High Desert Preseason Games Begin: Week 2
A great second week of high school volleyball has come to an end. Non-conference, preseason games are on the schedule until league starts on September 13th for many schools. Five schools I watched are in different leagues, so preseason is…
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Continue ReadingA great second week of high school volleyball has come to an end. Non-conference, preseason games are on the schedule until league starts on September 13th for many schools. Five schools I watched are in different leagues, so preseason is the only time they meet up. It’s been fun keeping an eye on high school teams because they are a balance between club players and non-club players. Victor Valley high school plays in the Desert Sky league and is coached by Mark Fenton and K. Fenton. Oak Hills high school is in the Mojave River League and is coached by Omar Lopez, Mikael Bastida and Tiffany Tran. Cajon high school plays in the Citrus Belt league and is coached by Paula Bougie-Thomas. Serrano high school plays in the Mojave River League and is coached by C. Talbott and Mark Hansen. Citrus Valley high school plays in the Citrus Belt coached by Amber Tygart and M. Tessitore. Here are a few players that deserves recognition from this week of gameplay.
Adrie Gutierrez (2024) | 4’11 S | Victor Valley HS (C)
Adrie Gutierrez is a dual sport athlete who is also an infielder in softball. She is a player who is tiny and mighty when it comes to her position as a setter. She was all over the place, hustling to get the second ball. Even in motion, her hands were so smooth they produced a ball that had minimal to no spin. Her ball placement is a hitter’s dream. Guiterrez is a good communicator and has great energy on the court. She was able to get under and deliver balls that were expected to drop. It was exciting to watch her perform and take charge on the court. That is exactly what a captain is supposed to do.
Aileen Benites-Perez (2023) | 5’5 L | Victor Valley HS (C)
Aileen Benites-Perez has no fear of getting on the floor to dig a ball or get a pancake. Her overall agility in the back row kept her team in rallies throughout the game. She is quick to get back on her feet and in a ready position waiting to receive an attack. Benites-Perez skill of serve receive passing was important for her offense to be in system. She hustled for the tips by covering her hitters and her back row defense made it easy for her to get a free ball. She handled her captain role with ease. It was fun watching Benites-Perez play.
Ellee Nifo (2025) | 5’3 OH OPP | Oak Hills HS
Ellee Nifo is not the average height of an outside hitter yet that does not stop her from performing and making scoring plays. She is a great all around six-rotation player who performs well in offense and deffense. She is quick to dive and dig balls popping them up for the setter to set. Nifo is a solid hitter who can adjust to off sets and still make a play. She has a good serve receive and on court pass that is needed to run a good offense. Her speed and agility helps her go from one responsibilty to another by blocking and suddenly having to dig a ball. Her back row passing helps start the offense, her killing the ball ends it. Nifo is a smart player who is fun to watch on the court.
Kylin Hayes (2023) | 5’10 OH | Cajon HS/Tstreet 18-1’s
Kylin Hayes brings such great energy on the court with her huge smile and happy personality. She is an intelligent six-rotation player who can jump high, get low, move from side to side, and gets back up on her feet as quickly as she can during gameplay. She has a strong hit and can place the ball at the ten-foot line, cross court, or downline. Her height and vertical provide her with the ability to hit over blocks and find the best angles to hit. Hayes is a great blocker at the net and when put in the position to pass defensively, she delivers. She is such a good player, watching her is enjoyable and entertaining.
Giselle Coley (2023) | 5’9 S | Citrus Valley HS (C)
Giselle Coley is a left-handed setter who has a solid strong serve that would go over just above the net. She was quick in making decisions on where to set the ball with a soft touch. When the pass was off, she was able to get second ball most of the time. Her ball had height, speed and was consistent enough as to where she did not get called for a ball handling violation in any of the sets. Coley is fast and agile, being able to get to the ball no matter what direction it went. She is a smart player who is able to read the court for a perfect dump and commands her leadership role as captain.
Kelsey Gomarko (2023) | 5’6 L | Serrano HS (C)
Kelsey Gomarko handled her job as a libero very well by being responsible for defense. She received serves, dug hits, and made passes. She covered the areas where an attack or serve would go. She was aware of where the ball was in each rally by staying focused. Gomarko would not hesitate to go after a ball and has an explosive reaction with speed and intensity. She was ready for the strong serves and quick attacks. She was quick to cover a block and be there for the tip. She is a great leader on the court.
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- (C) Indicates captain