The Santa Barbara Volleyball Club’s 15-Red team, coached by Mickey Caughey, went 3-0 without losing a single game in their pool of the second qualifying round of the SCVA this past weekend.
The team defeated Orange County 15-Green 25-11, 25-14, La Jolla Torreys 15s 25-17, 25-17, and Premier 15-2 Red 25-16, 25-17.
“What a great day! Our serving was just incredible,” remarked Caughey. “Our block was intimidating…Our back row defense hungrily scooped up balls and returned digs beautifully to our setters.”
Caughey said that every player on his team contributed to the day’s sweep.
On Sunday, coach Greg Gibbons’ 18-SMACK team beat Legacy 17-1s 25-20, 25-13, Sinjin Smith 18-1s 25-14, 25-17 and SMBC 18-1s 25-16, 25-11.
The three victories put the team in Division I to start the regular season.
The 18-White team went 1-2, putting the squad in Division III. They beat SVVC 17-Gold 25-23, 25-13 before losing to San Diego 18-1s and Wave 18-1s.
Coach Shalen Williams pointed out that Anna Dwyer, who had recently joined the team, stepped into the libero postion pretty smoothly.
“Hannah Hill had an exceptional day both offensively and defensively while Karissa Flack hit aggressively out of the middle,” Williams added.
Angie Erdmann’s 17-Smack team swept its pool, beating AVVC 17-1s, Lila Lions 18-1s, and Stealth AE-18s all in two games each.
The team pushed points all day and only allowed one team to get past the 20 point mark.
Erdmann said that setter Tristan Racich led the team in assists and served consistently all day. Bianca Castro and Karina Evans delivered quick kills from the middle and posted up solid blocks in all three matches. Rachel Szeyller led the team on the outside with superb defense and offense. Also, Katie Schuster sparked the court against AVVC with a kill from the right side and a nice serving string.
The team will begin the regular season in Division IX.
