Lady Spikers Begin season
by Issac Ngan
photo taken by Erin Quan
Hoping to remain undefeated and to defend last year’s league championship, girls varsity volleyball faces Warren High School at home on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
The first two weeks of preseason for the girls spikers has started off with 6-0 win streaks for all three levels of varsity, JV and frosh.
The varsity spikers spent the last week winning away matches, which culminated on Thursday when they faced Whittier High School to get set scores of 25-12, 25-12 and 25-23 and win 3-0. Before Whittier, they faced El Rancho High School on Wednesday with set scores of 25-16, 25-13 and 25-14 to go 3-0. Tuesday had them playing their only real preseason challenger in Gabrielino, who stole two sets with scores of 25-18, 21-25, 16-25, 25-19 and 15-13, where they won 3-2. They started the week at Northview High School where they swept with set scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 25-11 to win 3-0.
The first week of preseason saw varsity winning their home opener against the Cantwell Cardinals, 3-0, with set scores of 25-14, 25-17, 25-22 on Aug. 22. Their preseason began on Aug. 20 away, against the Bellflower Buccaneers, where they earned set scores of 25-10, 25-19 and 25-18 to sweep them 3-0.
“Our team goal this year is to continue to go undefeated and go further into CIF,” said Senior Maleah Gonzales. “But most importantly win or lose, we remain a team always and… will continue to work harder and stronger together…”
Preseason games gives opportunity for the team to grow and strengthen the relationships between all levels and their new teammates. Coach Jorge Ortiz also said that he designed the preseason games to test the girls against playoff opponents.
“I strengthened and increased our preseason schedule for this upcoming season to help us prepare for our league play,” Ortiz said. “Last year we played six preseason matches compared to 10 this season. Of those 10 teams, eight made it to CIF playoffs last year. Im hoping to finish 8-2 to prepare to defend our league championship title.”
JV spikers are undefeated in all preseason sets. They play Warren on Tuesday at 4:30 away, after beating Whittier 2-0 on Thursday with set scores of 25-10 and 25-19. They beat El Rancho 2-0 on Wednesday with set scores of 25-7 and 25-14, Gabrielino on Tuesday 2-0 with set scores of 25-8 and 25-10 and Northview on Monday 2-0 with set scores of 25-15 and 25-11. They beat Cantwell at their home opener 2-0 on Aug. 22 and Bellflower in their first preseason match 2-0 on Aug 20.
Freshmen spikers are also undefeated in preseason. They next take on California High School at home on Friday, Sept. 6 at 3:15 p.m. after beating Whittier 2-0 on Thursday. They beat El Rancho on Wednesday 2-0 with set scores of 25-12 and 25-19, Gabrielino on Tuesday 2-0 with set scores of 25-15 and 25-5 and Northview on Monday 2-0 with set scores of 25-15 and 25-19. They also beat Cantwell on Aug. 22 2-0, and Bellflower on Aug. 20 2-0 with set scores of 25-12 and 25-15.