Things can change in a hurry on and off the volleyball court and Melody Parker can attest to that.
The Vaqueros’ 13th-year head coach returned from a two-year sabbatical last season to transform a two-win SBCC squad into last year’s 11-7 edition that took second in the Western State Conference with a 6-4 mark.
The 2009 team was coming along nicely when a promising middle blocker had to leave school to deal with family problems and the starting setter, Jacob Denitz of Carpinteria High, fractured his ankle playing basketball over Christmas break and will be out another week.
“We’re real young and I don’t like to make predictions,” said Parker, last year’s WSC Coach of the Year. “We want good kids who are good listeners and willing to learn. Hopefully, this team will be a diamond in the rough.”
SBCC opens its 2009 campaign on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game at San Diego City. On Saturday, they’ll play in the Long Beach Tournament. The home opener is Friday, Feb. 6 against San Diego Mesa.
The Vaqueros qualified for the four-team Southern Cal Regional last year and dropped a 3-1 decision at Orange Coast in the opening round.
Tyson Rietz, a 6-3 outside hitter who earned first-team All-WSC honors, is one of four returning players. The others are Chris Newcomb, a 6-foot hitter from Hawaii who had a stellar match at Orange Coast and will start at opposite; libero Ross Gill and hitter Dino Garcia. The latter two players are from Carpinteria High.
Topping the list of newcomers is setter Justin Conmy, middle blocker Mark Hebda of Bishop Diego, 6-6 middle blocker Max Van Wageningen and libero James Wielebnicki. Miles Evans, a 6-5 hitter, joined the team last week and has a quick arm swing, according to Parker.
“The setter makes a huge difference in our offense,” Parker noted. “We want to run a fast attack and we need a setter who knows how to run it in transtion.”
Parker said the keys to success will be “preparation, walking off the court knowing you did your best and team chemistry.
“My job is to do what I can to guide them and build their confidence. We have to allow them to make mistakes and have no fear.”
