Friday, Jul. 18, 2008

Returners bringing hope

Six seniors giving Los Banos volleyball team an optimistic outlook on upcoming season

The Los Baños High School varsity volleyball team is gearing up for its 2008 season. And head coach Greg Soliz said even though there are some things the team has to work on, they are taking every step necessary to make this season one of their best.

After their first tryout, there are 11 Lady Tigers ready to take the court, but Soliz said he plans to add at least two more during their second tryout -- closer to the start of school.

"We have a dead period from July 25 to August 18," Soliz said. "It's kind of like a vacation from the court, but we'll still be conditioning during that time, since we'd come back to practice a week before our first game."

So far this summer the team has participated in practice games against Ripon Christian and Hilmar to better prepare themselves for the season.

"We just want to get in some game time," Soliz said.

And as the team works together on the court, Soliz said their strengths lie in their returning players.

Soliz returns six from last year's squad, all seniors.

"All six were starters last year, and right now, our strength is coming from them and their hitting. We're a good hitting team," he said.

Their weaknesses, however, come from the team's lack of height.

Compared to other volleyball teams in the Central California Conference, Soliz said.the Tigers aren't a tall team.

To make up for the height difference, "our key is passing. Everything starts with passing," he said. "So, we're working on perfecting our passing and defense."

Senior captain Rachel Waldron said agreed that tenacious defense will make up for the team's lack of size.

"But we work well together because we all have a chemistry as friends, so we'll make defense our strength," Waldron said.

Viewing their practice games over the summer as a "wake up call" to some of the teammates, Waldron thinks the practice will help the team.

"A lot of them who don't travel get discouraged when they see 6'3" girls on the other teams, but we're getting exposure and that'll help us out," Waldron said.

"It's our senior year for most of us and I really want us to do well.

Soliz said he thinks the team has been taking home a lot from their scrimmages.

"They see what they need to work on and what we're going to face when the season starts," he said. "The teams are comparable to what we'll see in our league and that's why we're doing this."

Soliz and the team are also putting on a youth clinic to give other local girls a chance to practice their sport over the summer.

Session one, for girls ages 9-11, will take place at the high school on July 22 and 23. Session two, for girls ages 12-14, is scheduled for July 24 and 25. Both clinics are from 4-6 p.m.

The registration fee for the clinics are $35, which includes the instruction, as well as a camp T-shirt. Campers can pay for the clinic on the clinics' start dates. For more information, contact Greg Soliz at 675-8827.

Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com

Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com