ALL-AREA GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Player of the Year: Jaden Louie, Whittier Chr., Sr.
Coach of the year: Shawn Hunter, Whittier Chr.
First Team
Outside Hitter: Deanna Blaine, Whittier Chr., So.
Middle blocker: Natalie Lopez, St. Paul, Sr.
Middle blocker: Melissa Martinez, La Serna, So.
Outside Hitter: Jaliyah Rutledge, La Serna, Sr.
Outside Hitter: Kylee Wolfe, Whittier Chr., So.
Libero: Sydney Rubalcava, California, Libero, Sr.
Second Team
Outside Hitter: Jaclyn Barrera, Whittier Chr., Sr.
Outside Hitter: Elissa Sanchez, El Rancho, Jr.;
Setter: Tawny Flareau, La Serna, Jr.
Libero: Ashley Hunter, Whittier Chr., Sr.
Outside Hitter: Nicole Desatoff, La Habra, Sr.
Outside Hitter:
LA HABRA – This could have been a rebuilding year of sorts for the Whittier Christian High School girls volleyball team.
But senior Jaden Louie wouldn’t allow it.
The setter was the lone holdover from the Heralds’ run to the CIF-Southern Section division semifinals the previous year and a key to getting to the final this year.
For her efforts, Louie is the Whittier Daily News Player of the Year.
Louie is joined on the All-Area team by teammates Deanna Blaine and Kylee Wolfe; the La Serna duo of Jaliyah Rutledge and Melissa Martinez; St. Paul middle blocker Natalie Lopez and California libero Sydney Rubalcava.
Whittier Christian’s Shawn Hunter is Coach of the Year.
Louie’s senior leadership and versatility allowed Whittier Christian to win another Olympic League title en route to its second trip to the division final in the past three years.
“Having her come back as one of the girls who was there (the year before) was great for our team,” said Hunter whose Heralds, despite a lineup that featured two sophomore outside hitters, went 31-6 and advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2A final and the first round of the CIF state playoffs. “She was competing on a daily basis, getting everybody around her better.
“She just works hard. She drives herself, so she makes my job really easy. Because of that, she was able to get better every day and lead our younger players by example.”
Louie, who ranked among the leaders in the division with 742 assists, was the glue that held the Heralds together. As a result, Whittier Christian, which graduated its top three attackers from the 2010 season, hardly missed a beat. The Heralds won their first 17 matches before going 8-0 to win league.
“There was some pressure,” said Louie, who also had 27 aces and 71 kills from her set position. “But I think me being president of the senior class helped me lead the other girls on the team.
“I think I felt more pressure coming in as a new starter the year before than returning this year. I think it was my attitude. I tried to keep a positive feeling (on the court), so everybody could relax and just play.”
The positive vibe allowed Whittier Christian to keep the fun going in the playoffs. The Heralds followed their league success with wins over Burbank, Troy and Oxnard to advance to the final.
The Heralds then pushed defending 2A champion Downey to five sets before losing.
The Heralds ended the season with a four-set loss to eventual Division 2 Southern California champion La Costa Canyon in the first round of the state playoffs.
“It was definitely fun (to play in the) final,” said Louie, who was the league MVP and a Division 2A first-team selection.
“I had so much fun, and we had a big crowd behind us.”
Hunter, who in three seasons has guided the Heralds to two finals and a third semifinal appearance, also played a big part in the success.
“I think our program did really well the last four years,” Louie said. “I think it had a lot to do with coach Hunter and his coaching. Our team had a lot of chemistry and that helped us go really far this year.”
The other factors were sophomore outside hitters Blaine and Wolfe. The duo gave the Heralds arguably the top frontline in the area.
Blaine, who was a first-team all-league selection, ranked among the area leaders in kills with 268, along with a having a potent serve that resulted in 71 aces.
Wolfe was just as successful, getting 182 kills. She was a first team All-Division 2A pick.
La Serna was the team to beat in the Del Rio League this season, and the keys for the Lancers’ perfect run were Rutledge and Martinez, who earned all-league honors.
Lopez was the top inside player in the area in helping St.Paul to a 24-12 record, second place in the Camino Real League and its third consecutive trip to the division quarterfinals. She had 436 kills and 147 blocks and earned All-CIF-SS Division 4A.
Rubalcava was one of the top defensive players in the area and earned first-team all-league honors.
