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Badger volleyball coach expects successful season

-- Staff report

(Updated: Thursday, September 01, 2011, 9:36 AM)

The Yosemite High School varsity volleyball team is made up this year of seven seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and one new coach. Sonja Mazaira has been named the new coach after Tammy Thacker stepped down after 10 years, although coaching volleyball and Yosemite High are not new to her.

Mazaira has taught physical education and health at Yosemite for 17 years, coached women's soccer for 11 years and coached freshmen and JV volleyball at the school in the mid to late 90s. She served as Thacker's assistant coach last year and coached the 18 and under club team this summer.

"I took five years off from coaching after the birth of my daughter," Mazaira said. "I missed coaching during this time and was excited at the opportunity of getting back into coaching full time, especially at Yosemite High School."

Mazaira said she loves volleyball and that coaching gives her the opportunity to help athletes set goals and attain those goals. "I like to challenge my athletes to push themselves to new levels and then see the excitement on their faces with the accomplishments that follow."

Assistant coach is Michele Chenowith, a former Badger volleyball player and former head womens volleyball coach.

The seniors on this year's team are Riley Cooks, Dana Day, Sami Dominici, Laura Beth Silverman, Rachel Taylor, Kainani Taylor and Cassandra Wires. The juniors are Dahlia Lopez and Danielle Troup and the sophomore who made the team is Cassandra Salisbury.

Cooks and Silverman were elected by their teammates as co-captains of this year's team.

"Both of these players have what it takes to be a captain on this team," Mazaira said. "They are committed ... they lead by example and they are both respected by other players on the team."

Mazaira was happy to have a great turnout during try-outs, with enough players to fill three teams this year -- varsity, JV and freshman. "No other schools in our league have a freshman team but we have chosen to keep ours intact because of the large turn-out of girls and for the future of our program."

Not one to predict the outcome of the team's season, Mazaira does believe her players have what it takes to do well in league this year and make it to play-offs.

Mazaira feels the strengths of her team are the athleticism of her setter Cooks, the quickness of players like Lopez and Dominici and the overall versatility of her players to play where needed.

Coaching the JV and freshman teams this season is Cari Fike, a YHS graduate and volleyball player. Jennifer Sciaqua is serving as JV and freshman assistant coach.

"I couldn't have asked for a better group of individuals to work with during my first season as head coach," Mazaira said. "We have seven home games and I would love to see the community show their support for our team by filling the stands during these matches," Mazaira said.

The Badger's first two home game are Monday, Sept. 12, against Mariposa and the following night the Badgers will host Immanuel. Against Mariposa, the freshman team plays at 4 p.m. with the JV and varsity playing at 5 and 6:30 p.m. Immanuel does not have a freshman team, so the Sept. 13 games will be at 5 and 6 p.m. for JV and varsity.