Optimism is the key word as high school volleyball season gets underway this week, with league realignment drastically changing the landscape in 2018.
The Sonoma County League champion Analy Tigers will join the ultra competitive North Bay League Oak Division, which also includes Cardinal Newman,
Maria Carrillo, Montgomery, Santa Rosa and Windsor, setting up a dogfight for the league pennant.
The new configuration will no doubt test an Analy team that has designs on the division title. It has also prompted a change in the schedule.
“In our past seasons, we’ve played the teams in our new league for pre-season so we know each (league) match will be challenging and hard fought,” veteran Tigers’ coach Holly Folendorf said. “It’s strange to go into a season without our usual rivals, but we’ll be seeing some of those teams in this pre-season, so it will be nice to continue some of the old rivalries.”
The Tigers figure to rack up wins again this season, with three returning seniors, including outside hitters Claire Rudderow and Merritt Taggart, and setter Jalynn Serpa.
The team features eight juniors: setter Maddie Windsor, middle blocker Bella Puget, middle blocker/outside hitter Julia Kruk, libero/DS Bree Scott, libero/DS Kenzie Carter, libero/DS Sara Davidson, setter Gillian Campbell and middle blocker Britney Vaughn. The lone freshman is setter/DS Avery Tollini.
The Tigers will open the pre-league schedule this Thursday, Aug. 23 against visiting Piner and will compete in the annual Albany Tournament on Aug. 25. Analy will host Sonoma Valley on Aug. 30. The Tigers will entertain El Molino in their lone season meeting on Sept. 6. All varsity matches start at 6 p.m.
Lions ready for title run
The Lions figure to be among the top teams in the Redwood Division, a grouping that will include Elsie Allen, Healdsburg, Piner, Rancho Cotate and Ukiah. Although El Mo, Healdsburg and Ukiah look tough, look for Piner to also make a run.
“I’m very excited for the league realignment. It puts us with teams with a record very much like our own,” El Molino coach Becky Sani said. “This will keep most matches close, making them more exciting. Our program has been improving over the last few years, and I look forward to being very competitive in the new Redwood Division.”
The Lions, who finished with an overall mark of 8-16 last year, including a trip to the North Coast Section playoffs, will feature a strong core of varsity returnees that include senior defensive specialist Grace Anderson, junior outside hitters Sasha Senal, Kassidy Sani and Sara Woolsey, sophomore setter Grace McCormick and sophomore outside hitter Yasmin Sierra.
El Molino (1-0) kicked off the preseason on Aug. 18 with a win over Fort Bragg and was scheduled to visit Cloverdale on Aug. 21 (after press time). The Lions will host Middletown this Thursday, Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.
