NorCal Volleyball’s 20 Teams To Watch
As part of SportStars Magazine’s 2018 Girls Volleyball Preview, it named 20 of its top NorCal teams to watch for the season. California-San Ramon was the only Contra Costa County team to make the list, though more players from throughout the county were included in a list of 50+ players to watch. As for California, a season preview feature on the Grizzlies also appears in the magazine’s upcoming issue which releases on on SportStarsMag.com Sept. 6.
As you wait, here’s SportStars’ 20 NorCal Teams to Watch, listed alphabetically. All records are from 2017.
Amador Valley-Pleasanton (17-11): Sarah Rieble and Mahalia Jackson lead an experienced group that some coaches believe to be the favorite in vaunted East Bay Athletic League.
Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (37-5): If this were a ranked format, the Monarchs would not be listed second. Five consecutive CIF State titles (including the last two in the Open Division) command top billing.
Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (28-8): Defending NCS Div. II champions return top hitter Michelle Ohwobete and setter Alexandria Hoglund.
California-San Ramon (30-5): This Grizzlies group arrived before their time, winning 30 games a year ago while stars Sofia Aguilera and Sadie Peete were still just sophomores.
Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove (31-11): Fresno State-bound Amaria Kelly is one of the state’s top hitters. She has 1,078 kills in three seasons and she still gets to work with star setter Haley Burdo.
Dublin (15-16): Sophomore hitter Brya Ashley will pick up where sister Bray Ashley left off and will benefit from newcomer Brooke Lohuis at setter.
Homestead-Cupertino (22-11): Mustangs return plenty, including junior hitting tandem Sara Olsson and Paige Bensing.
James Logan (40-5): The CIF Div. I state runner-up remains loaded with talent, including middle hitter Taumafa Tuinauvai.
Marin Catholic-Kentfield (32-5): In any other division but the Open (where it lost to Mitty), this program would’ve won a state title in 2017. Junior middle Kari Geissberger leads a parade of returning talent.
Menlo School-Atherton (29-6): The Knights were another casualty of the CIF Open Div. (falling to Mitty 3-2). Senior Selina Xu is one of the Bay Area’s most versatile players.
Notre Dame-Belmont (32-15): Accomplished beach star, senior Kendall Peters, and sophomore sensation Abby Miller combined for 809 kills in 2017.
Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (25-12): Vivian Light and Shelby Young return after combining for more than 400 total kills last season; specialist Riley Tishlarich is also back.
Ponderosa-Shingle Springs (34-6): Seniors Julin Kenison, Zoe Zimmerman and Kendal Kott lead a squad returning from a Div. II section title.
Rocklin (17-18): Senior Raquel Castro and 6-foot-2 sophomore Kennedy Crane will present matchups problems all season for opposing defenses.
Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F. (25-13) I Team graduated just two seniors from a 13-person roster that reached the CIF Div. I Northern Regional final in 2017.
Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton (29-9): Power duo of Elena Radoff and Ally Poverari returns for the 2017 CIF Div. II finalist.
St. Francis-Sacramento (34-9): The Troubadours return serving sensation Sam Chavez and five of the top six hitters from 2017.
St. Ignatius-S.F. (34-10): Five of the Wildcats’ 10 losses from 2017 came against Mitty. Well-rounded hitting star, Elizabeth Fleming, will be the focal point of the offense.
Tracy (33-11): The defending SJS Div. I runners-up to St. Francis, the Bulldogs return three elite hitters, including all-around sophomore phenom Natalie Laiolo.
Turlock (34-9): Three Division I players have graduated, but top hitter Jazmyn Tubbs returns for her senior year.
PHOTO: The California High girls volleyball team celebrates a point during a late-August match with Amador Valley-Pleasanton.
PHOTO BY: Jean-Paul Toshiro / SportStars Magazine
