varsity team in 2006.
“Last year as a freshman I came to this team already made up of a tight group of juniors and seniors who had played together for several years,” she said. “At first I was worried I wouldn’t be accepted as a newcomer. Now, in my second season with the team I feel accepted and respected. They are great teammates and great friends.”
Hawks coach Gabby Neville compared what Mitchell does as setter to what a good quarterback does for a football team.
“They run the plays, set the pace and tone for the game and touch every ball that is in play. Having a great setter is crucial to winning championships,” Neville said. “The hitters rely on Erin for accuracy for their kills and everyone works together. She has helped lead this team to win two championship matches so far and I know she can take us to state”.
“I am forever grateful that they gave me this chance,” Mitchell said. “And just look where we are: SCCAL co-champs and CCS champions.”
The first-seeded Hawks play in the NorCal quarter finals at 7:00pm tomorrow at Bethany University in Scotts Valley against eighth-seeded Turlock Christian.
