Acorns vying for first league title since 2001
MORGAN HILL — In 13 seasons of coaching volleyball at Live Oak High School, Laura Coleman has developed a reputation for being brutally honest.
If her team needs to improve, she’ll let you know.
“The joke is that every year at the beginning of the season, Laura always says how horrible our passing is. Every year,” LOHS assistant coach James Uthes said. “She always says, ‘Our passing needs to get better. Our passing needs to get better.’ This year, nothing.”
Consider that one of many reasons why the Acorns will challenge for their first league championship in nine years this fall.
They return six starters and several other key contributors who helped Live Oak tie for third place in the Mount Hamilton Division and snap a three-year absence from the Central Coast Section playoffs last season.
The Acorns have set the bar higher for 2010.
“It’s true. They can be very good,” said Coleman, whose team lost in three sets to Notre Dame of Belmont in the first round of the 2009 Division III tournament to finish 15-15. “I’m hoping we can win league and then get a decent seed, so we don’t have to face a private school again in the first round. That’s always been a nemesis for us.
“This year can be different. I think we can go much farther.”
The team graduated its kills leader, Annie Reyes-Ortiz, but welcomed back first- and second-team all-league hitters Gabi Cinkova and Fa Saulala, who eclipsed the century mark in kills a year ago.
Jenny Obbema, a 5-foot-10 junior and twin sister of starting middle blocker, Katie Obbema, will help fill in along with sophomore Savannah Hartman.
“I think we’re going to be pretty intimidating this year,” Cinkova said of the frontline. “I know we’re older, stronger, and if we focus on what we need to achieve, we’ll be great.”
Cinkova is finally healthy after playing through tendinitis in her shoulder the past three seasons. The 6-foot lefty totaled 128 kills, 100 digs, 21 blocks and 20 aces as the 2009 division Junior of the Year.
“She’s not injured this year, hallelujah,” Coleman said. “Gabi still tapes every day, literally, but her hitting and approach is starting to click like never before. She’s finally ready to play her hardest a full season. She’s crushing the ball right now.”
Live Oak’s middle blockers look set for the next two years. Juniors Katie Obbema and Allison Shedden, both 5-foot-10, excelled as starters last fall.
“We have a very strong middle,” Coleman said. “Katie and Allison are juniors now and have stepped their game up another level. They were learning last year like Fa; she’s only a sophomore. Now, we have more experience — and probably more power than I’ve ever had here.”
The loss of setter Jenna Robertson will be tough for the Acorns to overcome. Alyssa Brusaschetti, the team’s No. 2 setter in 2009, seems up to the challenge after spending this offseason training with the Gavilan women’s team.
“I wanted to get better by improving my jump sets and just being louder,” Brusaschetti said. “Communication is a problem for us sometimes. We’re working more as a team this year and coming together quicker. Everyone’s giving it their all.”
As for the passing, Coleman can’t complain.
“Alyssa looks like a senior setter. She’s really improved, Coleman said.
Most of Live Oak’s backline is green, though sturdy behind third-year starting libero Alli Unger. Pati Monterrey, who also saw plenty of action in 2009, heads a veteran senior class of defensive specialists with Emily Chiri, Ada Tan and Cristina Vigano.
Unger is poised for a huge junior season.
“Alli has grown a lot — and she was good from the beginning,” Brusaschetti said. “She’s always one to pick everyone up.”
The Acorns played their first full game late Thursday against Milpitas and will host Los Altos at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Live Oak got a good look at its league competition during last weekend’s Blossom Valley Athletic League Jamboree.
“I felt like we hung in with every team,” Coleman said. “They have the potential to be very strong. We’ll see if they are.”
