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WEST VALLEY PREPS

West Valley Preps' Glendale/Peoria girls volleyball preview

Posted 9/28/20

A somewhat shorter high school girls volleyball season began Sept. 21 at schools across the state. West Valley Preps and the Glendale and Peoria Independent newspapers asked local high school coaches about their teams.

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WEST VALLEY PREPS

West Valley Preps' Glendale/Peoria girls volleyball preview

Posted

A somewhat shorter high school girls volleyball season began Sept. 21 at schools across the state. West Valley Preps and the Glendale and Peoria Independent newspapers asked local high school coaches about their teams. Here are the responses:

Centennial Coyotes

Coach: Rebecca Ellis (first season)
2019 Record: 26-11 (5A semifinals)
Region: 5A Northwest
Top returning players: Kennedy Farley, senior outside hitter/right side, Raeli Smith, sophomore middle blocker.
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? Kiera Federico, sophomore libero, Laila Lee, sophomore, right side/outside hitter.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Depth in multiple positions
Which teams on this season’s schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest? We are most looking forward to the toughest opponents - Millennium and Sunrise Mountain.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? Playing fundamental volleyball while building upon the offensive threats Centennial has.

Glendale Prep Griffins

Coach: Jennifer Roberge (eighth year)
2019 Record:  8-21 (2A play-in)
Region: 2A Central
Top returning players: Seniors Nerin Valasakos (outside hitter), Jada Roberge (defensive specialist), and Nicole Kao (right side).
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? We did not have any new players join our team this year.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our team’s best attribute is togetherness.
Which teams on this season’s schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest? Currently, we are taking each day as it’s own.  These unprecedented times require that we focus on what we can control.  We are uncertain of our competitors and who they may have returning  and in what shape each team will be in.  We will focus on each game and how we can become better volleyball players.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? Primary goal is always to win state.  We want to do that by working as  team, doing our own job, and becoming more technically sound while utilizing our leaders to show they way.

Ironwood Eagles

Coach: Lisa Lopez (sixth season)
2019 Record: 14-17 (5A first round)
Region: 5A Northwest
Top returning players: Seniors McKenzie Omoruyi, McKenna Omoruyi, Cristina Lopez, Mallory Rich and Kaylee Logan
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? Freshman outside hitter Victoria White and sophomore setter Madison Hidalgo.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Experience, we have six returning seniors that understand the program’s goals and have helped to create and instill the program’s culture. 
Which teams on this season’s schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest? We don’t want to take any team for granted; we know our division is full of great competition and we look forward to playing everyone.

What are the primary goals for this year’s team? We want to come together, build relationships,  and bond as a team, in order to compete to our fullest abilities. 

Liberty Lions

Coach: Ashley Leparulo (second season)
2019 Record: 21-15 (6A first round)
Region: 6A Desert Valley
Top returning players: Senior Maranda Schneberger, Kylie Ostrovsky and Gracie Senseman, juniors Kaitlyn Neal, Kylie Davey, Cayla Gaxiola, Grace Hensel and Adrianna Favata.
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year? Junior Faith Harkins and freshmen Alyssa Forelli, Ellie Trimble, Aniston Smith and Morgan Ambrosy.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Compassion and energy are some of our teams best attributes this season. This group of girls is always working hard to be better people and players every chance they get. They are excited to have a season and be able to play. 
Which teams on this season’s schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest? With all the uncertainty of the year, we are looking forward to competing with every team on our schedule this season.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? Our primary goal this season is to leave the gym after each practice and game knowing that our team put our best out there and didn’t hold anything back. We want to leave it all out on the court and go home knowing we did so.

Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions

Coach: Christina Jensen (first season)
2019 Record: 8-20
Region: 6A Desert Valley
Top returning players:
* Madison Girnius- Madison will be starting her fourth year on varsity for Mountain Ridge. She has been a consistent source of excellent play and dependability on our team. She looks to excel this season and finish her time at MRHS with a big impact.
* Alissa Uhlenhop - Alissa has been a major part of our offense for the past three years and does not look to be slowing down this season. Alissa is a great leader and always demonstrates leadership through her work ethic and execution on the court. She is already committed to GCU next year, but is pushing through this season to make a major impact on the region.
* Alyssa Schneider - Alyssa took a year off last season, but is back with Mountain Ridge to lead her team this year. She is an amazing setter and leader on the court. Her drive to make her team successful will take us a long way this year.
* Devynn Sukung - Devynn is the backbone of our strong defensive team this season. She has worked hard to develop herself into a leader on the court. Her mental strength and focus make her one of the best Libero's in the region and I look forward to seeing her shine this season. 
Who are some of the newcomers that may have an impact this year?
* Reese Holtorf- Reese is new to our program as a sophomore and has already made a huge impact. She is leading our team in kills on the outside and is a constant source of energy on the court. 
* Lauren Von Aspen- Lauren is a junior and a well-rounded addition to the program.  Her consistency and work ethic have shown through in our first few games with great results.
* Azlynn Vasquez- Azlynn has played for Mountain Ridge the last two years, but this will be her first year on Varsity.  Her volleyball IQ and leadership are a huge part of our defensive program this year. Azlynn has a competitive fire that brings up the whole team.
All three young ladies have helped raise the level of performance of the team with their hard work and great team spirit.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Unity. This year we are focusing on success as a team. We are celebrating the unique individual efforts each player brings to the court that makes the whole team successful. It is important for us to recognize that without working together, we can't accomplish our team goals.
Which teams on this season’s schedule are you most looking forward to and will be the toughest? We look forward to all of our region games.  We went 0-10 in our region last year and we have a lot to prove to ourselves. 
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? Our primary goal for this season is growth. We are working to grow as individuals, mentally and physically, and grow as a team, working together to accomplish something great. These young women have a lot to prove to themselves and those watching that they have more than what is expected.