High school girls volleyball
First contest: Was Saturday
Section finals: Nov. 7-9
Defending champions: Cathedral Catholic (Open), Francis Parker (Division 1), Our Lady of Peace (Division 2), Mission Hills (Division 3), Oceanside (Division 4), Southwest-El Centro, Calipatria (Division 5-AA)
Player of the Year: Jenna Hanes (Cathedral Catholic), currently at Michigan
Top teams (in alphabetical order): Bishop’s, Cathedral Catholic, Eastlake, Francis Parker, La Jolla, Otay Ranch, San Marcos, Scripps Ranch, Torrey Pines, Westview
Overview: It’s tempting to pencil in Torrey Pines and Cathedral Catholic in the San Diego Section Open Division championship bracket. Torrey Pines won six of the first seven Open Division championships, capped by a 2019 state title. It has been Cathedral Catholic since then, with the Dons winning three straight titles. However, Westview, San Marcos, Francis Parker, Bishop’s and whoever emerges from the annual South Bay battle between Eastlake and Otay Ranch will make serious pushes this season.
Notable: When it comes to talent, parity is the most apt description. San Diego County continues to produce some of the nation’s top volleyball players. Even with beach volleyball siphoning some athletes, the indoor game is strong all around the county. Cathedral Catholic loses a lot of high-level players, including VolleyballMag Fab 50 middle blocker Jenna Hanes, now at Michigan. It’s probably as close to a down year as you’ll find for the Dons, but the rest of the county shouldn’t get too excited. Senior Mae Kordas, who is headed to Yale, is one of the top hitters around. Notre Dame-bound senior Maya Evans is the county’s returning Libero of the Year. If 6-foot-4 Torrey Pines junior Finley Krystkowiak isn’t the best player in the county, she may be the most impactful. The Penn State-commit teams with sophomore setter Emery Gonzales as perhaps the area’s most formidable tandem. Krystkowiak’s twin sister Samantha, who is committed to play beach volleyball at Stanford, should earn a starting spot on one of the pins as well. The Dons and Falcons should make their presence known in the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas in September. San Marcos is lurking with its dominant middle tandem of LaurenFeiler and Olivia Durr. Coming off its best finish in the history of the Open Division – losing to Torrey Pines in five sets in the semifinals — Westview has high expectations while returning every starter except at libero. The Wolverines are led by 5-11 George Mason-bound outside hitter Nia Thompson, setter Ava Zamora and 6-4 Del Norte transfer opposite Keila Gabriel. Westview hosts the SoCal Invitational the second weekend of October. The 48-team field features top teams from Southern California and beyond. Before that, the Wolverines will be tested with a match at Cathedral Catholic on Sept. 17. La Jolla and Scripps Ranch will also host local tournaments.
Players to watch:
Alice Burgett, La Jolla Country Day, So.
Ellie Burr, San Dieguito Academy, Jr.
Ariel Chime, Eastlake, Sr.
Athena Cox, Our Lady of Peace, Sr.
Olivia Durr, San Marcos, Sr.
Havani Embry, Poway, Jr.
Maya Evans, Cathedral Catholic, Sr.
Lauren Feiler, San Marcos, Sr.
Keila Gabriel, Westview, Sr.
Ava Glenn, Rancho Bernardo, So.
Emery Gonzales, Torrey Pines, So.
Cam Holcomb, San Marcos, Jr.
Mae Kordas, Cathedral Catholic, Sr.
Myah Koster, Bishop’s, So.
Finley Krystkowiak, Torrey Pines, Jr.
Kalea Lee, Cathedral Catholic, So.
Jaycee Mack, Torrey Pines, So.
Kyra Miles, Helix, Sr.
Zoe Pabarcus, Our Lady of Peace, Sr.
Yuri Park, Rancho Bernardo, Sr.
Ava Poinsett, Francis Parker, Sr.
Lexie Richards, San Dieguito Academy, Sr.
Vivian Roberts, Westview, Jr.
Nia Thompson, Westview, Sr.
Presley Thompson, La Costa Canyon, Jr.
Madelyn Wutzke, El Capitan, Sr.
Jojo Wilson, Cathedral Catholic, So.
Ava Zamora, Westview, Sr.
Kasia Zwierzykowski, Bishop’s, So.
Originally Published: