Girls volleyball team has championship for YHS in sight as season starts strong

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Friday, August 27, 2010, 12:59 PM)

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Thacker coaches 10th season

Championship volleyball has become the norm at Yosemite High School and this season looks to be no different.

Tammy Thacker returns for her 10th season as varsity head coach, as the Badgers return with three starters from last year's team, which tied with Chowchilla for the North Sequoia League Championship, with identical 9-1 records.

The Badgers have won three consecutive league titles and six over the last 10 years under Thacker. The team also won the CIF Division III Valley Championship in 2004.

Returning starters are seniors Ashley Ellis, 5-11; Courtney Thacker, 5-10 and Lacey Smith, 5-5. In pre-season practices, Ellis, an outside hitter, and Thacker, the team's setter, seem to be the team's strength.

"They have played together for the past three years and have lots of confidence and trust in each other," said coach Thacker.

Other key players include seniors Devin Grant, 5-3, and Kim Corkill, 5-9, along with junior Laura Silverman, 5-6.

Coach Thacker says it's difficult to predict who will challenge the Badgers for the league championship this year. "With so many teams playing year-round club ball, everyone is getting stronger and stronger every year."

Juniors Rachel Taylor, 5-7, and Riley Cooks, 5-7, are expected to get plenty of court time this season and rounding out the team is sophomore Dahlia Lopez, 6-0, and juniors Dana Day, 5-11; Sami Dominici, 5-7, and Cassandra Wire, 5-6. Assisting Thacker this year is Sonja Mazaira, who coached the JV volleyball team between 1993 and 1995. She also coached girls soccer from 1994 to 2005.

JV team very young

Only two members of last year's undefeated league championship JV team return this season, leaving coach Tricia Ruiz little time to prepare her team for another run at the league title.

"This is a very young team and we're doing our best to mold these girls into a volleyball team," Ruiz said. "They are working hard and looking a little better every day."

Returning from last year are setter Daniell Troup, 5-5, and outside hitter, Jordan Nelson, 5-7.

Strong freshman hitters are Analiese Bayt and Laurann Fowler.

Both teams will play at home against Mariposa High School on Tuesday, Aug. 31. The JV team plays at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 6:30 p.m.

2010 YHS Girls Volleyball Schedule

JV games, 5 p.m.; varsity, 6 p.m.

Aug. 31: Mariposa @ Yosemite

Sep. 3-4: Clovis Varsity Tourney @ Clovis Sep. 7: Immanuel @ Immanuel

Sep. 9: Clovis North @ Yosemite

Sep. 16: Madera South @ Yosemite

Sep. 24-25: La Jolla Tournament @ La Jolla

Sep. 28: Clovis East @ Yosemite

Oct. 5: Kerman @ Kerman

Oct. 7: Liberty @ Yosemite

Oct. 12: Washington Union @ Yosemite

Oct. 14: Chowchilla Union @ Chowchilla