Publication Date: Friday Sep 19, 1997

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Pursuit is under way for postseason berths

Nicole Haire inherited a top-notch program at Sacred Heart Prep. Ami Williams was just looking to help out the volleyball program at Palo Alto High and ended up as the head coach. Donna Troyna takes over at Castilleja School, as does Tom Salabert at Mid-Peninsula School. Meanwhile, John Milkovich at Gunn High, Debby Busch at Menlo School, Phil Coyle at Menlo-Atherton, and Evan Barth at Pinewood School will try to continue the successful programs they've started.

With league seasons fast approaching, every coach is hurridly preparing their teams for possible postseason berths--something all but one local squad enjoyed last season.

There aren't many programs that can boast of two consecutive state titles like Sacred Heart Prep. When Haire, who teaches at Burlingame Intermediate School, considered the job, she knew what she was getting into.

"There are very high expectations," said Haire. "They expect to have a successful program each year. I have high expectations, and the girls have high expectations. We have the same goal to get back to the state finals. We just have different personnel."

The Gators return just two starters from last year's Division V state championship team that went 39-4, but both will be major contributors. Caity Noonan, a junior, is the setter, and 6-foot-2 senior Rachel Lau (6-feet-2) is the middle blocker.

"Caity is an offensive machine," said Haire. "She makes good decisions. Rachel hits with force and power and has good court sense. Both are strong players." Of the four new starters, three are sophomores: middle hitter Janessa Jurian, outside hitter Rebecca Zigterman, and outside hitter Mia Henry, who also shares time with junior Linda Stankovic.

Senior Kelli Miller, who received limited playing time last year, returns to add depth.

"We all realize we're not the same players as last year, but I am seeing fabulous play," said Haire, whose team is off to a 7-5 start. "I'm seeing a lot of improvement."

At Menlo-Atherton, the Bears (0-1) are also used to winning--having won league titles in five of the previous six years.

"The league will be tough, but we’ll make a run at it," said Coyle. "I hope we can take a step beyond last year and have a great season."

The Bears, who went 20-8 and lost in the second round of the Central Coast Section tournament last season, will be led by sophomore Gwen Hubbard. The younger sister of all-leaguer Tracie, who has graduated, Gwen has shown she can do it all: serve, pass and hit.

"I see her as one of the top players in the league," said Coyle. "She's a key to our success."

Hubbard will be surrounded by returning players Heidi Brender, Giang Hong and Karen Harvey, all senior outside hitters.

Senior transfer Sharifa Car, the team's tallest player at 6 feet, also will be a factor, as well as Kina Uasike, last year's frosh-soph MVP; Melisa Tse, Shawna Donley and Cindi Leland.

"I think we'll play steady ball with good serving and good defense," said Coyle.

At Gunn, the Titans (2-2) will compete in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, but Milkovich thinks his team is underrated.

"I think we should go at least 11-3 in league, and, unless we get real unlucky, we should get 20 wins," he said. "We're good enough to be in the upper (De Anza Division) league, but we'll have to prove it by how we play this year."

Milkovich said that, even after he knew about injuries to sophomore Alisa Eagleston and junior Amy Cole, both returning from last year's CCS-qualifying team. Eagleston should be able to return to action immediately, though Cole, an all-league selection last year and a three-year varsity player, could be out for as long as three weeks with a severe ankle sprain.

Junior Amy Milo, another all-league selection and three-year varsity player, has picked up a lot of the slack, and will be helped by senior Jayna Lin, who has taken over for Cole. Milkovich calls her "a steady player, serves well."

Sophomore Jacqueline Heler, a 6-footer, and senior setter Andrea Fung also figure into the equation--one Milkovich hopes will translate into a successful season.

At Palo Alto, Williams has gotten off to a 2-3 start. She played four years at Whittier College, then came to Paly as a math teacher. When she called the athletic department to see if she could help in the volleyball program, Williams learned the varsity job was open, interviewed for it, and got the job.

She takes over a team that reached the second round of the CCS tournament last year, and which plays in arguably the best league in the section--the SCVAL De Anza Division.

Returning players include senior Eden Hildebrand, who knows all about injuries, having suffered a knee injury last year that sidelined her for the year. There's also 6-foot junior Paige Barry and 6-1 senior Lindsay Terry. Hildebrand adds leadership as an outside hitter, while Barry is the middle blocker who is "someone you can count on to put the ball away," said Williams. Terry plays in the front row and adds to the offense as well as a solid blocker. Senior Michelle Foltz adds experience as a middle blocker.

Returning junior Patty Van Kuran will act as setter, as will freshman Katie Carlson. Jenny Campbell is up from frosh-soph to handle outside hitter chores.

At Menlo School, the Knights are coming off a winning (16-10) season that included postseason action. Menlo is off to a 9-1 start this season under Busch, in her second year at the school.

Diane Schneider and Nisha Gulati are among the top returning players. They will be supported by Anna Bui, Tina Butler, K.C. Conley, Beth Dewell, Erica Hahn, Katie Johnson, Lily Kang, Preetha Krishman, Kelsey McPherson, Hayden Moulds, Pernilla Schweitzer and Emi Tomijima.

At Castilleja, 6-footer Annie Sandman leads the Gators into battle, along with Sharlene Alexander, Erin Beattie, Katrina Fu, Emily Kochanowicz, Allison Koo, Alex Michalko, Nina Sachdev, Thea Sakata, Prerna Sethi, Katherine Stober and Keri Yen.

The Gators are off to a 1-2 start this season.

At Pinewood, Barth has five starters returning from a team that earned a co-championship in the Private Schools Athletic League a year ago.

"We're injury-riddled right now," said Barth, in his second year as coach. "We're trying to survive with a lot of younger players in the mix. It's definitely our goal to win the league again."

Returning all-league players Kelli Riches and Lauren Smith-Hams will lead the Panthers with help from senior Emily Amanatullah and juniors Angie Riches and Cheryl Ham.

Junior Erin Mallin, sophomores Mayu Ishii and Sweetheart Ador-Dionisio, and freshman Katie Collins will also be counted on for Pinewood.

For Mid-Peninsula, senior setter Elizabeth Deprino returns along with seniors Kaylee Graham and Megan Binkley, and sophomore Erin Binkley. But perhaps the biggest news for first-year coach Salabert is the addition of assistant coach Ann Carr, who played professional beach volleyball in Australia.

"My background is not in volleyball, so when Ann volunteered to help it was a great find," said Salabert. "She has started to develop the players well. The girls like coming to practice and are learning a lot."

Mid-Peninsula, which didn't win a single game last season, is "determined to win a game," Salabert said. "They're practicing hard and often work out on their own, after practice has ended. We're struggling right now, but it's a great situation." 

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