Coach Cary Whittaker’s 12-Smack team played its best volleyball all season despite much distraction in the last regional Southern California Volleyball Association tournament of the season in Carson.
“Our first day at Regionals started off very interestingly at the Home Depot Velodrome,” Whittaker mentioned. “We played in the center of a track as bicyclists sped around us. It was very distracting for twelve year olds…Distractions aside we played GREAT!”
The team went to three sets in close to every match they played over the two days and finished with a 3-3 record.
“Lots of great competition and really the best the 12-Smack team had played all season. It was a great end to our season and we are all sad it’s over!” Whittaker continued.
The team ended the season with a final ranking of 39th out of 120 teams. The team roster included Ava Dore, Kristina Garcia, Ruby Haber, Ally Hodosy, Catherine Hogan, Emily Lafitte, Phoebe Madsen, Amara Parris, Gabi Peoples, Emily Robertson, Peyton Shelburne, Lourda Weger.
Coach Dwayne Hauschild felt his 15-Smack team had a great finish to the season in Anaheim this weekend. The team went 4-5 in its matches and managed to win the Gold-D4 bracket after a weekend filled with injuries.
“While arriving in Anaheim with 10 players and leaving with seven healthy ones, we still managed to roll with the punches,” noted Hauschild.
A couple of players suffered injuries this weekend and the coaches were forced to rearrange the line ups on the fly.
“But the girls played with heart and intensity, and were in every match they played,” said Hauschild.
“One of the funniest matches I have ever seen was Katherine Crook’s bloody nose match where half way through the match her nose turns on like a faucet. Dozens of tissues later…she still managed to run back and serve 4 straight points with a HUGE wad of paper hanging out of her nose. Classic!” Exclaimed Hauschild.
The season held fun days and good memories according to Hauschild, and the Regionals tournament was a positive end to a great year. The team included Annika Bastanchury, Emma Craine, Katherine Crook, Emma Mascari, Alexa Nestlerode, Sammi Rhine, Izzy Sagely, Mady Simon, Katie Spieler, Danae Theiler, and assistant coach Jordyn Druary.
Also in Anaheim, the 15-White team played well in the Gold Division over the two days despite missing two players, Savanah Tartler and Michaela Ford . The team went 1-2 in pool play and lost in the first round of playoffs to Temecula 25-16 and 25-23.
Coach Desiree Partlow recapped the weekend:
“Although our record may not show it, the girls played amazing this weekend. We just couldn’t finish it when we had the chance. Madelon Leiphardt carried our team with her setting and defensive plays. Tala Hishmeh led the team in kills and blocks from the middle. Emily Lunt also finished off the season with one of her best overall performances while Emma Redick stepped up huge for our team playing middle blocker for her first time and doing a fabulous job! Colleen O’Conner was solid with 20 kills and 10 aces and Hannah Raphael also racked up 19 big kills, from the outside.
“Sophia Hampp was swinging well on the right side adding kills for the team, until she unfortunately hurt her knee and had to sit out most of the second day and cheering on her team. A huge factor for our strong front row performance was the consistent and solid back row play from Mia Cattaneo and Lauren Underwood.”
The 15-Red team, coached by Mickey Caughey and Leigh Stephenson, had a great Regionals tournament this past weekend.
“We’ve been improving all season long and had our best showing yet when it counted the most,” said Caughey. The team placed second in the finals of the Bronze-2D playoffs, playing a total of 17 games over the two days with only seven players.
“If the girls were getting tired they sure didn’t show it as they just kept getting better as the tournament evolved,” continued Caughey.
Starting at Club West in Pasadena, the team earned second in Saturday’s pool which put the team at the American Sports Center on Sunday, where the 15-Smack and 15-White teams were also playing. The team went 3-0 in Sunday’s pool, having a satisfying and convincing win against Culver 15-John. The win was sweet revenge for them as they had lost to them in tournaments past. The team earned a bye through the quarters and going into semi-finals, “we had the best match of our season!” Claimed Caughey.
“We really had one of our best serving games of the season…[and] our defense was amazing!” The team won that match, then lost a close battle 25-23 to Epic 15-Dan. “The improvement that all of the girls made since the beginning of the season is truly amazing,” Caughey praised. The team included Marina Boulanger, Kierstin Brown, Hailey Hall, Grace Halleck, Karly Lawrence, Stamatia Scarvelis, and Kristen Sharpe.
