2009 girls volleyball season preview

Click here to find the O.C. top 10, players to watch and important dates for the upcoming season.

Santa Margarita is the defending Division I-AA champion and comes equipped for 2009 with the Division I Player of the Year, senior Kylie Hargreaves.

However, the preseason excitement isn't surrounding the Eagles as much as it is a team at the opposite end of the county volleyball geographical spectrum – Los Alamitos.

The scenario wasn't much different a year ago, when Los Alamitos garnered much of the early attention, while Santa Margarita finished the year on top.

"You can look at it one of two ways, from a coaching standpoint and a player's standpoint," said Esperanza coach Isaac Owens about the Eagles' situation. "They might not be getting respect and it's a bummer, but as a coach maybe you don't mind being No. 2 or No. 3 and a little of a darkhorse."

On the other hand, Los Alamitos could be the most loaded team in the county.

The Griffins graduated star libero Kelly Holford, but they bring a bevy of skilled players back for this year's campaign. There is buzz about the Griffins perhaps capturing the school's first state title since 2006.

"Our goal every year is to make it all the way," Los Alamitos coach Dave Huber said. "We'll have our wins and losses here and there. We aren't always looking to win every single match, but to get better and be playing in the last match of the year."

The Griffins – the highest ranked team (No. 28) in the county in the PrepVolleyball.com national rankings – have a deep lineup that includes junior standout Jane Croson and middle blockers Emily Hartong and Halli Amaro.

Croson is among the early candidates for county player of the year, a list that include Hargreaves, Troy's Julian Crum and Beckman's Lydia Bai.

The biggest challenge facing Los Alamitos is replacing Holford at libero and finding consistent setting for the many hitters.

"In terms of what they have physically, they have girls who are big, strong, can jump and have good arms," said Owens, who watched the Griffins capture the Sunset League title last season.

"They are the most explosive team, position by position, in the county. They have maybe the best outside hitter, then maybe the next best outside hitter, and two of the best middles. They have phenomenal hitters."

As much potential as the Griffins have back, Owens said he doesn't believe Santa Margarita is far behind. Besides Hargreaves, the Eagles return juniors Sam Tinsley and Katherine Kolodziej and senior Liz Riggins.

The defending champions' most pressing need is settling in a new setter.

"Santa Margarita won a CIF championship," Owens said. "You can't replace that experience. They played in big matches. To have been there when it matters is huge."

The Eagles and Griffins open the season as the top two teams in the county, yet if there is a team that seemingly could join them it's Huntington Beach. The Oilers benefitted by the addition of transfer Haleigh Hampton, a 6-foot-7 senior middle blocker from Temescal Canyon of Lake Elsinore.

Oilers coach Craig Pazanti, who also has outside hitter Kellie Turner back, liked his team's makeup even before Hampton arrived.

"Haleigh adds to what we're trying to do," Pazanti said. "I would have picked us to win league before Haleigh arrived. We have five returning starters. Obviously a coach would be confident in his team with that."

Where the other teams land in the rankings promises to be a week-to-week debate. No fewer than a dozen teams could battle for spots in the top 10.

It is one reason the county action is sure to be lively and captivating yet again.

"Traditionally, it's always been very competitive," Huber said. "Whoever starts No. 1, is not No. 1 at the end of the year. Teams will take turns bouncing in and out of the rankings."