Honorable mention All-American setter Dana Vargas leads an experienced UCSB women’s volleyball team into its season opener this weekend at the Cal Molten Classic.
The Gauchos kick things off Friday night against the No. 11-ranked Cal Bears and then play Manhattan on Saturday afternoon before returning to Santa Barbara for their earliest home opener in years.
UCSB for the first time will face Cincinnati on Monday at 7 p.m. at Rob Gym.
The Gauchos are coming off a 22-8 season that included a return to the NCAA Tournament.
With Vargas back running the attack and four other returning starters, the prospects for another good season are encouraging for coach Kathy Gregory’s squad.
“Dana returning as a senior is definitely a person to make things go for us,” Gregory said. “I do believe she is the best setter in the league. This year we’re asking her to even be better in terms of running a quicker offense and making better decisions. We’re expecting big things from Dana to lead this team.”
Vargas will have plenty of familiar combinations to work with as 2009 All-Big West first-team pick Stacey Schmidt, Lily Lopez and Leah Sully return to the front line, and Chelsey Lowe comes back at the libero position.
Schmidt, who is moving to the middle attacker position this season, finished second on the team behind Rebecca Saraceno in kills and kills per set average (2.34 per set) and hit a team-high .330.
“Physically, she hits quick,” Gregory said of her decision to move Schmidt to the middle. “No one can defend her, and her ability to hit the quick attack is superior.”
The Gauchos are deep in the middle position with experienced players Lopez and Kasey Kipp behind Schmidt. Lopez was one of the top freshman in the conference in 2008 and had a solid sophomore season, hitting .270.
“Lily is poised for a breakout year,” Gregory said. “She is going to be one of the most physical middles in the league. Her speed is going to get her many kills.”
Sully and Charlene DeHoog provide power and experience on the outside. Sully played in every set last season and finished with 223 kills.
“She has improved physically after having a great year for us as a freshman,” Gregory said. “This year we need her hitting numbers to be better and she has worked hard to improve her jump and her arm swing. We are looking for her hitting efficiency to be higher.”
DeHoog, a senior, is the team’s leading returner in total kills with 523 in her career. She’s also a solid defender, totaling 257 digs.
“We are looking for Charlene to have a breakout year for us,” Gregory said. “She will be starting and playing all around. She has improved her arm swing and we are looking for her to be a big scorer for us this year. She’ll be jump serving for us and we’re asking her to carry a big offensive load.”
On the opposite side, Gregory has a lot of young talent to work with.
Sophomore Mimi Cuttrell from Santa Barbara High will be expected to be a major part of the attack after seeing action in seven matches as a freshman.
“Physically, she’s one of the most talented,” Gregory said. “She has really made the commitment to get stronger. Offensively she will help us on the right side. This year she is showing more maturity and focus.”
Joining Cuttrell on the right side will be a pair of freshman, who will be counted on to make an immediate impact: Katey Thompson from CIF state champion Newport Harbor and Jenna Wilson from Rancho Cucamonga.
In the coaches’ preseason poll, UCSB received votes, the first such time since 2007. The Gauchos ended 2009 receiving votes for 13 straight weeks. The last time UCSB was in the Top-25 was Sept. 12, 2005 when the team was No. 24.
