League play has arrived throughout the Daily News area for high school girls volleyball. Sierra Canyon, Saugus and Taft are revving up for another deep postseason run while others are hoping to break in and go deep into the bracket come mid-October. Here’s a look at the area’s top teams.
Sierra Canyon
Sierra Canyon returned its loaded 2027 class and the junior-heavy team hasn’t missed a beat to start the season. The team features both its 400-kill hitters from last season in outside hitter Hanna McGinest and junior Eva Jeffries, who have been key in the team’s 12-2 start.
The Trailblazers are in search of a ninth straight Mission League title, a conference in which the program has dropped just one match since 2016, as well as its third CIF SS Division 1 title match appearance in four years.
“Our goal each season is to really push ourselves as fast and as far as possible,” Blazers coach Stefanie Wigfall said via text message. “With some new big additions, we have to gel quickly. We have to invest in our culture and team chemistry – because you can have all the talent in the world, but without connection and all of us working towards the same goals, we won’t realize our potential! But we do want to win big matches this season, try and take down some great teams, and put ourselves in a position to compete for a CIF championship and an Open State Championship.”
Setter Lucky Fasavalu returns to Sierra Canyon while Kalyani Olive leads the team with around two blocks a night.
Wigfall knows she has some future Division 1 players hitting the ball on the net, but says defense is what will get this team back to the pinnacle of CIF SS volleyball.
“What stands out most about this team is the level of athleticism and skill,” Wigfall said. “Many may assume that we only want to attack and take big swings, but they are actually in love with defense, and the discipline it will take to compete defensively with our opponents. All of the top teams have such great liberos and such great team defense. We know that we can’t score points with a lethal offense without dialing in and putting defense above all else. And this team is willing to put the work in to elevate our defense. I think great things will come from this mindset.”
Saugus
Saugus is entering a new era in 2025 as the team graduated its big three in Morgan Guardado, Leila Ballard and Gabriela Cascione. However, with a solid group of returners and some talented underclassmen, the Centurions have returned locked and loaded with a 13-1 start.
Chasiah Omoregie will be a name to keep an eye on for the next four seasons. The freshman setter-opposite is coming along just fine as she leads the Centurion offense alongside senior setter Bailey Posey.
Taylor Stires, Kimora Hogains and sophomore Valerie Mejia will be key all-around players while freshman libero Emily Tran anchors the back row. Up front on defense, senior middle Victoria Vacas has made contact with a huge portion of opponent attacks as she is already averaging two blocks per match.
Saugus could be well on its way to its third Foothill League championship in four years, but will have tough dates with West Ranch, Valencia and Canyon.
Oaks Christian
The Lions are not only winners of six consecutive matches to start the year, the team has also already won three five-set battles, including an 18-16 final in the fifth set to beat Notre Dame.
The win over the Knights is one of two Lions’ reverse sweeps already this season, showing coach Julie Bennett that her team is never out of it.
“This team is fun,” she wrote in a text message. “They work hard, are super motivated, love each other and enjoy playing together. (They’re) a solid group of returners with some additional firepower and ball control.”
Sadie Kocur is off to a hot start with her play and leadership while Masina Ogbechie has also added some big offensive numbers. Junior Ellie Hallinan has moved to libero and has been ‘instrumental’ to Bennett’s team’s defense and serve receive.
While the goals remain the same of winning the Marmonte League for the fifth straight year and returning to the playoffs, Bennett just wants her team relaxed and having fun, which coincidentally is when the Lions are at their best.
“We have a fun little cross-town rivalry with Thousand Oaks, who is going to be a great challenge,” Bennett said. “But the girls are as motivated as ever to keep the streak alive. I am trying to not bring too much attention or importance on that or beating TO. We play our best when we’re loose, smiling and having fun, so that will be my goal all season is to get them in a great headspace, feeling confident, being relentless and enjoying every second.”
Taft
The Toreadors are gearing up to defend both their West Valley League and CIF LA City Open Division titles. While the team graduated 11 seniors from its 40-win team last year, coach Arman Mercado still has some returning players ready to step into new roles.
Laila Braimah, Aralyn Adorable-Flores, Quinn Bolisay, Jasmine Orellana will take on starting roles in their senior seasons. Junior setter Alexa Barajas will have many new weapons including freshman outside Janice Sanchies and junior transfer Chloe Fields.
Taft will have another tough year in league play as the West Valley League appears to be a more even landscape compared to its top-heavy previous seasons.
West Ranch
West Ranch enters 2025 with an advantage few high school teams ever get, returning every starter from a playoff team. With a veteran corps all returning as seniors while sophomore standout Devyn Kobe continues to be a force at the outside, the Wildcats are poised for a special season in 2025.
“We go into the season with pretty high expectations, returning every starter and then some,” said Wildcats coach Jamey Ker in a phone interview. “It’s not just a starting group that’s been together for a while. It’s kind of everybody, and everybody’s very familiar with each other. The chemistry is great.”
West Ranch is led on both sides of the court by senior setter Dani Clewis. The Gonzaga commit is already well over 200 assists while also leading the team in blocks. Kobe has been a force on the net and the team has gotten boosts from Grace Kelley, Lola Van Why and Gioria Nicolas-Piccolino. Kobe led the team in kills as a freshman but has taken another big step in her game this season.
“That sophomore season is always where you see that big jump, and we’re certainly seeing it with Devyn,” Ker said. “She’s going to have, and already is having a pretty massive season for us. We’re setting her a ton and she’s going up against big blocks and being really successful.”
While the team has big aspirations of a Foothill League and CIF title, with 3-2 losses ending chances at each of those last season, the Wildcats are taking every practice and match as an opportunity to grow and get better. Ker believes with that mentality, West Ranch will get what it needs and be ready for a postseason run.
“It’s not just the comfort knowing that we’re a good team, we have to go out there and prove that we’re a good team,” Ker said. “It’s one thing to be excited about a season. That’s another thing to attack a season with intensity and ambition. And I think it just continues to stay our priority to make sure that we’re approaching the season in every moment when there’s a chance to do something great. It’s less about a chip on the shoulder and more about an opportunity to capitalize on something.”
El Camino Real
The Royals will look vastly different in 2025 with six seniors departing and a new coach at the helm.
John Galvan will be the new El Camino Real head coach as Alyssa Lee, a three-time CIF championship coach, steps into the role of program director.
Galvan will lead the Royals with returning outside hitters Arianna Ellis and Aja Najar poised for dynamic senior seasons.
The Royals will aim to be back atop the West Valley League standings and end Taft’s run of a three-peat.
Newbury Park
Newbury Park is coming off one of its best seasons in over a decade, in which the team reached the CIF SS Division 4 finals match.
The Panthers haven’t seemed to lose any momentum off the strong 2024 campaign as they fired off 13 straight wins to start the 2025 season.
“This year’s girls are super motivated and think they have a much better team this year,” said Newbury Park coach Chris Forrest via text message. “They think they can make another run for CIF.”
Forrest’s team is more balanced than last year’s, which relied much more on the outside attack. This season’s team features more options everywhere for setter Keira Overbeck, including fellow junior all-CIF outside hitter Charley Knupp. The coach is also expecting impact years from middle blocker Brooke Patsch, opposite hitter Sara Vlaskovits and senior libero Kylie Beilke.
Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks is looking to end a 12-year league title drought.
Lancers coach James Park has seen his team win six straight, and Oaks Christian’s chokehold on the Marmonte League could finally loosen.
Opposite hitter London Halverson currently leads the team in kills, while her sister, Saylor, adds plenty of offense from the left side. Senior Leah Curtain runs the offense while former outside hitter Ellie Hallinan moves to libero. For Park, Curtain’s move off the net has been seamless and helped the team in numerous ways.
“We’ve been executing pretty well,” Park said in a phone interview. “And just like anybody else, when we pass the ball well, we click. We have a couple of tall kids who can bang the ball, and I think that has been helping.”