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 Saddleback Valley Christian's Carmen Stratton is the Register's 2014 girls volleyball coach of the year.
Saddleback Valley Christian’s Carmen Stratton is the Register’s 2014 girls volleyball coach of the year.
Damian Calhoun. Sports Newsroom Assistant.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

At times this season, things might have appeared easy for the Saddleback Valley Christian girls volleyball team.

Behind all of its success, however, was a lot of hard work.

“When we took over the program, four to five years ago, we pushed the kids in the program to play club (volleyball),” SVC coach Carmen Stratton said. “The seniors that are graduating this year are all club players.

“We had to establish that within the program, and they had to be willing to play year-round. We also got them into the beach program.”

The dedication paid off. The Warriors have developed into a one of the top programs in the county, and they finished this year ranked sixth in the county.

This year’s senior class helped the program make a seamless transition from CIF-SS Division 4AA to 3A. The Warriors made their third consecutive CIF finals appearance, winning their second consecutive division title and advanced to the CIF Division III state finals.

For her leadership during the season, Stratton is the Register’s girls volleyball Coach of the Year.

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2014 ALL-COUNTY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL:

2014 All-County girls volleyball team

Aliso Niguel’s Ruddins in 2014 girls volleyball player of the year

2014 All-County girls volleyball: second, third, fourth teams

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“I’m really proud of the girls,” Stratton said. “There aren’t a lot of times where things just come together in terms of chemistry and the caliber of players where you have success.”

The Warriors opened the season playing an arduous nonleague schedule designed to prepare them for the rigors of the CIF playoffs. Stratton took the Warriors to Las Vegas for the prestigious Durango Fall Classic in September.

“It was the first time I saw them not panic when in a tough match or down in a game,” Stratton said. “That was where the maturing seemed to happen and we were kind of able to build off of that.”

From there, the Warriors went on a 28-3 run to end the season, reaching the state finals for the first time.

“It was a special season,” Stratton said. “One that we will definitely remember. I don’t want that (our loss in state final) to overshadow all of the good that we accomplished this season.”

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com