Area again well-stocked in volleyball talentBy Andrew J. Campa, Staff Writer

PASADENA- With 17 schools having qualified for the playoffs and two squads ending their seasons with CIF-Southern Section titles, 2006 was quite a season for local high school girls volleyball.
Several area favorites return to the Star-News Top 10 rankings this year while others find themselves with higher positions and higher expectations:

1. Flintridge Sacred Heart
When you keep on returning top talent year after year, it's hard to pick against the Tologs.
Flintridge Sacred Heart has reached the CIF-SS semifinals in different divisions three consecutive seasons only to be turned away each time.
Looking to break that trend, the Tologs are led by talented senior setter Samantha "Sam" Orlandini, daughter of coach Shelli Orlandini.
The younger Orlandini has averaged 1,000 assists a season since her freshman campaign and might be the area's best overall player.
Aiding Orlandini this year is returning senior Katie Condon (outside hitter), whom the coach claims is "a dominant front row attacker" along with Jenna Orlandini at libero.
If there is an area of concern it is the team's youth.
Shelli Orlandini plans on inserting sophomore middle blocker
Mary Schroeder and freshman outside hitter Camille Coffey into several rotations.
The Tologs are favorites in the Mission League again, along with rival Harvard-Westlake.

2. Mayfield
Before anyone complains about a Division IV-AA team being ranked No. 2, remember Flintridge Sacred Heart and La Salle were playing in the same division two years ago.
This season's Cubs squad looks to go further than last season's quarterfinal appearance.
While no one will carry Kimmie Roleder's torch, expect Mayfield junior Susan Carlson (outside hitter) to have a big year.
She averaged 15 kills a match last season and will be complemented by sophomore hitter Rachel Aragon (14 kills per match).
Both won junior Olympic gold medals and are ready for a Prep League title and perhaps more.

3. La Canada
The Spartans were supposed to be dead in the water last year. It was supposed to be the end of an era followed by years of rebuilding.
All La Ca ada did last season was go 9-1 in the Rio Hondo League and advance to the Division II-A quarterfinals before being knocked off by Pasadena.
The year's team will be led by sophomore outside hitter Courtney McCutchan and senior hitter Becky Hummel.
Senior Molly Burger and sophomore Mary Jo Scott also are in the mix for spots.
Others to watch include seniors Kim McCutchan (middle) and Monica Jung (right side), juniors Cami Martin (middle) and Madison Andersen (right side), and sophomore setter Hayley Wooford.

4. Arcadia

Since 1978, the Apaches have won the Pacific League title every year except 1980, 1998 and 2006.
The first order of business for coach Chuck Freberg is to return the Pacific title back to Arcadia after a one-year stop in Pasadena.
The good news for the Apaches is that they return big middle blocker Susie Clinton (senior), who will get a lot more action because of the graduation of outside hitter Sarah Oglesby.
Clinton and senior Stephanie Stillman form one of the more dominant fronts in the area.
With Ashley McPherson returning on the right side, Arcadia will battle Burbank Burroughs and Pasadena for a league title.

5. Gabrielino

The Eagles return with the area's longest league winning streak at 29 games.
It doesn't seem likely that anyone in the Mission Valley League will challenge that streak.
Although Gabrielino lost four key seniors, three of whom were first-team all-leaguers, the Eagles do return league MVP Annie Kim.
Kim averaged nine kills per match last season. Expect that number to go up as she will become even more of a focal point on offense.

6. Maranatha
Junior Te'anna Robinson will likely enter the year as the team's most seasoned outside hitter.
Those who have followed Robinson are impressed with her athleticism. She also was Maranatha's top soccer player.
Sophomore Taylor McCleod, who averaged five kills last season, should also see her numbers increase.
The Minutemen have already had a solid showing at the Gladstone Tournament and are a favorite in the Olympic League.

7. Westridge
The Division IV-AA champs sustained some heavy losses, including Star-News first-teamer Kelly McCall (outside hitter).
With new coach Mike Hearn taking over for Billy Yu, it may take a while for the Tigers to return to form.
Westridge does return junior All-CIF Division IV first-teamer Carolyn McLaughlin (outside or middle), along with senior Emily Hudson on the right side and Katrina Post at outside hitter.
Post led the Tigers with 15 kills in their CIF-State first-round playoff win over Exeter Union.

8. Pasadena

The post-Kimmie Roleder era begins at Hamilton Gymnasium.
However, despite losing a 35-kill-per-match standout, the cupboard is not bare.
Returning this season is senior setter Casey Klein (35 assists per game) who, outside of Orlandini, is the area's top setter.
Don't be surprised if senior outside hitter Katie Merrill, who had never played competitive volleyball before attending high school, averages 15-20 kills a match.
Merrill showed tremendous growth last season as Pasadena's No. 2 hitter.

9. La Salle
The fall was difficult for the Lancers, who reached the CIF-SS Division IV-AA championships in 2005 only to fail to make the playoffs in 2006.
It is no secret that middle hitter Brittany Thomas is going to have to carry La Salle.
The senior has the ability to be one the area's best players if she can avoid the nagging injuries that hampered her during her junior year.

10. San Gabriel
It seems like every year coach Larry Kanow has to deal with an entirely new group of starters. This year is no different. Kanow can take comfort in knowing that senior outside hitter Morgan Ma, an All-Almont League second-teamer, is back along with fellow second-teamer Amy Wu at middle blocker. The Matadors also have all-league honorable mentions Sylvie Lekhac (junior setter) and Vicky Quach (senior libero), who are expected to make sizable contributions.

CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS
(As of 9-10-07)
Division I-AA
1. Los Alamitos; 2. Mira Costa; 3. Esperanza; 4. Long Beach Wilson; 5. El Toro; 6. Redondo Union; 7. Santa Margarita; 8. Lakewood; 9. Mater Dei; 10. San Clemente.
Division I-A
1. Marymount; 2. Notre Dame Academy; 3. Rim of the World; 4. Harvard-Westlake; 5. Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; 6. San Luis Obispo; 7. San Marcos; 8. Dos Pueblos; 9. Saugus; 10. Upland.
Division II-AA
1. University 2. St. Lucy’s; 3. Corona Del Mar; 4. Norco; 5. Laguna Beach; 6. South Hills; 7. La Salle; 8. Bishop Montgomery; 9. Ayala; 10. Diamond Bar.
Division II-A
1. North Torrance; 2. La Cañada; 3. El Segundo; 4. Palos Verdes; 5. Pasadena; 6. Arcadia; 7. Redlands East Valley; 8. Cajon; 9. Hemet; 10. Elsinore.
Division III-AA
1. La Reina; 2. Cypress; 3. Barstow; 4. Granite Hills; 5. Quartz Hill; 6. California; 7. Oaks Christian; 8. Santa Ynez; 9. Oak Park; 10. Santa Monica.
Division III-A
1. Brentwood; 2. Valley Christian; 3. San Gabriel; 4. Bonita; 5. Palm Springs; 6. La Mirada; 7. Western; 8. Ocean View; 9. Los Altos; 10. Pomona.
Division IV-AA
1. Sage Hill; 2. Chadwick; 3. Westridge; 4. St. Margaret’s; 5. Viewpoint; 6. Arrowhead Christian; 7. L.A. Baptist; 8. Providence; 9. Loma Linda Academy; 10. Mayfield.
Division IV-A
1. Laguna Blanca; 2. Twentynine Palms; 3. Murrieta Calvary Chapel; 4. Woodcrest Christian; 5. Cate; 6. Thacher; 7. Frazier Mountain; 8. Alverno; 9. Boron; 10. Linfield.
Division V-AA
1. Lighthouse Christian[/AG-INDENT]; 2. Desert Christian; 3. Upland Christian; 4. Hesperia Christian; 5. Baptist Christian; 6. Faith Baptist; 7. Milken; 8. West Valley Christian; 9. Santa Clarita Christian; 10. La Verne Lutheran.
Division V-A
1. Connelly; 2. Coastal Christian; 3. Acaciawood Academy; 4. Santa Maria Valley Christian; 5. Cornerstone Christian; 6. Tarbut V’Torah; 7. Calvary Baptist; 8. Big Pine; 9. Marywood Palm Valley; 10. Immanuel Christian.