In the past, the Anzar Hawks volleyball team have punched their
ticket to the Central Coast Section playoffs with one of the four
at-large bids in Division V.
San Juan Bautista – In the past, the Anzar Hawks volleyball team have punched their ticket to the Central Coast Section playoffs with one of the four at-large bids in Division V.
However this season, with teams like Mount Madonna and St. Francis joining the Division V pack, there are suddenly more teams competing for the same amount of at-large bids.
“We really have to have an outstanding record and not just a .500 record,” said Chris Wardlaw, head coach of Anzar volleyball. The Hawks will seek a top-two finish in the Mission Trail Athletic League, which will earn them an automatic playoff bid.
Last season, the Hawks finished 18-7, were selected as the No. 4 seed in the CCS Division V playoffs, but were ousted in the first round to Castilleja.
Since then, Anzar lost six graduating seniors, four of whom played an integral part to the team. While the Hawks will be playing with seven seniors this year, Wardlaw said only three of girls were starters last season, and the team currently lacks varsity experience.
“I’ve got the best group of girls I’ve ever had as far as grades and attitude,” Wardlaw added. “They’re great athletes, good players, but not a lot of varsity experience.”
Last week at the Don Bosco Invitational, the Hawks went 2-4. However, Anzar beat who they were supposed to (Watsonville and Pacific Collegiate) and lost to better teams (Southern California High School and St. Francis), so Wardlaw is unsure of where his team stacks up.
The Hawks will be led by senior middle blocker Christina Flores, senior outside hitter Jaclyn Wiley and junior outside hitter Erin Deleissegues, the three returning starters from last year’s team, as well as the three captains.
“If they have a winning season and they enjoy it, that’d be OK with me,” Wardlaw said, “but I’d like to make the playoffs.”
Regarding other teams in the MTAL, Wardlaw said league champ King City lost plenty of talent last season, but being the largest school in the league will likely supply them with options, while Santa Catalina had an off year last season, but will return its core for the 2007 campaign. As for Pacific Grove, they have Alex Bell, who Wardlaw considers to be the best player in the MTAL.
Today, the Hawks will open their non-conference season at Monte Vista Christian at 6pm.
“Our creed is to just play beautiful volleyball,” Wardlaw said. “I hope that transfers into a playoff team.”
