August 30, 2007

SPORTS

Youthful look for Leland girls’ volleyball in 2007

Chargers return with mix of youth and experience this season

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

After taking the Mt. Hamilton Division Championship last season with a 13-1 record, the 2007 version of Leland girls’ volleyball has an unmistakably different look.

Leland setter Vicki Chang sets the ball during practice on Aug. 27. Photos by Dan Miranda

That’s because the team, which compiled an overall record of 26-7 last year, lost several key seniors from the 2006 squad, including league MVP Chaulet Scala, as well as First-Team All-League players Joyce Chang and Grace Chang. Despite the turnover, Leland head coach Chris Hansen said she’s optimistic about her 2007 team, which returns with a mix of youth and experience in five seniors, two juniors and five sophomores.

“We lost our experience, but this group is so fired up this year,” said Hansen. “I am going to rely heavily on the seniors. …They’re very excited about the season and they’re very excited to step into leadership roles. I think that’s a real positive thing. They’ve all kind of stepped up to that and they’ve been real positive role models the past two weeks during double days and have set a good example for the rest of the players.”

Senior leadership, to that end, is a key component to the season, said Hansen. Truth be told, Hansen added, there was some trepidation following the end of the 2006 season about where to find the team’s leadership in 2007.

“I was a little concerned, truthfully,” Hansen said. “At the end of last season, I was already thinking about the next season and thinking, ‘oh my God, what are we going to do without that leadership? But these kids have stepped up. I’m actually very impressed with how they’ve been out here.

Bree Gwinner hits the ball during practice

As for the five seniors on this year’s team, Hansen said she’s looking for big things on the court out of a group made up of Bree Gwinner, Elisa Vye, Debbie Gillick, Vicki Chang and Kat Beheshti. Hansen noted that while the team has never been an “offensive powerhouse,” relying on solid passing, defense and serving instead, the 2007 Chargers will look to Gwinner and Vye to supply much of the offensive firepower from the outside.

“I truthfully am going to rely heavily on Bree, but also Elisa Vye,” Hansen said of her team’s prospects offensively. “(Elisa) and Bree last year took a lot of reps and basically split that outside hitting position opposite Chaulet. …They’re both pretty solid and I think that if they can maintain their own out there, we should be okay.”

While Chang provides stability as a setter, Hansen said, she’s looking to Gillick to provide a little bit of everything on the court this season, citing the senior’s versatility and experience.

“I’m looking at Debbie as everything,” Hansen said of Gillick. “…I can honestly say that she wouldn’t make me nervous putting her anywhere on the court. I feel like she can do anything. She’s a smart player, she’s quick and her ball-handling skills are phenomenal. You may see Debbie in three or four different positions this year.”

Leland’s Debbie Gillick hits the ball during practice on Aug. 27 (Gillick is one of five seniors on the 2007 roster)

As for the rest of the team, Hansen said she’ll rely on some unproven but talented commodities, including middle blocker Samm Wilson, a sophomore who is learning the game on the fly at the varsity level.

“She has one year of volleyball experience, but I’ll tell you, she catches on so quick that I’m going to expect a lot out of her,” Hansen said of Wilson. “I expect a lot out of her in the future.”

Hansen noted that having a young team isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, pointing to the team’s youth as a sign of good things to come in future years.

“If you look at it from a longevity standpoint, I’m happy with the five sophomores because they’ll get more varsity experience,” Hansen said. “In the long run, it should look good for Leland volleyball in the future, but we might take a few lumps this year.”

As for her expectations this season, Hansen said it will be difficult to repeat as league champions in 2007, but not out of the realm of possibility. For the team to have success in 2007, she added, it all comes down to putting in some hard work in order to grow steadily. All told, Hansen said, the 2007 Chargers should be competitive enough to land in the top four spots in the Mt. Hamilton Division.

“For them to finish in the top four in this league, they’re going to have to work awfully hard to do that. I know we’re coming off of a championship, but this is a different group,” Hansen said. “…It’s going to depend on a lot of things. Nothing’s going to be handed to us this year. It’s all on them committing to that goal as well, but definitely, they have a shot to be there.”

Final tune-up for Pioneer football

Mustangs participate in scrimmage at Andrew Hill one week prior to season opener

By Gary van den Heuvel
Special to the Times

Under a beet-red afternoon sun, the Pioneer football team tuned up for the 2007 football season with a three-team scrimmage at Andrew Hill High School on Aug. 24.

The Mustangs are coming off a 2006 season in which they compiled a 5-6 overall record, going 4-3 in Mount Hamilton division play before succumbing 19-0 to Los Gatos in the first round of the CCS playoffs.

Pioneer fullback Mike Cobb looks to makes a cut against Andrew Hill’s defense during a scrimmage on Aug. 24. Photos by Dan Miranda

For Pioneer head coach Mark Krail, the opportunity to scrimmage against Andrew Hill and Clayton Valley gave him a closer look at the Mustangs' progress.

"Things went great, definitely better than OK," he said. "We always say, ‘get out and hit somebody else.’ It's kind of a dress rehearsal so from that standpoint it was good. The sportsmanship was excellent, guys were picking each other up."

In terms of execution, Krail graded the squad as "a B, it certainly wasn't an A or a D.

There were a lot more positives, but obviously with our schedule we've got to get better. We came out injury-free, which is huge. It was a good day, a day we needed. Hopefully it will pay dividends for us," he said.

The two areas where Krail sees room for improvement are in on-field assignments and overall speed, following the team’s performance at the scrimmage.

"We've got to know where to line up, what gaps to protect and what to attack,” he said. “This game is about speed. Our speed level, we need to improve that. Our assignments were pretty darn good. Our speed needs to get there. Our decision-making needs to be split-second. It was a little bit slow today."

Krail said he is optimistic about his squad's prospects, while acknowledging the Mustangs' youth and the need for the team to gel into a cohesive unit.

"We've got one sophomore starting in the offensive line and four juniors. As we get better, hopefully these guys will have a pretty good O-line the following year, and our receivers are pretty young too," said Krail.

The offensive line is particularly key, he noted. "Every year it starts with the offensive line; if we can control that line of scrimmage, it makes everything a lot easier,” he said. “Games are won and lost up front."

A pivotal figure, arguably, on the offensive side of the ball is new quarterback Joe Alise. Alise saw minimal playing time last year in backing up 2007 grad Chris Foley, who was a starter at the position the previous three seasons. A senior, Alise is strong-armed and mobile, according to Krail, and will be orchestrating the Pioneer’s traditional Wing-T offense, which accentuates a strong running game.

Pioneer’s Daniel Montesano runs through Andrew Hill's defense during a scrimmage on Aug. 24.

"I think he's come a long way," Krail said of Alise. "Last year he was a junior. It was actually his first time playing quarterback. Really, this is his sophomore year we're looking at. He's matured a lot more and gotten better."

Pioneer's running game will revolve around the return and health of proven seniors Shane Murray and Marquee Heffner. Murray racked up 881 yards on the ground last year, averaging over six yards per carry. Hefner, who's recovering from a knee injury sustained in track and field, rushed for 737 yards and averaged a robust 11.52 yards per carry while also playing on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive back.

Krail said he doesn't plan on rushing Hefner's return. "I'm hoping [Hefner returns] in a couple of weeks,” he said. “That's our target, we're shooting for league play."

Fullback Mike Cobb will provide an alternative on the ground as well as making the key blocks to help spring the speedy halfbacks. With the Wing-T's heavy emphasis on the running game, tight end and returning starter Travis Lorius will be utilized as both a run-blocker and as a receiving threat, according to Krail.

Pioneer's first non-league game is on Aug. 31 against Archbishop Mitty at Foothill College at 7 p.m. Last year Mitty beat the Mustangs 31-7, but Krail said he isn't dwelling on avenging last season's loss.

"We played them real tough for two-and-a-half quarters and then it got away from us,” Krail said of last season’s match-up. “…We're excited to line up and see where we are. It's the first game of the year. If you're not excited to play the Mittys of the world, there's something wrong."

Chargers hope experience counts in 2007

Senior-heavy Leland boys’ water polo team eyes postseason success this season

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

With a senior-laden roster and ample experience to boot, the 2007 Leland boys’ water polo team has its sights set on one thing--postseason glory.

Head coach Mike Monsees, who has never missed the CCS Playoffs in his nine previous seasons at the helm, said this year’s squad is arguably the strongest group he’s had. With a dozen seniors on the team, including last season’s team-leading scorer in Matt Eisenberg, Monsees said he’s looking for big things out of the Chargers in 2007.

“I think we’ve got a strong group,” he said. “Normally I’m hoping we get three or four potential starters to be able to compete. I think we’ve got eight starters this year, with other people who have a lot of experience as well as backups. So I think we can play stronger teams this year.”

Monsees noted that one of the keys to his program’s success has been the willingness of his players, both past and present, to play water polo beyond the high school season. To that end, several players on this year’s squad spent the winter and summer playing and gaining more experience for Leland’s 2007 season.

“They have a lot of experience coming into this next year,” Monsees said. “I think that’s our big advantage.”

With that in mind, Monsees expects his team to go farther than his 2006 team, which defeated Los Gatos in the early stages of the CCS Playoffs before ending the year with a loss to Bellarmine.

“Last year, it (the goal) was to win a game in CCS, and we did,” Monsees said of the 2006 team, which compiled a 5-0 record in league play and a 13-8 overall record.

“Against Los Gatos, we had a great game against a real good team and edged them out (for a CCS playoff win). That was really our target and it came through. We then played Bellarmine and lost to them by about one point per quarter, and they went on to win CCS. I think we’re better this year. I’m looking to see how far in CCS we can go.”

Depth, according to Monsees, is one of the key assets for the Chargers in 2007. Case in point: last season’s hole man, 2007 Leland graduate and Mt. Hamilton Division MVP Raymond LaRochelle, was considered a valuable commodity, Monsees said. This season, Monsees said he has three capable hole men in Eisenberg, as well as seniors and 2006 Second-Team All-League players Marcus Gartner and Sean Kagan.

“Raymond was really one of the few really good hole men that I’ve had in quite a while,” Monsees said. “He could control the position and shoot from there with a strong guard on him. This year I think we’ve developed two, maybe three, good hole men. …I feel confident putting three different people in the hole this year, compared to the years where having a hole man was a nice thing to have.”

As far as offense goes, Monsees said he’ll continue to count on Eisenberg, as well as several others, to provide firepower.

“He’s just got a great feel for the water,” Monsees said of Eisenberg, who was named the Mt. Hamilton Division’s Junior of the Year last season after scoring nearly 80 goals. “He finds the open places and he’s got a great shot and tremendous power behind his shot.”

Back in goal for his third year as a starter at the varsity level is senior Eric Hsu. Monsees noted that Hsu is one of the more intelligent players he’s coached in recent years, as evidenced by his play in the pool and his work in the classroom.

“He’s extremely intelligent,” Monsees said of Hsu, a First-Team All-League player in the Mt. Hamilton Division in 2006. “He’s very smart, a 4.0 (student) here at Leland. That means he works real hard at school as well as athletics. There are very few people who play year round, all of the seasons, and don’t miss anything. He’s one of those people. …He’s just a sponge as far as information and knowledge. He’s just a giant asset to have.”

And while Monsees acknowledged that anything can happen over the course of the season, he also noted that he’s brimming with confidence about his team’s prospects in 2007.

“I felt like we had a good, solid team last year, and I think we’re just a lot better this year,” Monsees said. “…I’m just looking forward to how far we can go.”

High School Sports Schedule 8/31 to 9/6

Editor’s Note: Because of a delay in the installation of permanent football stadium lights at Leland and Pioneer high schools, some game times and dates listed for football in the Times may be different from those originally posted elsewhere. The Times will be providing correct and updated game times and dates for both schools on a weekly basis.

Leland
Friday – JV girls’ water polo at Los Altos Tournament, time TBA

Saturday – JV girls’ water polo at Los Altos Tournament, time TBA
Saturday – Varsity boys’ water polo at San Benito Tournament, 8:30 a.m.
Saturday – Football vs. Santa Clara, 11 a.m. JV and 1:30 p.m. varsity

Tuesday – Girls’ tennis at Overfelt, 3:15 p.m.

Thursday – Girls’ tennis vs. Evergreen, 3:15 p.m.

Pioneer
Friday – Football vs. Mitty at Foothill College, 4 p.m. JV and 7 p.m. varsity

Saturday – Freshmen football at Silver Creek, 9 a.m.

Tuesday – Girls’ tennis vs. Andrew Hill, 3:15 p.m.

Thursday – Cross country at Lynbrook Center Meet, time TBA
Thursday – Girls’ tennis at Sobrato, 3:15 p.m.

For more information about Leland and Pioneer sporting events, go to:

Pioneer Athletics: www.phsathletics.com
Leland Athletics: www.lelandathletics.com
Blossom Valley Athletic League: www.bval.org

Sports Briefs

Tryouts for De Anza Force – U12 Girls’ Competitive Soccer
Girls’ U12 Soccer Tryouts (born after 07/31/1995). De Anza Force competitive teams. Schedules are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Class 3 (Competitive): 3pm-5pm; Class 1 (Select): 5pm-7pm. Location is Eaton Elementary School, 20220 Suisun Dr., Cupertino. For more information, contact: Stephanie Pearson at 619-917-7594. 


Silicon Valley Tigers youth tackle football now accepting applications
The Silicon Valley Tigers are still accepting applications for players between the ages of 6 and 14 for their youth tackle football teams.  We are a non-profit organization that was founded in 2006. We are dedicated to preparing the youths of Silicon Valley to play football at the high school level. We are a member of the highly competitive NYFL football league.

To register, or for more information, please go to our web site www.siliconvalleytigers.com and follow the instructions.  We have excellent coaching staffs in place for all teams.   If you have any questions about the Tigers or the NYFL, please contact Mary Ann O'Hara at 408-646-7748, Rod Abarca at 408-836-7844 or email rod@siliconvalleytigers.com.


Join the Almaden Aftershocks Boys’ U14 Soccer
The Almaden Aftershocks U14 Boys’ competitive soccer team is looking for several new players (born between Aug. 1, 1993 and July 31, 1994) for the fall season to be part of a winning tradition and a team-family culture. The Aftershocks’ coaches strive to improve fundamental soccer skills, build team spirit, improve physical fitness, create life-long friendships, and focus on team-building attitudes and fair play through practicing and playing soccer, and having fun! Our players are personally trained by an English Premier Trainer. Contact coach Mark Schrick at schrick@pacbell.net or (408) 391-6664 for more information.


Bay Area Boot Camp 5K Fitness Training Program
Boot Camp dates are from September 10 - November 4 at South Bay locations. The cost is $125 - All proceeds benefit the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative. The 5K Fitness Training program, developed by Bay Area Boot Camp’s expert coaching staff, is a comprehensive workout series designed to prepare you for the Silicon Valley 5K Run/Walk on November 4, 2007.

Designed for runners of all levels, this 8-week program includes:

Eight weekly training sessions led by Bay Area Boot Camp coaches

A detailed schedule of running, speed, and cross-training drills

A Training log to help you track your progress and keep your focus

An eight-week nutrition plan designed to support your training and optimize your energy level

Unlimited phone and email support from our coaching staff of veteran 5K, 10K, and marathon runners

15% off September and October Boot Camp sessions - an ideal way to enhance your race preparations and cross train in a supportive group environment

A pre-race party – get to know your fellow 5K racers and learn more about BAWSI!

For more information, contact Mary Beth Gonzales at marybeth@bayareabootcamp.com or phone 408-425-9475. Visit our website at www.bayareabootcamp.com.

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