SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: Girls Volleyball Preview
La Canada, South Pasadena, Mayfield and Walnut are the top teams to follow in 2022
La Canada will be the team beat in the area in 2022. (Escarcega)
As the 2022 girls volleyball season commenced last week, we are already seeing the battle lines laid out. For example, the most powerful public schools league in the area will be the Rio Hondo League. However, the Hacienda League will be right there as the second most powerful league in the area, thanks to Ashley Li’s transfer from La Salle back to Walnut (where she played her freshmen year).
As speaking of the private schools, only two of them are ranked in our top 10 and they are not La Salle nor Flintridge Sacred Heart.
It’s going to be an interesting year and with teams that finished second and third in many leagues making deep runs in the playoffs. Let’s start the year with our first top ten rankings of the season.
1. La Canada (4-2) – When coach Laura Browder (who never shies away from a strong take) says in our preseason questionnaire “We’re about to kickass this season!” well that pretty much tells us that this is the best team in the area. Olivia Toland is gone due to graduation, but this team is loaded in many ways. Let’s start with Ashby Zubechevich, a transfer from Flintridge Prep, who many consider being the best outside hitter in the area. The sophomore provides a nice bridge from the departed Toland. Browder also has two of the premier players in the area in Haley Clark and Nikki Hughes. Senior Tatum Purdy is 6-2 and is on the short list of top setters in the area. Chloe Nussbaum handled the Libero position extremely well last year and is only a junior. Add in two terrific middle blockers in sophomore Katie McGuiness and freshman Vani Tatoulian and you can understand why expectations are high for Sparty.
South Pasadena team photo after finishing second to Harvard Westlake and Bishop Diego Tournament. (South Pasadena HS photo)
2. South Pasadena (8-1) – The other part of what I consider to be the most intense and highly entertaining rivalry in all of the sports in the area. Coach Ivy Chew has another top-notch team this year led by first-team All Rio Hondo League outside hitter Jenna Garner. She teams up with Helena Foord (the younger sister of former Pasadena Star-News Player of the Year Lola Foord), and Ingrid Zahn to give Ivy Chew many weapons to choose from this year. Kendall Taylor, a junior, was an Honorable Mention All-League performer at the setter position and Mia Ramos will hold down the fort as the team’s libero. Chew says that her team will be” pin heavy” this year and that could be an issue when they hook up with La Canada. According to Chew, the team’s weakness is “getting our new middies to play up to the speed and playing big up against other opponents.” Markdown Tuesday, September 20 on your calendar – South Pasadena at La Canada, round 1.
3. Mayfield (1-1) – One of the teams that snuck up on us last year and made a terrific run in the playoffs that culminated with a sectional semifinal appearance. Many of those players that propelled the run are back in 2022. That includes Annelise Rising, who might be the other outside hitter that many consider being the best outside hitter in the area. Senior Amelia Velasquez will be a key player at the opposite hitter spot. They’ll have to replace veteran libero Maddie Kaufman who is lost to graduation, but Hugo Ayala will have a team that will be the favorites to win the powerful Prep League.
Ashley Li will have a major impact this for Walnut after transferring from La Salle. (La Salle Athletics photo)
4. Walnut (2-1) – This team gets a whole lot better in September when Ashley Li finishes her 30 sit-out and will be allowed to play for the Mustangs. Li, who is a commit to Cal, established herself as one of the top outside hitters in the area last year. She is one of the premier players in the SGV Elite Girls Volleyball club organization which is the most powerful club organization in the valley. The Mustangs have a big early-season win over Monrovia (another member of our top-10) and will be the favorites to win the Hacienda League.
Hailey Heflin leads a very solid Glendora squad in 2022. (Photo: La Salle HS athletics)
5. Glendora (6-1) – We are huge fans of coach Erin Noriega as she runs one of the most consistent programs in the east SGV. The Tartans come off a big win over San Dimas on Tuesday night, establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the area. Hailey Heflin is back as one of the top opposite hitters and Janna Yap has looked superb as the team’s Libero. Kendra Gonzalez is the team’s premier outside hitter and one player to keep an eye on is Bridget Nemeth – one of the top-notch softball players in the area. This team could be set up for a big year.
Chase Moon will lead the Apaches who figure to be a major contender to win the Pacific League. (Photo: Arcadia HS Volleyball)
6. Arcadia (2-1) – This ranking is banking on an upside for a program that is coached by one of the top volleyball coaches in the west SGV in Stephen Bernabe. It caught us by surprise a bit when the Apaches swept area power, La Salle, last week (25-17, 25-20, 25-21). Chase Hoon had a huge number in Arcadia’s 3-0 win last week over Claremont with 14 kills and three blocks. Other players to watch include Adelyn Wong, Mahrie Medjakian, and Nicole Zhen. The Apaches are in the rough and tumble Pacific League but the weapons to be a major player for a league title.
7. Schurr (6-1) – This ranking comes a day after the Spartans pulled off a five-set thrilling win over South Hills. If you want to watch a fun team that shows great chemistry, this is your team. Jorge Salas is probably the best girls volleyball coach you’ve never heard of – and make no mistake about it, this team is extremely solid. Victoria Murillo is part of an extremely talented set of outside hitters that include Evelyn Soto, Dayra Reyes, and Brisa Cortez. Seniors Leeya Rubio and Jasmine Soto are the team’s setters and Priscilla Castillo is one of the top Libero in the Whittier area. Add in defensive specialists Tiana Lu and Judit Navarro, and middle blockers Karina Talavera and Soleli Hernandez and you can see why expectations are high on the school that is known as “Harvard on the Hill.”
8. Pasadena Poly (2-0) – Another coach that we are a big fan of is Katrina Damasco, she does a great job, and her teams are always in the mix for the Prep League title. Get to the name of Cyanne Jones, she is one of the top middle hitters in the area with Bella Duncan, Emily Wen, and Katie Sam as other players to watch. BTW, Damasco has a freshman by the name of Ellie Chu and Kathleen Hollingsworth on the roster – just know she doesn’t put a lot of freshmen on her varsity rosters. This team finished with a flurry last season and will be the main threat to Mayfield for a league title. The first matchup between Poly and Mayfield is on Thursday, Sept. 8th.
Monrovia could be the sleeper team to win the Rio Hondo League. (Photo: Monrovia HS)
9. Monrovia (6-2) – Being possibly the third best team in the Rio Hondo League is not a bad thing when the top two teams are also at the top of the area rankings. When it comes to coaching, no one has seen it all more than veteran coach John Van Deventer. He has won numerous sectional championships at St. Paul and is recreating the magic with the Wildcats. He’ll be counting on outside hitters Taylor Brandley, Kaitlyn Morrison (returning all-league performers), and Jayden Dedaux to perform at a high level with returning Kaylee Morrison providing leadership at the Libero position. Alyssa Escarcega is a key defensive specialist to watch along with middle blockers Kaetlyn Carius and Rose Sluiter. Van Deventer” “This is the best team I have had since I arrived at Monrovia four years ago.” This could be a value pick to win the RHL.
La Serna girls volleyball 2022. (Photo: La Serna HS)
10. La Serna (1-3) – Don’t be misled by the slow start, the Lancers are always a team to be reckoned with in the Del Rio League. Two of their three losses are to Glendora and Schurr (which are in our top 10). Monique Guyton is one of the premier coaches in the area and will have this team ready to roll when DRL action begins. Keep a sharp eye out for Ava Corona, Juliet Casillas, and Ashlynd Larson. Follow closely!