Mission Trail Athletic League 2001 Volleyball Preview

When anyone thinks of Mission Trail Athletic League girl's volleyball, the name King City instantly comes to mind. The two are synonymous, and why not - 17 league titles in 20 years, and a Northern California Division 2 Championship and ensuing State Championship appearance in 1990. But recently the level of league play has become increasingly competitive, with teams such as Santa Catalina, Pacific Grove and Gonzales challenging the dominant position of King City in the MTAL. 

Recent MTAL postseason success has been elusive; in the last 5 years MTAL teams (not counting 3-year departed volleyball power Notre Dame) have gone 2-12 in the playoffs with 0 CCS titles and 0 CCS finals appearances. To make matters worse, no other team besides King City has won a playoff game in the last 5 years. Last season was no different, where playoff realities set in very quickly. League champion King City began the postseason with a straight set 15-13,15-12,15-13 win over Sacred Heart, but had the misfortune of having to play Menlo, the eventual CCS and Northern California champion, in the semifinals, losing in straight sets 15-3,15-0,15-1. Second place Santa Catalina lost in straight sets to Valley Christian, 15-12,15-12,15-11. Third place representative Carmel also had the misfortune of an opening round match with Notre Dame-Salinas, the eventual CCS and Northern California runner-up to Menlo, losing in straight sets 15-1,15-9,15-3. 

Early Favorites
The 2001 MTAL race is wide open. King City (Trisha Frudden), Pacific Grove (Marissa Boyns), Anzar (Keily White) and Gonzales (Daisey Carillo) all return marquee players that are more than capable of beating any team in the league on any given night. Stevenson has opened some eyes with their strong preseason record. If Santa Catalina can pull their young team together around their top player Sarah Morrill, thing could get very interesting come November.

MTAL Returning Marquee Players

Profile and Predicted Order of Finish

King City

The bad news for defending MTAL champion King City: they lost All-Monterey County and All-MTAL selection Diana Diaz, and All-MTAL selection Caitlin Jacobs to graduation. The good news: the Mustangs return Trisha Frudden, the reigning league MVP, and she is just a junior. Not one dimensional by any means, King City has an array of talent to feed and protect Frudden. Junior setter and outside hitter Elyse Solomon will help set things up for the Mustangs, and Natasha Marquis and Lindsey LeVelle will provide a strong presence at the net at the middle blocker position. Katelyn Holcomb, Breanne Diaz and Cindy Orneleas will provide dig and service support from the back court.

Pacific Grove

The Breakers finished the preseason undefeated, and feel that they have a core of veteran of players that can challenge for the MTAL title. Headlining that list is star setter and All-MTAL selection Marissa Boyns. Boyns will feed a talented set of hitters, including Rachel Fore, Noelle Bridges, Laura Ingle and Melissa Winchester. Ashley Miller and Leah Mark will clog up the net, while Lauren Schmitz provides strong defense and serving from the back court. 

Gonzales

Optimism abounds on the Gonzales campus after the Spartan girls posted a 5-0 mark (against the MBL) in preseason. Outside hitter Cathy Coltrano and Daisy Duarte have blistered the ball, with Coltrano is averaging 7 kills a match. Ariana Duarte and sophomore Christine Sears have shouldered the bulk of the setting load. The balanced middle hitter/blocker play of All-MTAL selection Daisy Carillo makes the entire team better. Angie Banuelos will provide solid back court defense.

Anzar

The Hawks, in just their fourth year of girl's volleyball, have the returning talent to challenge for the MTAL title. The Anzar attack will center around junior All-MTAL selection Keily White (6-0), a dominant  middle blocker. Also returning are a trio of second team All-MTAL selection outside hitters: senior Dusty Jones, senior Valerie Ramos, and junior Stephanie Smith. Look for freshman Treva Cook to see significant playing time at the middle blocker position. Junior setter Gena Ray will run the Anzar offense. Junior defensive specialist Cory Strasser returns to keep the ball off of the floor.

Santa Catalina

Three sets of sisters now dominate the Santa Catalina roster, but the biggest question we have is where is Sarah Morrill? The All-County and All-MTAL selection was a junior transfer from Davis last season, and played brilliantly for the Cougars. We at MBPR  have not heard anything about her in the preseason, and will have get back with her updated status.

In the mean time, the Cougars have quite a sisterly youth movement going on. On the roster: freshman twins Anna and Olivia Russell and their sophomore sister Sarah, 6-0 freshman Randi Goodenough and her sister Dana, and freshman Jessica Holmes and her sister Julia. Look for junior three sport standout Ashley Hightower, junior Jasmine Wibbens and Cameron Rogers  to provide veteran leadership.

Stevenson

Already off to a 3-2 preseason start, Stevenson has the talent to improve on its 5-11 record from last season. Sophomore setter Katie Cava and senior setter Cristy Kelly (senior) have done an excellent job feeding 3 year senior starter and middle hitter/blocker Janessa Wells, one of the top kill leaders in the area. Outside hitter Allison Rush, Maddie Tamangi and Renee Yang will balance out the Stevenson court.

Carmel

The Padres are looking to fill a leadership void left by the graduation of stellar seniors Lindsey Garrison and Jessica Hare. Despite a 1-5 preseason, senior Sasha Semis and sophomore setter/outside hitter Alison Ticker have put up respectable set and kill totals. Look for softball sensation Lea Garnero and sophomore outside hitter Tyler Moran to lurk and stuff at the net. Nikki Riddell, Carly Dahl and Natasha Buffo will also contribute from the back court.

Greenfield

Soledad

Seaside