Girls' Volleyball: News
PVHS Girls' Volleyball
2009 Season News

Prep-JC Roundup: Connors, PV
top Peninsula in Bay volleyball
From Staff Reports, Daily Breeze
Posted: 10/22/2009 03:52:58 AM PDT

Dana Connors came off the bench to provide a spark for the Palos Verdes girls volleyball team, and had the winning kill in Game 5 as the Sea Kings edged Peninsula, 25-17, 15-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-13, Wednesday in a Bay League match at Palos Verdes High.
Nicole Percz had nine kills and five blocks, Danyelle Simpkins had nine kills and two blocks and Kate Giddens had nine kills for Palos Verdes (2-2 in league).
Caroline Daly had eight kills and six blocks, Kelly Johnson had 35 assists and Kenedy McGrath had 28 digs and three aces for Palos Verdes.
"This is huge because it showed the girls have the ability to win tough five-game (matches)," said Patrick Lynch, who has posted quality wins over West Torrance and Peninsula since taking over as head coach nearly two weeks ago. "They played hard, never gave up and stayed positive the whole time. It was a complete team effort."
Allison Lee had 21 kills and 13 digs, Ali Ludwig had 12 kills and Katie Child had 11 kills for Peninsula (10-9, 0-4).

Erika Castillo added eight kills, Lexi Alaga had 17 digs and Maryl Vanden Bos had 50 assists and 14 digs.

 

Palos Verdes turns tables on West Torrance in Bay League girls volleyball match
Sea Kings rally from two-game deficit for key victory.
By Mario Aguirre, Correspondent, Daily Breeze
Posted: 10/14/2009 03:27:57 AM PDT

Almost any come-from-behind win seems improbable.

Particularly when the one factor that plagues a struggling team eventually becomes its most reliable tool.

The West Torrance girls volleyball team, for instance, utilized timely hits and solid serves on it way to what appeared to be a likely sweep Tuesday night.

The Warriors were then outdone by Palos Verdes, which used those same variables - more specifically a string of aces - to stave off elimination and ultimately cap a 24-26, 18-24, 25-17, 25-19, 15-12 rally for a Bay League victory at West.

It was the most unlikely of wins, with the subtle dose of irony.

Not that Sea Kings players took notice. They were basking in the moment of their first league win of the season, which also put an end to a three-match losing skid.

"Our serving improved, and that was the key," Sea Kings coach Patrick Lynch said.

And yet through the first two games, PV (10-7, 1-1) had dropped 11 consecutive games.

That, of course, changed when the Sea Kings closed out Game 3 with four straight aces by Kennedy McGrath, who finished with five aces and 21 digs, helping them avoid their fifth shutout this year.
Palos Verdes started Game 4 with three straight aces by Kelly Johnson, who then had a hand in the team's last seven kills. The sophomore setter delivered assists to Maddie Smith, two to Caroline Daly (nine kills, two blocks), and another to Danyelle Simpkins (match-high 15 kills). From there, Johnson struck two aces and fed Nicole Percz to force a decisive fifth match.

It seemed almost fitting then that PV concluded matters with back-to-back aces.

"Serving is probably one of the most important aspects of the game," said Johnson, who finished with 12 kills and match-highs in assists (33) and aces (six). "If you can't do that, there's no way you're going to win."

West (8-6, 0-3) knows that all too well, having dropped its last three matches after winning five straight.

 

Varsity – September 26
The Lady Sea Kings participated in the 23 team North Tournament.  Coming off an earlier week victory over a strong San Pedro team that is favored to win a City Championship, the team was in high spirits and full of confidence.   The day began with convincing pool play victories over Santa Monica High and Chadwick at Torrance High.  
Having placed first in their morning pool, the girls were paired against El Segundo, a team they had lost to during the first week of the season.  With a chance for revenge and to prove the first weeks loss was only a matter of opening day jitters, the girls soundly got their revenge with a no doubt victory.  After dispatching El Segundo, the only thing keeping PV from the championship game was fellow Bay leaguers West Torrance.   West fought hard before PV pulled away with the win.
Having reeked revenge over El Segundo and sending a message to West Torrance the girls found themselves pitted in the championship match against arch rival Peninsula.
In what was to date the most exciting match of the season, the teams pounded the ball with several lead changes and both teams bringing their best game.  Battling back and forth with strong hitting and defense the teams found themselves tied 25-25 before a couple of bounces of the ball gave Penn a 2 point win.
Congratulations Coach Pinter and team for a great tournament.

 

Varsity – September 18
Palos Verdes girl’s volleyball along with sixty-three other teams competed in the Dave Mohs Memorial Tournament hosted by Edison High (Huntington Beach).
The three day event featured some of the best teams in Los Angeles and Orange County.  Teams were seeded into sixteen 4-team pools on Friday with the lady Sea Kings pitted against a strong pool of Newport Harbor, Vista Murrieta and Tesoro.  Palos Verdes started strong with a two game sweep of Vista Murrieta before falling to Newport Harbor in the evening match.   Pool play was completed Saturday morning with a solid 2 game victory over Tesoro, putting Palos Verdes into the elite Championship Gold division for round two with a second place finish in their pool.
Championship pool play pitted Palos Verdes against highly regarded Corona del Mar.  After a spirited victory in the opening game the Sea Kings eventually fell to the eventual finalist two games to one.   With a ninth place finish the girls showed that although new as a group they will be a team to be respected as the season progresses.  Congratulations Sea Kings.
California Distinguished School,