VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: HIGHLAND GIRLS HAVE A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer It's so easy to tab Highland High the girls' volleyball favorites in the Golden League. Considering the Bulldogs' 16-1 record (10-0 in league) last year (best performance in school history), what's the risk? Not so fast. The Bulldogs are anything but overconfident o·ver·con·fi·dent adj. Excessively confident; presumptuous. o  ver·con , as just two of four
returners played regularly in 1998. What was once a senior-dominated
team now features four sophomores and just two experienced returners.
``I'd say we're among the top three,'' said Mike Bird, in his seventh year of command. Bird is especially wary of improved Littlerock, which beat Highland 16-14, 15-13 in a summer tournament at Rosamond last July. ``I think Littlerock has more experience,'' Bird said. Senior Amber Stevens  Amber Dawn Stevens (born 1987) is an American actress. , Highland's top returner, agrees that the Bulldogs are hard-pressed to duplicate last year's success. However, she likes the way the team is coming along. ``We're kind of a young team, but we're doing pretty good,'' Stevens said. ``With only four returners we have a lot of inexperienced in·ex·pe·ri·ence n. 1. Lack of experience. 2. Lack of the knowledge gained from experience. in players. We're just really inexperienced overall.'' Stevens, an all-league outside hitter, is sidelined with a sore right shoulder, which makes the early outlook even more bleak. She said she'll have a better idea of where the team stands once competition begins. ``Playing in games is how this team is going to develop,'' Stevens said. ``All a lot of these girls have had is practice, as far as varsity is concerned. We're doing pretty good, but the sophomores are a little intimidated in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. .'' Stevens figures to be the floor leader when she returns. ``I think a lot of the girls see me as a role model because I've played,'' she said. ``It was a lot different last year because if one of us had an off-day, there was always someone else who had an on-day. We're younger and still intimidated, so that's kind of frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: .'' Stevens, a team captain, is a good leader because of her intelligence on the court, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Bird. ``Amber is definitely our smartest hitter,'' Bird said. ``She knows when to hit hard and when to place the ball. A lot of girls just hit, but Amber Stevens is a good thinker. Plus she's very competitive.'' Senior Melissa Rawson, an All-Daily News softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' standout who led the region in runs batted in last spring, returns as the middle blocker, where she shared time in 1997. ``Melissa is super athletic,'' Bird said. ``She's strong, she moves well, and she has great hand-eye coordination hand-eye coordination Eye-hand coordination Surgery Oculomanual synchronization, required by surgeons, especially for laparoscopic surgery. See Laparoscopic surgery, Paradoxical movement. .'' Sophomore Amy Truong and junior Meghan Stewart are the top newcomers. Truong, a 5-foot-10 middle blocker, is athletic and improved after a solid junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. campaign. ``I look forward to Amy doing some good things,'' Bird said. Stewart, a 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. , is a multi-sport athlete who also participates in soccer and softball. ``Meghan is real quick and very aggressive,'' Bird said. ``She's still learning, but she's the quarterback of the team. I like her competitiveness and aggressiveness.'' HIGHLAND GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL Coach: Mike Bird, seventh year. Nickname: Bulldogs. Last year: 16-1, 10-0 in Golden League; lost in first round of Division I playoffs. Top returners: Amber Stevens, Sr., outside hitter; Melissa Rawson, Sr., middle blocker. Key newcomers: Amy Truong, Soph., middle blocker; Meghan Stewart, Jr., setter. Fast fact: Highland, coming off its best season in school history, has won three Golden League championships since 1994. CAPTION(S): Box BOX: HIGHLAND GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL (See text) |
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