27 September 2013 TOP DOG: The Poly girls’ volleyball team presses forward to continue league preeminence.
By Chandler Drachslin, Sports Editor
The 2013-2014 Poly girls’ volleyball team has massive shoes to fill and many goals to accomplish. Coming off of a spectacular 2012 season with a 21-4 overall record and 12-0 first place league record, second-year head coach Christina Gordon looks to motivate her girls to avenge last year’s season-ending thriller: the CIF quarter-final loss to Sierra Canyon, three games to two.
In the midst of a dominating era, the Bears were dealt a tough deck approaching the new year. “We lost Skyler Allen and Mathea Elnar, changing the complete dynamic of this team tremendously. Both were extremely talented and experienced in the middle,” Gordon said. On the other hand, critical teammates have stepped up to take pivotal roles on the varsity roster: “Our new impacting players include Chloe Devin (11), who has great ball control, Desiree Howard (10) who possesses an offensive option in the middle, and Elena Vasquez (10) with great hands and leadership qualities,” Gordon added.
Some believe that a key ingredient to success is experience, which is something the Bears volleyball squad does not lack. With three perennial senior standouts, libero Samantha Flores (12) and hitters Soleil Smith (12) and Lindsay Paulo (12), the team expects to perform exceptionally well under the leadership and experience of these captains.
Facing adversity early in the season–two one-side losses to Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley–the Bears open up Inland Valley league competition on September 24 at Rancho Verde High School. “Rancho Verde will be one of our toughest opponents, along with North; both have multiple athletic club players that will challenge us,” Gordon said.
Determined to win league, such expectations are not out of the norm for the volleyball team as league dominance has been a common pattern throughout the history of Poly girls’ volleyball.