Expectations raised at ACHS

from this week's Camarillo Acorn:

Girls’ volleyball team embraces role as league favorite

By Eliav Appelbaum

eliav@theacorn.com

NOT IN OUR HOUSE—Camarillo High middle blocker Leah Ramsaier, right, rejects Rebecca Kremer of Royal during a scrimmage Tuesday night. ACHS is a two-time defending league champion.
IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers


The Scorpions can’t use the underdog card anymore.
After sharing back-to-back Pacific View League championships with Oxnard, the Camarillo High girls’ volleyball team isn’t sneaking up on anybody.
“We’re not underdogs,” head coach Rob Vandermay said. “If anything, we may have a target on our back.”
The Scorpions’ season begins in earnest this weekend during the SLO Town Tournament at San Luis Obispo. ACHS is scheduled to play six pool-play matches in two days.

Despite returning only three varsity players, Camarillo features a solid offensive team with talent and depth at every position.
Multiple Scorpions played two-person beach volleyball tournaments throughout the summer, honing quickness, reaction time and court awareness.

“It’s a totally different team and a totally different environment,” said Noelle Berry, a junior outside hitter who shares the captaincy with Nicole Pompilio and Danielle Helland.

“We lost a lot of seniors, but we’re close this year. We have good chemistry.”

The Scorpions are sick of sharing league titles. They want to win the PVL crown outright.
“I think we’re ready,” said Pompilio, a senior middle blocker. “There are still a couple things we need to tweak, but we’re ready.”
Players said they still need to work on passing and defense, including blocking at the net and digging.
Defense is something that should improve, Vandermay said.
“You have to want to be a great defensive player,” he said.
“It’s a matter of the heart as much as athleticism. You have to own the court.”
Helland, a three-year varsity player, sets the tone at setter.
“You’ve heard it before, but the setter is the quarterback or point guard of the team in volleyball,” Vandermay said. “She’s our coach on the court. . . .
“She’s one of our best hitters, and she’s a great all-around player who’s very smart.”
Helland, who also plays some opposite, likes what she sees in practice so far.
“It’s been good,” the junior said. “Everyone’s happy. We’re practicing as hard as we can, and we’ve been aggressive. I think we’ll have a good season.”

Berry is an athletic outside hitter who hits the ball hard.
“She’s still humble and coachable,” Vandermay said of Berry. “She has a great attitude.”
Pompilio is one of four middle blockers competing for playing time. Of the four, she is the strongest overall and has secured her spot in the starting lineup.
Abby Beillen, Leah Ramsaier and Jesse McLaughlin are also in the mix at middle blocker.
Beillen is the team’s hardest hitter as she pummels line-drive serves. Ramsaier uses her long arms and vertical leap to block shots.
McLaughlin, who nursed an injury for most of the summer, might be the best athlete among the middle blockers. When healthy, she can block and hit effectively. McLaughlin is expected to return next week.

Along with Berry, Hannah Kimball is a potent outside hitter.
Kimball uses her wide wingspan to generate power on her spikes.
“She’s a smart hitter who’s able to place the ball very well,” the coach said of Kimball.

Caitlin Pirruccello contributes at outside hitter and opposite. She’s a standout athlete with a good attitude, Vandermay said.
Outside hitter Amy Carr, who also plays basketball, is improving and showing flashes of hitting brilliance.
Hallie Willard, the daughter of ACHS varsity softball head coach Jack Willard, patrols opposite. A strong hitter with setter experience, Willard throws teams off by combining a power serve with a short serve.

Jo Rosario might be the best defender amongst the opposites. Rosario also chips in at setter, and she’s displayed a knack for good quick sets.

Sam Murphy and Erin Skoblick are defensive specialists. Murphy is an Oxnard transfer who’s strong at serving. A solid player fighting for playing time, Skoblick needs to play with more confidence, the coach said.
Vandermay is in his fifth season guiding the varsity girls’ squad. He spent 1996 leading the junior varsity girls and has coached the varsity boys’ team since 1997.
Junior varsity coach Matt Dawson, freshman coach Jon Ballard and assistants Steve Yoshimoto and Bryan Staples bolster the staff.

Dawson and Ballard played for Vandermay at Camarillo.

The Scorpions hope to do two things well: have fun and win.

“We always like to have fun on the court,” Pompilio said. “We all love the sport. As captains, we want to be positive and keep the team’s spirits up.

“We’re revved up for this weekend tournament.”