Santa Barbara’s first prep girls beach volleyball club team opened its season on Thursday at the Marine Street courts in Manhattan Beach.
Santa Barbara Elite dropped a 3-2 decision against Elite Beach Volleyball Academy from the South Bay area of Los Angeles. The doubles teams of Sam Slater (Ventura freshman)/Kelsey Knudsen (Valencia freshman), and Evanne Jimenez (Ventura senior)/Kobie Jimenez (Ventura freshman) won their best-of-3 matches for Santa Barbara.
Run under the direction of the AAU, the girls sand league consists of two teams from Elite Beach Volleyball Academy, Los Angeles ICG, San Diego BVC Elite and Santa Barbara. The season is made up of tournaments in L.A., Orange County, San Diego and Santa Barbara, and a season-ending event at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica on Feb. 23.
Santa Barbara Elite has a 13-player roster, consisting of players from local high schools, Ventura and Valencia.
“We have a mix of seniors, some of which have already committed to schools to play volleyball, as well as young freshmen who have bright futures in the game,” said head coach Dillan Bennett. K.C. Collins is the assistant coach.
Team players who have made college commitments are Lindsay Knudsen to St. Mary’s and Katie Kim to Tufts University.
The team’s next tournament is Jan. 11 in San Diego.
Team roster:
Player, School, Grade
Lindsay Knudsen, Valencia, 12th
Katie Kim, San Marcos, 12th
Clare Holehouse, San Marcos, 12th
Evanne Jimenez, Ventura,12th
Anika Wilson, San Marcos, 11th
Emily Bible, Valencia, 11th
Catherine “Kat” Hogan, Dos Pueblos, 10th
Cassidy Drury-Pullen, San Marcos, 9th
Autumn Rexford, Dos Pueblos, 9th
Kobie Jimenez, Ventura, 9th
Sam Slater, Ventura, 9th
Kelsey Knudsen, Valencia, 9th
Josie Doughty, Laguna Blanca, 9th
Result of first match
Elite Beach Volleyball Academy def. Santa Barbara Elite 3-2
Anika Wilson/Lindsay Knudsen w. 2-0
Katie Kim/Emily Bible w. 2-0
Sam Slater/Kelsey Knudsen l. 0-2
Evanne Jimenez/Kobie Jimenez l. 1-2
Cassidy Drury-Pullen/Kat Hogan l. 0-2
