Girls Volleyball: The Heavy Hitters?

Final results at the Ayala summer league playoffs.
1. South Hills (without their best player)
2. Riverside Poly
3. Walnut
4. Alta Loma

other participants-Ayala, Claremont, Diamond Bar, Los Altos, Chino Hills, Corona, Norco, Corona Santiago, Rosary, San Dimas, Diamond Ranch, Chino, etc

To all concerned, the Ganesha players who were knocked unconscious are doing well. Both suffered concussions and some bleeding, but should be fine.
Ganesha ended up playing West Covina tough, but lost in three after losing their starting setter and outside hitter in the colision. We were proud of how our girls stepped up and thought we had a good chance of competing in the finals against St. Lucy's. Still it was a great summer league and thanks so much to the staff from Bonita and Club West as well as the officials for helping make sure our girls were safe.

Bonita's Varsity summer league at Club West ended late last night (or close to early this morning) with St. Lucy's JV winning it all. They went through each round easily enough until they met up with Notre Dame in the semifinal match. ND had just beat Rosary in 3 in a point for point match. Some great hitters on both teams. Rosary coach does a good job with those girls. ND had some strong hitters with lots more power behind those swings. Great job by their outsides!! By the time SL matched up against Etawanda (sp) it was after 10. Won game one and came from behind at 16 - 24 in game 2 to win it all. Smart players. San Dimas looked like they would be in the finals - does anyone know who they lost to to get to consolation bracket. Tall Tall girls. Good job by all!

I can contribute input on Sierra League matches this upcoming season as my daughter plays in this league and I know quite a bit of players from the members schools as well as their parents. As far as top area players, I hesitate to mention any specific players at this time mainly because I don't want to possibly neglect a player that deserves mention. After the summer leagues conclude perhaps I can better ascertain who merits mention as a top Volleyball performer this coming fall season. Suffice to say their are many excellent student athletes on the SGV/Pomona Valley scene.

Got a chance to see the Bonita Freshman summer league finals on Tuesday. Teams that looked good were Los Osos, Bonita and St. Lucys, who ended up with both of their F/S teams in the finals.It's unfortunate that they are carrying 30 players with tryouts still to come. Happy to see St. Lucys teams doing good things this summer. JV is playing in Bonita Varsity summer league and is undefeated going into tonight's finals, and Varsity is putting it together. New coaches at SL and Bonita where teams are looking good! Look for competition in Sierra League to be up this year! Lots of young but experienced players from top to bottom doing some good things.

Great match at Gladstone Tuesday night. Ganesha lost to a solid Charter Oak team in three in the championship. Both teams look stronger than they have been in years and should compete in their respective leagues. Ganesha Giants can't wait until September, but we still have two more summer league playoffs and the Gabrielino tourney to finish our summer.

The previous poster was right. You have to be very careful about looking too much into what happens during the summer leagues in girls volleyball. Many teams are not a full strength. Club tournaments, family vacations, other sports all take players away from teams.

The fact is that the more experience athletes have, the better they will be. Now that club volleyball is stronger Inland and the SGV the high school teams are more competitive. That doesn't mean these athletes can't play other sports, either. The new rule can only help low income girls because now their dedicated coaches can help them during the offseason. The cheapest clubs are part of the Starlings national organization www.starlings.org which is dedicated to helping low income girls play club.
Does anyone know what's happening in summer leagues? Charter Oak looks strong at Gladstone as well as Ganesha, Gladstone, and West Covina. In Bonita's Summer league Chino Hills, San Dimas, Ganesha, St. Lucy's JV (a great example of experieced club players), and Notre Dame.
What's up at Ayala and Bishop Amat's summer leagues?
Thanks Fred for adding this to the blog. Obviously there is a lot of interest in local HS volleyball, and hopefully it will stay respectful this year.

dude
Walnut is looking realy good this year. Already beaten Diamond Bar, and South Hills.

As far as assessing how some of our local H.S. Volleyball programs are doing this summer I would have to say their very competitive in their respective summer leagues, but we have to remember that the players often come and go throughout the summer either on vacation or other committments. After long Club seasons these players need down time. What results in summer leagues does not necessarily transfer to Fall Semester seasons.

Anybody seen Diamond Bar this summer? How do they look?

they should all be "strong to quite strong"

How are St. lucys, Bonita Walnut and San Dimas looking?

After reading some of the comments on this blog i sometimes wonder if as a society we really understand our roles as parents and coaches. I say let any high school student/athelete participate at whatever level is appropriate, whether that be Varsity or JV or Frosh/Soph. Some school programs don't allow upper Classmen/women from playing unless their Varsity players. This is "wrong" and a wrong message to send to our young people. Some day these young people will be the ones coaching and let's just hope and pray that they will not repeat the mistakes of their coaches/mentors.

This has nothing to do with weather or not there are year-round opportunities to play or even if the student-athletes are choosing to play year-round. This is an issue for those coaches who MANDATE that their players play year-round.

I think we as coaches (yes, we. I am a HS Varisty coach, but not volleyball) lose sight very easily of what HS sports are really all about. These are kids...KIDS! We are not here to tell them what to do. We are here to help them grow and discover who they truly are.

Do you honestly think a 13 yr old 9th grader knows that they want to commit to playing volleyball for the rest of their life? They do it because their coach is telling them this is what you HAVE to do! Who is this serving, the kids or us as coaches?

ex coach, get a clue. Volleyball coaches don't get fired because their teams lose. This isn't football brother. This isn't THE money-maker for the school that administrators have to watch like a hawk. I know volleyball, soccer, waterpolo, tennis, golf, and even basketball and baseball coaches who haven't won a game in years! YEARS! and they still have their job.

Why? Here's the answer...and listen to this very carefully: BECAUSE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ISN'T ABOUT WINNING AND LOSING! IT'S ABOUT HELPING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN GROW! Forcing them to commit to one sport as a 13 yr old is wrong. And don't tell me you give them the option. Coercion to a 13 yr old is akin to forcing.

The sad thing is that CIF knows this is going on and can't stop it. That's why they dropped the association rule this year. The flood gates have opened and our kids are drowning in the waters of ultra-competativeness.

Bishop may suprise some people, they have 2 young middles that are improving. One is a soph. the other a freshman. Outside hitters and thier libero are really strong. Good luck to all.

Wilson looks Horrible - they need help! call 911!!!

La Habra looks decent even with a young team

Los Altos look like they will battle - they too have a young team

South hills- has improved!

La Serna - Looks solid

Bishop - Looks a little better.

Ayala - looks good

DONT KNOW ABOUT THE OTHERS

Look like its going to be another competitive year!

Fyi: Some schools now demand football players to play Rugby!

However if injuries werent so common and if it wasnt full contact at all times. Football would probably have club or travel ball.

Football you might be able to make are arguement for!

But how about:

Baseball
Softball
Cheerleading
Rugby
Golf
Tennis
Swimming
Volleyball
Basketball
SOCCER
Track and Cross Country

You name it, they have it!

I can guarantee you if a coach decided to start some kind of outside football year round camp (MANY WOULD attend and PAY!)

AND YES IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE once Summer and FALL would come around.

Every sport does off season conditioning. That's how you get better. These 7on7's are part of the high school program. You don't have a travel/club football program after your high school program ends.

Football- Goodluck trying to play if you dont lift and do plyos with the team. What about Passing league (try going on vacation during that time). I can name a few schools that demand team weightlifting and training.Some even have them run with the track team.

ex coach,

"Year round ball happens in every sport. NAME THE SPORT !!!'

FOOTBALL

money is an excuse... IF parents would actualy get involved and fundraise as a team, they can easily play year round ball as a team, EVEN MORE SO WITH THE NEW RULES! AND FOR FREE!!!!

GET ENVOLVED and do the research!

Opinion, opinions and more opinions.

CLUB THIS, CLUB THAT!!! Parents who are commenting on club should do the RESEARCH. There are clubs out there that charge $600.00 for the WHOLE SEASON. and with fundraising it’s more like 300.00. AND YOU GET COLLEGE COACHES!!

People are critizing school coaches, for trying to get their players to play year round ball. HELLO!!! without year round ball GOOD LUCK competing. The coach will either end up quitting because of parents crying about why they keep loosing or the school will just end up firing the coach.

If you are winning, you get critized for having players on steroids, in club, recruiting, AND FOR NOT LETTING everyone’s child play.

If you are loosing, you get criticized for being a bad coach, and or for letting everyone play.

If you are a laid back coach, you get criticized for that.

If you are a screaming coach, you get criticized for that.

If you are a hard core work work work!!! coach, you get criticized for that.

It’s a loose loose situation when you’re a COACH! That’s why I don’t coach anymore.

Year round ball happens in every sport. NAME THE SPORT !!!

Some are not actual “clubs” but some sports programs have the luxury of having a teacher/coach that gets away with having “P/E” all year long.

These coaches are doing all that they can to better the kids!!

We as parents have to realize that these kids are staying out of trouble and off the streets when these coaches are with them!!

Its unfortunate that there are situation when kids get bumped out of their position by someone younger or more athletic, BUT ITS LIFE !!!! and its nothing something they haven’t dealt with or will deal with all their lives (or is it??)! AND it’s not the coach’s fault that this happens! COACHES ARE HIRED TO HELP IMPROVE AND MAKE PLAYERS but most importantly they are there to get the WINS!

I noticed there are a few coaching positions open around your area!

Any one care to apply for a WHOLE $1,400.00 a season and life worth of criticism!

Who wants to be with 15 to 20 boys and girls 3 or 4 hours a day, leave work early, and lets not mention uniforms, fundraisers, and PARENTS!!!!! Oh did I for get to MENTION PARENTS, you know the ones that are living their lives through their kids!! YOU HAVE TO LOVE THOSE!!

I DARE YOU! You can find the jobs on SSCIF.ORG!!!!

TAKE THE CHALLENGE!

Only then will you people appreciate what these coaches are trying to do!

Keep it up COACHES!

Volleyball is a very difficulut game to play at an early age. So many girls come in as freshman with little or no "true volleyball" experience. The more they play the better they get. Clubs allow girls to play all year around rather then just during the 3 month high school season. Club is extremely expensive and has other downsides but the girls that play have a huge advantage over non club players. For the record I have seen a few non-club players become great players, but just a few.

High School Volleyball and Club Volleyball are two different situations. In High School (in theory) almost anyone in the school can participate. Sadly some school coaches mandate participation in Club ball as a prerequisite to playing on a high school team whether that is varsity or JV/Frosh-Soph. Club Volleyball is voluntary. It is true however that the cost of Club volleyball for many is not within reach or budgets of many families, but some coaches choose to ignore this reality when considering a player for their High School teams. Club no doubt will eventually make the player more skilled so this is a major obstacle for the non-club players to overcome. There should be a level playing field so to speak, but I don't see this happening anytime soon.

Los Altos has some strong hitters returning to the court this year. A strong sophmore and junior.

Robert K is right, Bonita is the perfect example of what happens when you dont play club volleyball. You dont play at all. Incoming freshman are told sign up for club or forget it their sophomore year. When the whole coaching staff is club west employees, no conflict, right?? haha..Fortunately Morgan is gone, but doubt anything will change. Nothing ever does at Bonita.

I'm rooting for Charter Oak be more competitive this year. Most of last years' starters are returning. Ethel del Rosario, the coach, is doing a great job.

Five varsity players were on club teams. They have a lot more game experience coming into the season.

Club volleyball is no secret conspiracy. More competition makes better players. Just like all the other sports who play year round.

Football is an exception, of course, if you don't count all the supervised strength and conditioning training. Uh, I guess that football's year round, too.

there is a reason club volleyball and travel softball have become nearly mandatory, the level of coaching is night and day, this goes for soccer as well, baseball and basketball have better coaches in the HS level as a rule than the travel teams, for the most part HS softball coaches don't know jack about their sport!( I think more women need to coach)....25 years as a HS softball ump and travel ball ump

The strong local teams this year will be very similiar to last year. LA, South Hills, Walnut and Bonita should be at the top again. Glendora and St. Lucy's could contend as well.

Club players have a huge impact on the talent of high school teams. The more club players you have the better your team. It is why the most afluent areas have the strongest teams (typically). The strongest teams in the state are nearly always the beach schools. It is nice to see when schools buck this trend but it is rare. Unfortunately kids are having to focus on one sport at an earlier age to be successful. The number of two and three sport athletes are dwindling.

This BS is true at Los Altos too Fred. The Volleyball coach has been telling girls for years that if they don't commit 100% to volleyball that they will not be on varsity. On top of that the LA coach runs the club program and makes HUGE money off of those girls! Anonymous is right...it is a racket!

These girls are some of the best athletes in the school but because they are intimidated as freshman they don't go out for other sports like basketball or softball. It's just sad. PLEASE do a story on this! Go to LA and interview some people. You won't have to search long for folks who hate the volleyball program!

Hey Fred....looks like a story waiting to be written. Club sports and the demise of school initiated programs. I think with the exception of football, all other sports fall into the Club kids come first category...otherwise wait at the end of the line. Don't call us, we'll call you.

It is definitely true that if you do not play club at the major volleyball schools you will have little or no chance of making to the varsity level. Unfortunately it has become a real racket because it allows the high school coaches to de-emphasize the fundamentals and forcethe girls to play club if they want to have any future in high school volleyball and certainly if they want to play on the collegiate level. There are a few clubs that are willing to work with "tall" girls or girls with upside potential but the rest of the families will pay literally "thousands" of dollars for there kid to p[lay and that still does not "guarantee" playing on either the club team or the high school team. There are a lot of girls that get left behind every year because their families just cannot afford to pay the high costs of club ball. This is especially the case in the OC.

glendora will be good with camile bulot and randi toomay and valeri back!

I see where club teams benefit schools if you are fortunate to have several girls on your team play club. Club teaches fundamentals where the high schools do not seem to have time to. Most high schools seem to have 1-3 girls who play club and you can tell them apart from the others (I guess Bonita would be the exception). Another thing high schools are looking at is height they are willing to work with you if you are tall.

Fred, have you ever been to some of the club tournaments? There are hundreds and hundreds of girls involved. I don't see the odds being in any kids favor unless they played club for a while. I your non club kid got in, most likely the team is not going to be a big winner...clubs rule.

I asked this question because what Robert posted was the same I heard about girls entering Rosary High School in Fullerton. That not to waste your time unless you played club. No its not fair to parents that can't afford club. Unfortunately too, all the cutbacks in school funding has devasted the once normal PE programs where kids could learn how to play volleyball. Like it or not, I am probably going to sign my kid up for club. Can I afford it? NO. This is an awful strain on my family, but my kid wants to play. What do I say?...sorry you can't play volleyball because the other girls are better than you because they joined club and you didn't because I'm too poor?

Is that true? Do you HAVE to play club for them to consider you for varsity, or is it just recommended. I have a hard time believing you won't be considered unless you play club volleyball. If you're good enough, you're good enough, it's as simple as that. I would love to look into this in the fall if this is true.

Club Volleyball was the worse thing to happen to high school Volleyball in years, If you do not play club at Bonita, forget it! It is not fair to the girls of families that can not afford to play club. Its a shame!

Does anyone know what impact club volleyball has in high school? Any comments?

Oh stop, the players, lets talk about the players

best thing about girls volleyball are the short shorts. Right???