If experience is worth anything, Benicia High’s varsity volleyball team is blessed with a wealth of riches.
The Lady Panthers return two-thirds of their starting lineup (and 10 players overall) from a team that went 15-0 in the Solano County Athletic Conference last year – Benicia’s second consecutive unbeaten conference season. In fact, the Lady Panthers have won 41 straight conference matches dating back to 2011.
With so much returning talent, it would be foolish to think the Lady Panthers won’t find a way to win another SCAC championship. But that may not be enough to satisfy this group, which wants to become the first Benicia volleyball team to advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals – and beyond. Benicia has been bounced out in the Section quarterfinals in five of the past eight years.
“I’ve had a lot of these girls for a long time and watched them grow and develop and I hope this a special year for them,” said Benicia varsity head coach Jamie Hadenfeldt. “But I don’t want to put too much pressure on them. I know they have expectations of winning the league and going far in the playoffs. They really want to get past that second round of the playoffs.”
Leading the charge is senior outside hitter Cassidy Jannson, the reigning SCAC Most Valuable Player. Jannson, in her fourth season with the varsity, led the team with 358 kills a year ago and is solid in every phase of the game.
Fellow senior Megan Osterholt – another four-year varsity player – gives Benicia a dual offensive threat. Osterholt registered 227 kills last year despite suffering a knee injury midway through the season. Now healthy, the All-SCAC First Team selection is probably Jannson’s biggest challenge for league MVP honors this year.
“I think it’s going to be exciting to watch them play,” Hadenfeldt said. “I’m hoping they end their high school careers with their best seasons yet.”
Senior setter Eden Fukushima and senior opposite hitter Kellie Sluga were each All-SCAC Honorable Mentions a year ago and add more experience. Senior Sydney Rowles, juniors Taylor Lokey and Lana Gore, and sophomores Taylor Lewis, Ramona Glatzel and Charlotte Cannizzaro also contributed to last year’s 22-10 varsity team.
“I’m hoping our experienced players have a solid season,” Hadenfeldt said. “It’s a pretty well-balanced team with a solid core of seniors. We’re not super strong in any one particular area but we’re solid at everything.”
Lewis and Glatzel take over the role of libero and will likely share that duty this season. Sluga, Gore, Lokey and Cannizzaro are solid at the middle of the net, with Rowles adding depth as an opposite hitter.
Juniors Lexi Saitz and Reanna Balmediano were setters for last year’s junior varsity and will back up Fukuskima in that role. Sophomore Jessica Blakeman is a backup opposite hitter.
“Volleyball is a game of strategy and court vision and I think our seasoned, experienced players will do well,” Hadenfeldt said. “They know when to make certain plays and when to do certain things. There’s a maturity level there that adds confidence to the team.”
The Lady Panthers officially open the 2014 season tonight at St. Patrick-St. Vincent.
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