Camarillo Rebounding from a sub-par '09

Did you see the article about the Scorpions Volleyball team in the Ventura County Star?

Camarillo Rebounding from a sub-par '09
by Loren Ledin

It was an unfamiliar and uncomfortable place the Camarillo High boys’ volleyball team found inself occupying a season ago.


Third place in the Pacific View League’s final standings.


“That was the first time in 10 seasons we hadn’t finished first or second,” says Camarillo coach Rob Vandermay. “It wasn’t a very good feeling for the entire team.”


A year later, the Scorpions look like a serious contender for the league championship.


Camarillo has begun the season at 9-2, including non-league victories over Ventura and Buena. The Scorpions fell behind 2-1 in games to visiting Ventura on Tuesday night, then stormed back for a 25-21, 25-27, 15-25, 25-19, 15-11 victory.


Camarillo had a good reason for its third-place finish last season — youth, youth and still more youth.


“We were very inconsistent,” said Vandermay. “We were mostly sophomores and juniors last season, and it was difficult for us to sustain a high level of play. We would play well for stretches, then fall back into some bad play.”


The Scorpions still have youthful look. Only four seniors are on the roster, including top hitter Connor Hoybjerg. Junior setter Jesse Flitt and junior hitters Danny Reilly, Christian VanOuwerkerk and Jose Rojas all play key roles.


“They’ve grown up together,” said Vandermay. “They know each other, and they know how to play together as a team.”


Vandermay believes this year’s team is one of the deepest in school history.


“It doesn’t matter what rotation we’re in — we’ve got a bunch of guys who can play,” he said. “We don’t have any weaknesses.”


As the Scorpions elevate their consistency on the court, they no doubt draw inspiration from their coach. The only coach the program has known recently celebrated victory No. 150.


Among Vandermay’s accomplishments was directing the Scorpions to the CIF-Southern Section Division III championship in 2003.


“A lot of coaches have probably reached 150 victories a lot sooner than I have,” said Vandermay, who also coaches the girls’ team.