CHATSWORTH — The Sierra Canyon girls volleyball team has hitters with a big swing, players who can send a kill to the back line, and scrappy defenders who dive for digs. The recipe for a powerful, experienced team is there — it’s just missing one ingredient.
“I asked them last week,” Sierra Canyon head coach Stefanie Wigfall said, “I’m like, ‘How many of you guys would get the job if you went on an interview tomorrow?’ Half of them were like, I wouldn’t get the job. I’m like, that’s right. Because you guys don’t feel like you can communicate effectively and with confidence.”
The Trailblazers (8-0) are skilled but young. Last week they swept an Oaks Christian team (25-19, 25-22, 25-23) that has a lot of chemistry and learned from the experience. The Lions battled back late in every set and tested Sierra Canyon’s ability to work as a team.
Eva Jeffries led the team with 18 kills and Hannah McGinest added 15 kills. Lauren Lynch held down the defense with 22 digs.
Both Jeffries and McGinest are sophomores on a fairly young team. Sophomore setter Olive Shum is learning to find her own voice as she dishes the ball to them and other players like senior opposite Deavan Antoine-Dillon and senior middle blocker Brandi Boston, who are also capable of scoring.
“I look at the matchups at the net and who’s having a good game or an off game,” Shum said. “And, really, their communication to me matters, too, because if I don’t hear them, I’m not going to go to them.”
Wigfall plans to use a 6-2 rotation on offense when sophomore setter Lucky Fasavalu’s sit-out period ends on Sept. 14, which will allow the Trailblazers to expand their offensive power into the back row.
Junior opposite/outside hitter Kalyani Olive will also be eligible on Sept. 14, which will give Sierra Canyon even more offensive options.
With the roster in its current state, however, the Trailblazers pass the eyeball test. Jeffries plays club volleyball with Shum and their chemistry pairs well with her vertical jump and powerful swing.
“I’ve just gotten a lot stronger and a lot more explosive,” Jeffries said. “A big difference (from last year) is a lot of our seniors leaving and then me having to play a bigger role and stepping up. It’s about getting stronger and being a team player.”
Sierra Canyon’s communication has already progressed from the beginning of the season. When the team made an error or had a tough set early on, players wouldn’t talk to each other.
“Even my coaching staff is like, 99% of what you’re doing right now is people skills,” Wigfall said. “It’s not even volleyball. Like, you can’t text each other around the court, guys. You have to talk.”
Shum and others are soft-spoken off the court, but are willing to listen to Wigfall’s instruction and encouragement. Her hope is that the growth of communication will coincide with the increase in depth that will come when Fasavalu and Olive become eligible.
Their eligibility date will come at a good time. Mission League play begins on Sept. 17 and the Durango Fall Classic, one of the top high school volleyball tournaments in the nation, is slated for Sept. 20 and 21.
“I don’t believe in (rebuilding years),” Wigfall said. “There’s never time to rebuild. It’s been really fun to work with a group of such incredibly talented 10th-graders along with our other pieces. That part’s been really fun — just investing because I know that all of those seeds we plant are going to pay off.”
Related Articles
Extreme heat conditions pose challenges for high school athletic programs
Daily News Girls Athlete of the Week: Reese Tamburro, Agoura
Daily News Boys Athlete of the Week: Gavin Gray, Agoura
Daily News football Top 10 (plus 5 more to watch) in Week 2
Daily News football schedule: Week 2 games, Sept. 5-7
