That gym is not Los Altos, there is plenty of room. Hopefully nobody is throwing things and everybody is well behaved. I predict......Los Altos in 4.

It sure is!!! Good luck trying to find a seat. Binoculars will be needed, I have a feeling there will be a nose bleed section!!!!

That game is Thursday right? at Bonita?

GAME of the WEEK - Los Altos at Bonita!!!!!

This should be a fight to the finish. This will also determine who is No.1 in their league.

Ayala d South Hills 9/18 25-21, 25-16,21-25, 25-17

I assume you are talking about Torie Brown. Yes she is one of the top players in the area. I'm not sure she is surrounded by a ton of talent (havent seen them play recently) but that Sierra league is a battle almost every match. Diamond Bar hasnt been getting blown out, just losing a lot of close ones.

mind faster than fingers...re:Brown- this team means DB not Ayala, like ti sounds.Re: Ayala-Bernie does a great job, but still not #1 if we were to include them. SH against Ayala would be a great show.

Don't know that I would put Ayala that high. Brown, while a talented and dominant player, should be tearing it up and leading this team to the top of the league. Played around with San Dimas and Diamond Bar, too. San Dimas has improved so much, and DB who I just expect to be good every year is in a bit of a slide. With Ayala out, I'd put in Rowland.

I like it also, except for Ayala. If we were including Ayala they would be number 1. They beat South Hills easily earlier this year. I would also put Diamond Bar ahead of San Dimas. With Ayala out a spot opens at #10 for????
CO
Wilson
Rowland(went 5 with the number #1 team)

LOOKS RIGHT!!!!!!!

and makes a whole lot of sense as well!!

New poll???? My prediction has...
1. South Hills
2. Walnut
3. Bonita
4. Ayala (I know, I know)Los Altos(will be here)
5. Los Altos
6. St. Lucy's
7. Glendora
8. San Dimas
9. Diamond Bar
10.Bishop Amat

Is an ex coach, I agree with the club (year round ball) making a huge difference. When the girls come back for summer league, they are not rusty or in need of fundementals (lol, not as much). Even if they did have the greatest of coaches, they improve with every ball they touch.

Just look at La Puente's record this year. The coach was able to get the majority of his team to play year round ball, and they have improved a great deal. They are not elite but are looking 10 times better!

here is an ex.

three weeks into your season (no club) = learing serve receive, working on approaches, serving

three weeks into your season (club) = Learning plays, perfecting your jump/float serves, learning how to use all your hitters effectively (inlcuding your back row).

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!

maxpreps.com but some teams havent entered in all of their game results.

where can we find their league records for each team listed in the newspaper ranking?

Wow! I thought the accusations of Communism were bad! Can we please not make spandex comments? It's already a stupid stereotype of our sport.

looks like we need to ban people on this blog too.

There are teams who are able to do fairly well without club players. Ganesha is getting to this point and perhaps some other local teams too. San Gabriel is a good example. They have won a ridiculous amount of league titles and have made it deep into CIF playoffs several times.

However, that being said I still dont think they or any team without any all year around players, can hang with the top local teams let alone the top coastal teams.

This is not meant to be negative... More like the truth.

If you lost to Wilson this year.... then you should even compare youself to any of the top 9 teams.

This is coming from someone who has seen all the top 9 teams play this year.

I dont see any team making it, or even competing if 80% of your sqaud is not playing club.

FYI-Whomever put Ganesha at #1 for next week was being sarcastic. Fred has already mentioned that Ganesha is not considered in the SGV area so we can't be ranked anyway. As far as where our program is, we feel we will be competitive for years to come. None of our girls have played club, but we are hoping that many will start playing in the near future. Thanks for the positive and negative comments-I guess that means we are doing something right. FYI-This is not the same G-High rules as the individual writing the negative stuff about St. Lucy's.

Ganesha has beaten such powerhouses as Garey, Pomona, and Baldwin Park, but lost some tough ones to the likes of San Dimas and Wilson

Ganesha is maybe playing at a level comparible to Wilson or Charter Oak. Nah.... Charter Oak would beat them.

Hope no one takes this the wrong way, but I don't even know what league Ganesha is in. Who do they play and what's their standing this year? Who are the standouts on this team and just out of curiosity where do they play club? Just curious as I am familiar with (or at least I thought I was) most of the strong programs/players in the area, but I can't name a single girl on this team. Who is the coach?

Is the success Ganesha is having this year a one time deal or is the whole program on the upswing? Will they be beating Ayala, South Hills, Walnut, Bonita and Los Altos for years to come?

Ganesha for National Volleyball team of the YEAR!!!

I'll buy that for a dollar!

The St. Lucy's topic is old news. Next topic? How about Ganesha at number one and South Hills at number 2?

St. Lucy's season is a Cinderella story or is it more like a Princess Diary? It sounded like a few Club West parents forced the ex coach out with that kind of promtion about them by that Anonymous person. Also, by installing a cheerleading coach, parents will continue to flock to Club West for private lessons since they aren't learning anything in practice. And, what a great quote "the first team to make it to CIF without coach". That is truly a classy line. And there is so much respect for the new coach by saying that.

Los Altos's Esquivel is a more complete player than the Bonita's player. And St.Lucy's Remy is a more complete player than Diamond Bar's Brown When ranking players, we need to look at overall skills (not who hits harder).

It seems like "the leader" of St. Lucy cannot beat the great coach of Ayala. The real leader at St. Lucy is their starting libero that was missing according to the Daily Bulletin's reporter.

As far as Katy being the best player in the miramonte league, I think Esquivel has much more ball control. She can place that ball anywhere on the court. Her defense is amazing 3 pancakes last game, got a ball up from the opposite side of the court. Check out her stats on max preps. Katy is a good blocker but is out of control on hitting sometimes. They are both good players and well deserving of this award.

When ranking teams its all about what have you done for me lately, not what happened the first weeks of the season.
Los Altos lost to Glendora at the tourney right?
Charter Oak hasnt beaten any ranked teams that I see.

I dont think there is anyway St. Lucy's doesn't make CIF. And I dont think there was any way they wouldn't have made it with Art as the coach. The Sierra league will have 4 representatives maybe even 5.
Nobody is saying they dont have talented girls in that program. The only thing I find interesting is when they have a little bit of a down year(losing to teams they had beaten in the past)the wheels fall off.
Many programs are improving in the area. More teams are filled with club players. More parity, its a good thing.

when they make the movie, don't forget the custodian who walked into the team room soon after the previous coach had been dismissed and talked to the girls about adversity, sticking together and winning against all odds. He sits at the score table at home games and works the scoreboard. Gotta love sports!!! It brings out the best... and sometimes the worst in people.

St. Lucy’s unclassy… hmmmm that’s a very interesting statement. Just last week at a St. Lucy’s home game, an opposing team’s parent was yelled at by the referee for the “unclassy” statements he was making, then to add to the “unclassyness” another parent also from the opposing team threw an open water bottle onto the court in the middle of a play. Talk about poor sportsmanship.

As for the criticism made by unknown about the “team leader” bringing up a freshman when their back row was in dire need of help, under the circumstances “the team leader,” knew exactly what she was doing, since two starting senior players were unable to play, two other players were also out on injuries against St. Lucy’s biggest competition, Ayala. Dalton, the freshman brought up for the week, ended up being a great asset with assisting in the win against another fierce competitor Diamond Bar. Remy proved to be a great leader for the team, she lead in kills even over Diamond Bar’s Brown.

To clarify about the untalented girls that are not good enough to play in high school… I think you may want to ask the Glendora and Diamond Bar coaches just how untalented SL really is since both teams, which are very good teams, with very good players, have both lost to St. Lucy’s. As for their club training you may want to retract that comment too since many of SL’s players play for Club West, a respectable club in La Verne, along with Bonita, Glendora, and Ayala players. Which leads me to ask the question how is that categorized as untalented????

As for Coach Pam, St. Lucy’s Varsity Softball coach, I commend her for stepping in as the coach and for her ongoing encouragement to the team. I also have to commend Remy for stepping up and being a great team leader; with the new leadership the Regent’s have greatly improved their record with only loosing to Ayala. Each of the girls on the team deserves recognition for sticking through this season. They truly are today’s volleyball Cinderella story; I hope they go on to be the first team to make it to CIF with out a coach!!!!

Good top 10 picks guys. I haven't decided what changes will be made to the top 10 yet, but I like the suggestions. This is definitely what Fred and I wanted when we decided to put up this blog...keeep commenting

Wilson has beaten San Dimas thats why I put them in there but may be CO is more deserving. who have they beaten?

The freshman at LA is definitly legit. Great height and coordination. She will be dominating the middle for 3 years for them

To Volleyball Follower,

When did Gladstone beat Diamond Bar?? They never played them in the reg season. Im assuming thats what DB you were referring to in your rankings??

Comments
The game last night at Diamond Bar could have been won by DB but a couple of the name players again failed to consistently perform especially in the first two games. It was a case of too little too late. Smola turned up big for SL. Neither Remy or Brown distinguished themselves, the other role players decided the match. By the By Top Gun has contributed many good players to this year's High School rosters, so let's lay off the "these club's player's are better than that clubs" theory.

Anonymous,
I saw Walnut play this past weekend and do not think that they could beat LA, just an observation. With Esquivel healthy LA goes far in the tournament. LA still has other players but she does a lot of the extra little things. You gotta check out that freshman (177 kills in maxpreps), she sure hammers the ball. That is why I can not put Walnut over them. I did not see the Bonita / Walnut game but I have seen both teams play and I would not have ever imagined it. That is a debate and that is what the blog is for.

Good luck to all these young Ladies this week and hopefully the San Gabriel Valley Teams stay healthy on their quest to CIF...

I can almost guaranty that St. Lucy's/L.A./Bonita/South Hills can beat Amat in three.

Great defense but not height!!!

As for wilson - maybe in two are three years we will see them again. They have a pretty good J.V. middle.

L.A. - Has some Serious Players on JV and Frosh SOPH.

South Hills - Melinda is only a sophmore- She will be competing for the glory next year!!!

Diamond Ranch - no comment

Amat should be lower!

LOL, they have had a difficult schedule, however losses are losses!!!!

Pretty GOOD! but GET WILSON out of there! I think CHARTER OAK is better then them. I have seen them twice, once earlier in the season and and the second time just this week.

GOOD JOB COACH!! this is coming from a L.A. fan.

next weeks top 10- predictions

1. South Hills
2. Walnut
3. Bonita
4. Los Altos
5. Bishop Amat
6. Gladstone
7. St. Lucy's
8. Glendora
9. Diamond Bar
10. San Dimas/Wilson

11. Ganesha

In the Ayala tournament this weekend with many of these local teams the highest finishers were South Hills and Walnut both finishing 5th. LA finished poorly probably due to Esquivel being injured. I think you have to rank South Hills #1 Walnut #2 followed by Bonita and Los Altos. The Bonita-LA game next will be huge along with some serious Sierra league playoff implication matches. Very competitive teams in the SGV this year. Hopefully some can make it a few rounds into CIF.

Wow, Bonita lost to Walnut. Big changes in the valley.

1. South Hills - playing tough righ now
2. LA - beat Walnut in 3 early on beat DR in 3 and CO in 3, geting back in groove
3. Walnut - beat Bonita
4. Bonita - beat LA but has not played to that level since, beat Wilson 3-1, CO 3-1, lost to Walnut
5. St. Lucys - on the rise, they have the players
6. Gladstone - beat DB
7. Glendora - Beat LA 2-1 (26-27, 25-23, 15-11)at Avala tournament. LA without Esquivel (232 kills, 35 Blocks 26 Aces on the year, Maxpreps).
8. Diamond Bar - Still a good team
9. Amat - in trouble, rumor has it they lost their top defensive player (Bonja, broken arm??)Saw Amat play against Bishop Montgomery, Amat has a hard time against the bigger teams
10. San Dimas - running thru their league

This is getting fun when it should. I have a hard time putting Walnut ahead of LA but since Walnut beat Bonita this week they need to be ahead of them. 2-3-4 spots are hard.

And for the fool that wants to get rid of the Volleyball Log. Stay off our blog, there is some great talent in the SGV and they need to be recognized as well.

If St. Lucy's parents are good sports then naturally the players would be too. From what I've seen the St. Lucy's players are classy. Remy seems like a great individual and all of them seem to have good senses of humour. Let's get off this topic already.

next weeks top 10- predictions

1. South Hills
2. Walnut
3. Bonita
4. Los Altos
5. Bishop Amat
6. Gladstone
7. St. Lucy's
8. Glendora
9. Diamond Bar
10. San Dimas/Wilson

11. Ganesha

Ouuch!

st/ lucy's parents have always been respectful and classy.
its the girls who arent!
they have little or no respect for the other teams or girls around them.
when asked what the name of their varsity coach was they replied..
"ummmm....i think her name is.....Pam?"
thats disrespectful.
thats having no class.
its your senior year and you dont know the name of your varsity coach?
shows whos really coaching that team.

Well maybe not, i was told Diamond Bar lost to St lucys @ DB

Maybe the rest of the local teams are just getting stronger and competing better against St. Lucys.

#1 Bonita loses in 4 to Walnut. Who gets the curse of #1 next week? South Hills?

I also don't understand all of the hatred towards St. Lucy's. When we played St. Lucy's JV in Club West's Summer league and lost the first game 24-26 on a bad call (one of several) the St. Lucy's parents were all over the ref. about how that was not how they wanted to win. After the match the St. Lucy's parents told our players and coaches how we were doing such a great job at Ganesha and what a fun match we played. This blog should focus on the positive-we know St. Lucy's volleyball has been great and will continue to be great for many years to come!

It's not so much the unknowns who are posting as it is the un-knowing!!!! Unless you are directly connected to St. Lucy's, you just don't know! You really DON'T know nor do you get it that St. Lucy's parents ARE supportive of their school, athletic programs, academic rigor, and their daughters!! You don't know much about the Sierra League and the competitive volleyball teams in this league. It is not the end of the world to lose to Ayala or Glendora or DB!! It just makes everyone work harder. These are all good teams. You don't know that SL has won the league title or shared it for at least the last 7 years. You don't know that they went to CIF semi-finals the last two years in a row, losing to Laguna Beach in 5 ( a team, by the way, that had jr. national players on it)! You don't know that for at least the last eight years girls have gone on to play vb in college on BOTH athletic and academic scholarships. You don't know that 3 of last years' seniors were chosen to represent Southern California Volleyball Association under the USA volleyball umbrella and played in Europe on a High Performance team and that Remy played in Florida, also on a SCVA High Performance team. Tradition??? You want tradition?? Walk into the gym. Talk to some of the coaches who play against SL year after year. You just don't know.

Wow...I think the guy who has a chip on his shoulder about St. Lucy's should take his own advice and remove that chip that is weighing him down at the computer and go do some general good himself instead of attacking the girls at St. Lucy's.

If you are interested, you can go to their gym and view the banners (like most schools) to see their titles. Or go online and google St. Lucy's to list the schools of the student athletes.

Plus, why don't you ask Fred who the last school was that went to CIF without a coach. You should also ask some of the other fine schools in this area how they felt after losing to the "not ready for high school ball" St. Lucy's volleyball team? I know almost half of the top ten on the above list falls in to this category.

And why don't they leave the school? This is a real school that offers more than just volleyball. They *all* go to real Colleges and Universities when they are done. Leaving is what quitters do. (Great suggestion...Says a lot about who you are..)

As for GPA's and student athletes? You are out of their league my friend.

Glendora beat Chino Hills easily in three
on Tuesday

Jade Esquivel outside hitter rolled her ankle in the South Hills game 5, and didn't play at all in the Ayala Tournament at Club West but is coming back strong and by the way the team did an outstanding job givin the sudden adjustments that had to be made.

what is top gun? why are we talking about the movie? is this a movie blog?? tom cruise was my idol back in the days... he is a little weird these days since his appearance on Oprah

agreed that top gun is going down the tubes.
it's way too unorganized and biast.
if your not on a 1's team don't expect anything extrodinary.
the coaches are very inexperienced fresh out of college i need a job young grils who know little about actualy coachng the game of volleyball.

PS- los altos got destroyed by multiple teams this weekend.
yet there're still ranked higher than sierra league teams that are truely at war over the league champ title.

Why do you say that about Top Gun-they seem to be very competitive?

top gun is going down the tube!

Does anyone know anything about the (new) Titan volleyball club out of Citrus College? Is this a result of changes at Top Gun?

Anonymous you need to sack up and post you name or just logoff nucklehead. Luv BOB

did glendora play chino hills?

Diamond Bar swept Chino 3-0

With all these unknown people(most likely those St. Lucy's parents)are talking smack about their St Lucy's coaches and administration every single week, here are a few suggestions that they might want to consider:

why dont they just transfer their kids to another school if it is that bad.

Or, maybe they should ask for their money back from their volleyball clubs that they played for because their kids arent good enough to play high school level yet. (Can Fred R. confirm if any St Lucy's player got signed by any colleges yet or if any of their players were on any Junior National Teams? If there arent any, then maybe they are not getting the best training from their clubs)

Or, if those bloggers got that much time on their hands, they should just go help fight the fires or go help the homeless.

Fred,
When was the last time St.Lucy's Volleyball make it to CIF final or gone to the state tournament?
What tradition did they have?

And doesnt this blog list the top 10 teams with the highest team GPA? or best student athletes ranking?

unknown,
want to fill the rest of us in? are you talking about SL? sounds like a freshman was just moved up for the ayala game? what happened?

ayala beat st. lucy's. how bout the other games in the sierra league, who won?

don't know if St.Lucy's won or lost their match
with ayala, but i do know a player on the team should never be the one put in the position of determining who should be on the varsity team. Clearly the varsity team was in need of back row help, however the "team leader" determined a freshman outside hitter was instead the player the varsity would need against ayala. This is why players should play and why coaches should coach. Shame on the St. Lucy's athletics administration for allowing this miscarriage.

Wow!Football doesn't get enough press they have to come on this blog and talk smack! Bonita has a quality team and, although Coach Coberly won't admit it, has a great chance at winning CIF this year.
Fred, any idea how the divisions might be changed next year? The current setup gives our area and the Inland Valley the best chance at winning.

Great match at WilsonHH 2nite. Bonita won in 4 games but all were hard fought. Fantastic effort by both teams. BHS overcame the Wilson mojo from last year led by the great Ashley Lee... site of their last Miramonte League loss last year. Great job lady Bearcats. For my money, add two girls to top area players... Courtney Donaldson, junior and Katy McCreery, senior. Courtney's got the hammer, Katy's the best all around player in the league. Rest of the season still going to be a battle. Walnut, C.Oak, and L.A. next 3 games.

I believe that St. Lucy's lost their match with Ayala. If so, where does this leave St. Lucy's in the race in league?

Hey fred, let's get rid of the volleyball blog and instead have a list of the best football benchwarmers. Bet this would generate more publicity and hits.