2002 PREVIEW GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL: SIGHTS SET HIGH SAUGUS HAS VETERANS, ABILITY FOR SPECIAL YEAR.Byline: Rich Hammond Rich Hammond Los Angeles Daily News sports writer. Instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Kings hockey organization closer to the fans. He is the atypical "what a guy" to Kings fans everywhere. Rich Hammond on himself. Staff Writer In their ideal senior year, Julia Bradley and Lisa Sonnenblick win a Southern Section championship in volleyball for Saugus High, then change uniforms and do it again in basketball. It might not be such an unrealistic dream for the Centurions. The Saugus girls' basketball team will be ranked among the best in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , but before that season begins, Bradley and Sonnenblick will be in charge of the Centurions' drive to defend their Foothill League title in volleyball. The run won't be easy, as Valencia and Canyon are expected to field league-championship-caliber teams as well, but the Centurions have the height and depth to become the first repeat champions in eight years and make a strong playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. run. ``I handed them each a tiny notebook, so they could write down their goals for this year,'' coach Bobbie Estes said. ``Their school goals, their life goals and their goals for every game and match. ``If you ask them, they just say, `We want to go as far as we can in CIF (1) (Common Intermediate Format) A standard video format used in videoconferencing. CIF formats are defined by their resolution, and standards both above and below the original resolution have been established. The original CIF is also known as Full CIF (FCIF). ,' but I wanted them to write down goals, because if you don't win CIF, does that mean you didn't succeed at all?'' Of course not, as the Centurions showed last season. They reached the Division II-AA quarterfinals after sweeping Buena of Ventura and Mark Keppel Dr. Mark Keppel served as County Superintendent of Schools of Los Angeles County from 1902 to 1928. Life and Times Born on April 11, 1867, in Butte County, California, Mark Keppel grew up in a strictly religious, pioneer family. of Alhambra in the first two rounds but then were beaten in three games by second-seeded Newport Harbor. Much of that team returns. Saugus suffered a big loss with the graduation of setter setter: see sporting dog. setter Any of three breeds derived from a medieval hunting dog that would set (lie down) when it found birds so that it and the birds could be covered with a net. Setters have long hair on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. Julie Bolt, an intelligent player and a team leader, but Bradley and Sonnenblick should pick up that slack. Bradley (6-foot) and Sonnenblick (5-10) will start at outside hitter and middle blocker, respectively, and give the Centurions great height at the net. Saugus will run a 6-2 offense, with seniors Sara Elton and Rachel Gillis sharing the setting duties, and the Centurions will get hitting depth from, among others, senior outside hitter Casey Riedel and senior middle blocker Jenny Haywood. ``(Gillis) hits better than she sets, so it's hard to make her the full-time setter,'' Estes said. ``Sara probably has better hands.' Estes' biggest concern is whether Haywood, who injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. her shoulder over the summer, will be healthy. Otherwise, the Centurions look strong, and smart, as Sonnenblick has the highest grade-point average in the senior class. ``Her `A' in PE for volleyball actually brings down her GPA GPA abbr. grade point average Noun 1. GPA - a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted ,'' Estes said of Sonnenblick, who has a 4.41 GPA. ``But you'd never be able to tell it, in her attitude toward other people. ``The camaraderie ca·ma·ra·der·ie n. Goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship. [French, from camarade, comrade, from Old French, roommate; see comrade. between the girls is great. If I need to talk to one of them, I can almost always find four or five others, because they are hanging out together.'' The Centurions might know they are onto something special. Nine seniors are on the roster, but Saugus moves up to Division I-A along with traditional power Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach Manhattan Beach, city (1990 pop. 32,063), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1912. It is a residential and beach community with an oil refinery and nearby factories that produce transportation and electrical equipment, computers, and pottery. . Saugus will get tested early with a trip to the Ventura tournament today, as well as tough nonleague matches against Brentwood and Buena next week. ``I think we'll probably win league, but Valencia brings back a very strong team as well,'' Estes said. ``We want to make some pretty sizable inroads inroads Noun, pl make inroads into to start affecting or reducing: my gambling has made great inroads into my savings inroads npl to make inroads into [+ in these tournaments before we get going in league.'' AT A GLANCE Coach: Bobbie Estes 2001 Record: 22-4 League finish: First Playoffs: Lost in quarterfinals Key returnees: Julia Bradley (Sr., OH); Sara Elton (Sr., OH); Rachel Gillis (Sr., OH/S); Lisa Sonnenblick (Sr., MB) Top newcomers: Jenny Haywood (Sr., MB) CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Saugus seniors Lisa Sonnenblick, left, and Julia Bradley return to lead an experienced team that could challenge deep into the postseason. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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