MAKAHLA BOLKO (right) will play a key role for the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High girls varsity volleyball team this season.

The St. Patrick-St. Vincent High girls varsity volleyball team has come close to winning the Tri-County Athletic League championship in recent years, only to come up a little short. But with no dominant team in the TCAL this season, the Lady Bruins feel they have as good a shot as anyone to bring home the title.

“It’s going to be fun because there isn’t one dominant team this year,” said SPSV head coach Danette Domecus. “I think we have a shot along with teams like Albany and St. Mary’s, so it will be a cat fight any time we play each other.”

The Lady Bruins, who have already gotten off to a 7-4 start in non-league competition this season, lost eight seniors from last year’s team, including All-TCAL First Team selection Isabel Villalobos and Second Team pick Tiffany Diaz. Only two seniors grace this year’s roster, including All-TCAL Honorable Mention Nikki Lumauod, who is out indefinitely with an injured shoulder.

But there is plenty of reason for hope. Ten players return from last year’s squad, including six who received significant playing time. Add in four new promising freshmen and Domecus believes her team can compete with anyone in the TCAL.

“A lot of them have experience and that’s the thing that’s different,” Domecus said. “And I think the freshmen this year are going to take a lot of playing time away from the returning juniors. The freshmen will make our juniors work harder and pick up their game.”

Lumauod played a big role as a setter last year and will play an even bigger role this season – if she bounces back from a shoulder injury she suffered last Friday in a loss to Marin Academy.

“She didn’t really get noticed last year because she wasn’t the focal point of our offense,” Domecus said. “She was under the radar a lot.”

Sophomore Makahla Bolko was fifth on the team in kills last season and brings veteran experience. Bolko is a libero on her Club team but will play either outside hitter of opposite hitter this season for the Lady Bruins.

“She’s grown up a little more and played a lot over the summer,” Domecus said. “She’s court smart. She’s been around the game for so long that she really understands the situations. She’ll be up against a lot of big blockers so she can’t rely simply on power hits. She has to be smart and change things up and work her shots around the defense. And she’s a great defensive player. We just need to get her to be a great serve-receive player.”

Candice Turk (the only senior other than Lumauod) was sixth in kills last year and is a starting opposite hitter, though she may see some time in the middle.

“She’s really improved a lot and she can hit,” Domecus said. “I might have her play as an opposite hitter if I can find someone to play the middle because Candice is a really good opposite hitter.”

Junior returner Shaina Snyder is this year’s libero, with junior Jazalyn Cruz and sophomore Kamryn Mitchell also battle tested. Juniors Alondra Magallanes, Leah Perez, Ariana Saunders and Angelina Sayama saw limited action last season.

Domecus has been very impressed with the freshmen who made the varsity team. Caroline Gallagher (opposite hitter), Chloe Ortega (setter) and Jordan Murphy (middle blocker) are good enough to start (Ortega and Murphy play for the same Club team). Nia Enderiz also shows promise.

“It’s going to be exciting because we have only two seniors and some really good freshmen, so we’re also building for next year,” Domecus said.

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