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Volleyball: strong freshman serve young squad

Jonas Magana, Editor in Chief
Published: September 8, 2008

Who’s back: Dorian Valdovin, Kerry Curran, Cassie Nelson, Allegra Amoroso, Cayla Robinson.

Who’s gone: Krista Mattos, Jenna Chandler, Komera Tale, Caitlyn Hardisty, Dani McNamee, Amelia Glazier, Gina Sbragia, Tyler Dalbey, Kaitlin Ferguson

Who’s new: Racheal Wilson, Karina Baxter, Brittany Welch, Sarah Johnson, Daniela Loyola, Liz Tromforde, Elise Carroll, Ayeesha Ellis, Beva Hernandez (RS), Hannah Ross (RS)

After making a run at the state tournament in 2007, SRJC women’s volleyball is looking to show that last season was no fluke. But the Bear Cubs have some big holes to fill.

The loss of the entire front line in Chandler, Tale and Sbragia would leave any coach spiraling downward. Head Coach Kelly Wood needed to fill the holes fast. “I had a lot of work this past off season, but this is probably the deepest and best freshman class I have ever recruited during my time at SRJC.”

For the returning sophomores, the new depth will hopefully translate to a stronger team. With only so many months to get to know each other, the off-season workouts were crucial, but looks to have paid off.

“The freshman are really dedicated,” said Kerry Curran, one of the team’s five returning players “We are well-rounded this year with great defense.”

Last season Wood had to cross her fingers in hopes of not losing any players to injury or ineligibility. With only two returning outside hitters in Amoroso and Robinson, Wood brought in Johnson, Jones and Tromforde to help ease the load on the sophomores.

One player in particular, Cassie Nelson almost didn’t play this season.

After enduring the season with a shoulder injury, she almost ended her playing career. Following surgery and rehab, it looked bleak, but she decided to come back for her team. “It was going to be hard to just sit back and not be out there,” Nelson said.

The loss of two-time All-American setter Kaitlin Ferguson will be filled by Nelson, Elise Carroll and Racheal Wilson. All have had an outstanding off-season and each will make their case for the starting role.

The depth in the team will allow Wood to mix up the lineup when facing the opposition. “Not having a starting lineup is not necessarily a bad thing,” Wood said.

The Big Eight Conference will be no laughing matter. Being the toughest conference in the state, SRJC has its work cut out for it.

Last season, three of the top eight teams at the state tournament were from the Big Eight. SRJC, Delta College and Sacramento City all made a splash. SRJC split wins with both Delta and Sacramento, upstart Modesto, which entered the conference last fall.

SRJC has already begun to make a case for being one of the elite teams in the North, having just come off of a five-set win over non-conference opponent Fresno City College and a three-set win over Reedley. Last season SRJC knocked Fresno out of playoff contention.

The team is young and with only five veteran leaders, playoffs could prove difficult.

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