There is an old saying that familiarity breeds contempt, but that doesn’t apply to the Aliso Niguel girls volleyball team.
For the Wolverines, familiarity is leading the way toward success.
After their second trip to the CIF-SS quarterfinals in three years, the Wolverines return to the court this season with their sights on a bigger goal.
“The perfect ending would be winning a CIF title,” senior outside hitter Lindsey Ruddins said.
The Wolverines lost last year to eventual champion La Salle of Pasadena in the quarterfinals.
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This year’s team will be defending the program’s first league title, and it is the top-ranked team in the CIF-SS preseason Division 1A rankings.
The Wolverines ended the summer by winning the Elite Varsity Division title at the annual Queen Court Tournament in August.
“Everyone will look and see (Kathryn) Plummer and (Lindsey) Ruddins (on our team), but they’re not our entire team,” Coach DP Butler said. “We have so many players that will contribute.”
Plummer and Ruddins are a strong foundation though.
Plummer is a junior setter and opposite, who spent part of her summer capturing the gold medal at the FIVB U17 World Championships. Plummer was selected Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Ruddins, a senior, is committed to UC Santa Barbara. Plummer and Ruddins shared the Sea View League’s MVP honors last season.
“Most of us have been together for three years,” Ruddins said of the players on the team. “We’ve worked hard in the gym and in the weight room and we’ve always held each other accountable.
Ruddins is the younger sister of Elise Ruddins, who was a fixture during the first wave of success for the Wolverines. Elise graduated in 2012.
Seniors Jewel Hays (setter), Summer Kerins (middle blocker) and Olivia Amador (libero) all return, giving Butler reason to feel optimistic about the season.
“I want them to live up to their expectations,” Butler said.
The returning cast includes junior outside hitter McKenna Ross, sophomore middle blocker Kirsten Battle and junior libero Rachelle Runyon.
“They have done a lot of work in the offseason,” Butler said. “We have nine returners and all of the starters back from last year. That year of experience and the confidence and trust they have in each other is key.”
Butler has worked quickly to breathe life into the Aliso Niguel program.
“When I took over we had 40 girls out to tryout,” he said. “The past three years, we’ve had 125.”
The recent success has created a strong support system around campus and that could grow to new levels this season.
“It has been awesome to see the program grow since my freshman year or even since I was in middle school” Ruddins said. “It has been fun to watch.”
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com