Girls volleyball overview: Oxnard, Royal, Oaks Christian lead area contenders
After years and years as the top dog in the Pacific View League, the Oxnard High girls volleyball team faces challenges galore this fall.
The creation of an eight-team Channel League means the addition of the Santa Barbara powers and arduous matchups with Santa Barbara, San Marcos and Dos Pueblos highs.
Which, at that, is the main reason Oxnard coach Pat Casey is having a blast this season.
"It is lots of fun," says Casey. "To go up against this kind of competition and teams that have such good talent makes every match fun to be in. We're being challenged, we're being tested, and it can't help but make us a better team."
Oxnard may or may not emerge as league champion. The Yellowjackets are tied for third in league at 7-3 (14-6 overall) with Dos Pueblos (7-3, 15-7) after beating the Chargers in five sets Tuesday night. First-place Santa Barbara is 9-1 and 17-6, followed by San Marcos (8-2, 15-6).
But Oxnard almost certainly will procure one of the league's four guaranteed playoff berths and enter the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 playoffs as a battle-hardened bona fide contender.
Anika Huelskamp, the prolific senior outside hitter and The Star's reigning Player of the Year, and senior multi-dimensional Jada Stone present what might be the county's top 1-2 punch.
"We know we can count on them every night," said Casey. "They keep us in every match."
Can one CIF-SS championship lead to another?
That's the fondest wish for the Royal girls volleyball team, which saw its boys' counterpart win the Division 4 crown last spring.
It's not far-fetched to think that the Highlander girls, who won their first 11 matches and currently weigh in at 18-4 overall and 3-0 in the Coastal Canyon League, can launch an extended run in postseason.
"That's provided so much motivation for our girls," said coach Kristine Connolly. "They saw what the boys did. They saw what's possible with hard work and dedication, and they're thinking this is their turn.
"They're all friends with the boys players. Some have brothers who are on the boys team. They're going to take their best shot."
Royal thrives with a balanced, fiery, competitive group that includes just one senior on the roster. Beatrice Gamboa is a hard-hitting outside hitter and is surrounded by an array of talent that includes junior outside hitter Ayzlinn Trefren, junior libero Leah Orsini and junior opposite Emily Ford.
Connolly said her players are intensely wired.
"They love to compete. They love to come to practice and they love to play volleyball," said Connolly. "They're feisty and bring energy and effort every night. We have only one senior, but they play like a team of veterans."
Royal and Oxnard hooked up in a nonleague match on the Yellowjackets' home court last Saturday, with Oxnard taking a 25-19, 25-20, 17-25, 25-20 victory. It might not be the last time the two county powers share the court.
Royal is ranked No. 3 in the latest CIF-SS Division 4 rankings. Oxnard is No. 8. A head-to-head in postseason play could be a possibility.
Powerful Lions
Oaks Christian School is a power player in the Marmonte League that looms as continuing threat in postseason.
The Lions won the league title last fall, ending Westlake's seven-year reign, then reached the championship final in Division 4. They're currently ranked No. 6 in Division 3.
Five starters return this season, including senior outside hitter Nicole Zake and 6-3 Brooklyn Stearns.
Oaks Christian lost star Lucia Scalamandre to graduation, but 6-2 sophomore middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie is already among the top stars in the region.
Hannah Brady, the niece of NFL superstar Tom Brady and sister of UCLA softball star Maya Brady, starts at libero as a sophomore.
Simi Valley, ranked No. 8 in CIF-SS Division 6, could challenge the Highlanders in the Coastal Canyon League.
The Pioneers return nine seniors, including outside hitter Alesia Thomas, opposite Alex Morehead and setter Kezia Bocasan.
St. Bonaventure (13-6 overall, 4-1 in league) will try to chase down first-place Bishop Diego in the Tri-Valley League. Talia Behrens, a 6-4 senior middle blocker, is a force on offense and defense.
Royal's intricate balance is evidenced by the numbers.
Gamboa has 164 kills, 27 aces and 100 digs followed by Trefren, with 111 kills, 166 digs and 16 aces, and Ford, with 116 kills and 11 blocks.
Leah Orsini has racked up 220 digs, Shae Rizzo has dished out 290 assists and middle blocker Hailey Bryon has totaled 76 kills and 25 blocks.
"Defense and balance on offense is our strength," said Connelly. "Every match, it's somebody different leading us. That makes us hard to defend."
Oxnard's dynamic duo has racked up big numbers this season.
Huelskamp, at 5-11, has piled up 314 kills, or 4.8 per game, along with 118 digs and 38 aces. She's the program leader in, well, everything.
"As good as she was last season, she's better now," said Casey. "She's focused on improving her serve-receive, and has taken on the role as team leader."
Stone has 615 assists, 77 kills and 99 digs.
Casey knows the key for his team down the stretch and into postseason.
"It's the contributions we get from everybody else," he said. "Annika is a great hitter, but she can't do it alone. Our players understand that. They know they need to meet the challenge."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Annika Huelskamp, Oxnard, OH, Sr.
Jada Stone, Oxnard, S, Sr.
Beatrice Gamboa, Royal, OH, Sr.
Ayzlinn Trefren, Royal, OH, Jr.
Leah Orsini, Royal, L, Jr.
Nicole Zake, Oaks Christian, OH, Sr.
Manaia Ogbechie, Oaks Christian, MH, So.
Addison Benson, Newbury Park, OH, Sr.
Shai Daniels, Buena, OH, Jr.
Viola Barrios, Buena, Opp., Jr.
Kayleigh May, Thousand Oaks, S, Sr.
Sydney Heitman, Westlake, OH, Sr.
Talia Behrens, St. Bonaventure, MH, Sr.
Alesia Thomas, Simi Valley, OH, Sr.
Kate Duffey, Ventura, S, Jr.
Katherine Martinez, Rio Mesa, S, Sr.
Alexis Brinkman, Camarillo, OH, Sr.
Alexis O'Keefe, Agoura, OH, Sr.
Loren Ledin is the Prep Editor for The Star. He can be reached at loren.ledin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0285.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Girls volleyball: Oxnard, Royal, Oaks Christian lead area contenders
