Girls volleyball: Royal eyeing more postseason success; Saugus gains early edge for league title
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The Royal High boys volleyball team won a CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship last season, giving the girls team some much-needed motivation.
Seeing their friends and brothers chase a championship re-ignited a fire in the Highlanders. They’ve consistently been at the top of the Coastal Canyon League and have won a share of the league title in the last two non-COVID seasons. Getting past the second round of playoffs is, historically, a challenge.
“That’s a little more motivation,” coach Kristine Connolly said. “They got to see what postseason play really looks like. For them to get the opportunity to watch their friends and brothers go all the way as far as they could, that excited them.”
Connolly has noted that her team is particularly fiery this season, which helped them jump to a 10-0 start on the season. They’re connected by their love of volleyball, which has translated to chemistry and skill at each position.
Beatrice Gamboa is the only senior on the team and had 26 kills as an outside hitter against Newbury Park early in the season. Ayzlinn Trefren adds to Gamboa’s offensive abilities and is clutch in high-pressure situations. Connolly said that she’s had the final kill in multiple matches this season.
Middle blocker Hailey Byron has earned herself captain honors even though she’s only a sophomore. Connolly anticipates her to be important in the second half of the season, a time when Royal has had problems in the past.
“In past teams, we’ve gotten to a point and they kind of just … the fire dims just a little bit,” Connolly said. “But this group doesn’t want to ever stop playing. I think this group is going to be the one that is like, ‘nope, we want to keep going.’”
Royal begins the league season on Thursday against Oak Park with a league title and a playoff run on its mind.
“It’s a different fire in their eyes,” Connolly said.
Cents have edge for Foothill League title
Saugus volleyball has an early advantage in securing a Foothill League title after sweeping West Ranch, its toughest competition for the title, in its league opener.
Taylor Treahy drove down 18 kills in the game, while Long Beach State commit Milani Lee had 25 assists and Gabriella Cascione had eight aces and 12 digs.
The Centurions are unbeaten in league through three matches and have just one loss overall on the season — a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Orange Lutheran. Saugus is also the top-ranked team in the latest CIF Southern Section volleyball polls and reached the CIF-SS Division 4 semifinals last season.
Saugus and West Ranch will meet again on Sept. 20. The Cents have also had several games rescheduled due to heat and will now play Hart on Sept. 21 and Sept. 28, Golden Valley on Sept. 23 and Oct. 7 and Castaic on Oct. 14.