Area Talent Rewarded!

BURBANK — 11 area players from four teams awarded with all-league selections. For the second straight season, all four area girls’ volleyball teams made the postseason. However, three of the squads — Burroughs, Burbank and Providence highs — fell in the first round of the playoffs.
That wasn’t the case for Bellarmine-Jefferson, which advanced to the program’s first-ever CIF Southern Section championship. Unfortunately for the Guards, they fell in the Division IVA title match to Upland Christian Academy, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23.

Bell-Jeff also won its fourth straight Santa Cruz League championship, as it was the lone area school to capture a title.

Although the Guards had the most success this past season, it was Burroughs that garnered the most all-league selections — five. Bell-Jeff followed with three, Burbank had two and Providence had one.

There was no doubt whom the Guards (19-9) looked upon to lead the team. Sophomore outside hitter Jocelyn Cervantes came up big time and time again for Bell-Jeff, as she was one of the team’s three first-team all-league honorees.

Cervantes had 255 kills and a .460 hitting percentage, 65 aces, 116 digs and 232 assists

“Jocelyn seemed to wait until the playoffs to play her best volleyball of the year,” Bell-Jeff Coach Miguel Segura said. “She is just a monster and you can’t block her one on one.”

Also making the first team was senior libero Kim Van Dyke, a four-year player for Bell-Jeff. Van Dyke tallied 271 digs and 33 assists.

The other first-teamer was sophomore outside hitter Breanna Padron, who had 101 kills (a .310 percentage), 72 aces, 159 digs and 315 assists.

With just five seniors on this season’s team, Bell-Jeff will have a large portion of its squad returning for next year.

Burroughs (14-8) placed second this past season in the Pacific League.

The Indians’ leader on the floor was senior libero Traci Hamanaka, who was a four-year varsity standout for the program.

The other coaches in the league also recognised her talents, as Hamanaka was named the co-player of the year. She shared the award with Arcadia junior Taylor Degraaf.

Hamanaka averaged 22.2 digs a match.

Senior setter Amy Clarke (33 assists a match) and sophomore outside hitter Kathy Henry (20 kills a match) were first-team selections.

Senior outside hitter Jessika Diaz (7.3 kills and 14 digs a match) and sophomore middle blocker Megan Stephenson (12.3 kills a match) made the second team.

“Traci, along with Jessika, has helped us turn this program around in their four years with us,” Burroughs Coach Edwin Real said.

Hamanaka and Diaz helped paced Burroughs to back-to-back CIF quarterfinal appearances in 2006 and ’07. They also helped the Indians win a league championship in 2007, the program’s first in 13 years.

Burbank (13-7) moved up this season to place third in the Pacific League.

The Bulldogs had one first-team honoree in senior outside hitter Iris Mora, who had 237 kills.

Senior opposite hitter Natalie Burns (262 kills) made the second team.

The lone all-league selection for Providence (7-13-1 and third in the Liberty League) was senior outside hitter Christine Mallari. Mallari was a four-year varsity starter for the Pioneers.