Volleyball League Preview: Arroyo Grande fields challengers from the North, Templeton looks to repeat
League play is in full swing this week in prep girls volleyball. We take a look at some of the teams and players expected to make an impact this fall.
PAC 8
The PAC 8 is shaping up to be a three-horse race between Arroyo Grande, Mission Prep and Paso Robles.
Last season, Arroyo Grande went 13-1 (23-7 overall) and split the league title with San Luis Obispo. But the Eagles graduated two of the best players in the county last year in Ashlyn Herlihy and Emily Sonny, and long-time head coach Ernie Santa Cruz stepped down. This year, with new head coach Chip Blaney at the helm, the Eagles aren’t off to a stellar start (4-5, 1-0 PAC 8), but that doesn’t matter. Arroyo Grande likely will again be contenders.
Mission Prep also has a new coach in Jessie Holder, but they are returning some strong senior leadership from a team that went 10-4 (23-7 overall) on the way to a third-place finish last year. So far, Mission Prep (8-3 overall, 1-0 PAC 8) looks like the early favorite to win the PAC 8 with star Jennifer ‘Boo’ Laird leading the way.
Paso Robles was down last year (13-12 overall, 7-7 PAC 8), but new head coach Doug Harbottle has his senior-heavy team playing well enough this season (9-3 overall, 1-0 PAC 8) to compete with the top dogs.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a three-way tie for first,” Harbottle said of the competitive PAC 8.
Mission Prep hosts Arroyo Grande on Wednesday night.
Los Padres
Santa Ynez and Templeton are shaping up to be the favorites in a top-heavy Los Padres League. Morro Bay had hoped to be in the mix, and still has time to turn it around. But Santa Ynez (6-1, 2-0 Los Padres) beat them 3-0 to open the league schedule.
Templeton is young this season after a talented senior group led the Eagles to a 14-0 Los Padres League title last year, but the Eagles (5-6 overall, 1-1 Los Padres) have a skilled pair of sophomores, one of the best setters in the league in Hannah McRoy and will fight it out with the Pirates.
“We had some tough matches to begin, but we are starting to get in a groove,” Templeton’s second-year head coach Cameron Schaeffer said.
Santa Ynez made a strong statement Tuesday night with a 3-0 win over Templeton, looking every bit the better team.
10 SLO County Players to Watch
Mission Prep: Jennifer “Boo” Laird (Senior, MB)
Laird is probably the best all-around player in the area, most agree. Laird played some of her best volleyball at the end of the season last year, scoring double-digit kills in her final seven games, and has started this season right where she left off.
Paso Robles: Kalyn Armstrong (Senior, OH/MB), Gabrielle Morrison (Senior, S; OH)
Paso Robles coach Doug Harbottle, who has been a coach in the area for a long time, said although Laird is very good, he thinks the athletic Morrison might be the best “pound-for-pound” player in the area. Armstrong is part of a strong group of Bearcat hitters that includes Tegan Curren, Kiara Gable and Gabrielle’s twin sister Madison.
Templeton: Lauren Reeves (Sophomore, MB/OH), Cheyene Rice (Sophomore, MB)
Reeves and Rice lead the team in kills with 53 and 52, respectively, through 10 games. Both can play all over the court and provide youthful energy and powerful serves to a Templeton team looking to repeat as Los Padres League champions.
Morro Bay: Elle Fryer (Senior, MB)
At 6-foot-1, Fryer brings size and experience to a Morro Bay team with only three other seniors. Fryer benefits from the play of junior setter Erin Desjardins, who is second in the Los Padres League in assists so far this season.
Arroyo Grande: Sam Oliver (Senior, OH/DS), Brynn Thoming (Senior, OH/MB)
Thoming and Oliver have big knee pads to fill with the departure of Herlihy and Sonny, but Arroyo Grande always figures out a way to reload. Thoming was third on the team in kills behind Sonny and Herlihy last season (99) and will be a focal part of the offense this season. Oliver is undersized at 5-foot-6, but has athleticism and power to get it done on the outside.
San Luis Obispo: Sofie Janette (Senior, S/OPP)
Janette has been the best overall player on a young San Luis Obispo team. Junior Dasha Novoty has been doing her part as the big hitter on the team.
Atascadero: Taylor Degnan (Junior, OH)
Degnan has been racking up kills early in the season and has Atascadero (5-2, 1-0 PAC 8) playing well so far.
This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 8:52 PM with the headline "Volleyball League Preview: Arroyo Grande fields challengers from the North, Templeton looks to repeat."