September 8, 2006

Evergreen Sports

Raiders out-hustle Pioneer in volleyball opener

Silver Creek set for sleeper success

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Silver Creek silenced an imposing Pioneer squad in three straight sets to open the girls’ volleyball season on the road Sept. 5.

Silver Creek silenced an imposing Pioneer squad in three straight sets to open the girls’ volleyball season on the road Sept. 5. Photo by Justin Petersen

The B-league Santa Teresa Division Raiders edged out the West Valley Division Mustangs 26-24 in the final game, after cruising through the first two games by scores of 25-20 and 25-13.

The difference, according to the Raiders, was will.

“Yesterday during warm-ups we looked over and thought Pioneer was really tall and hit very well,” said Silver Creek coach Trish Sunseri, who also serves as the school’s newly appointed athletic director. “They were physically bigger and stronger than us.”

But Silver Creek never flinched, rather drawing a line in the dirt and defining what Sunseri believes will become the battle cry of 2006 – teamwork.

As the match unfolded, Silver Creek played as a unit.

“You could tell the other team started getting upset with each other and falling apart,” said Sunseri. “It came down to how we played together and stuck together as a team.”

According to Sunseri, determination and the will to win surfaced somewhat surprisingly during fall tryouts. The Raiders graduated two seniors a year ago, who accounted for approximately 90 percent of all offensive output, but several returning role players have stepped forward to carry the brunt of the duties left behind, as have underclassmen, in the wake of graduation.

“That’s kind of the backbone of our team this year,” Sunseri said of her team’s willingness to put forth a solid effort.

Sunseri also touted the work of junior Monica Erezo, who led the Raiders with 5 kills versus Pioneer Tuesday, and senior setter Onah Nguyen.

Silver Creek hounded Pioneer’s formidable front, which featured three girls who hovered around the 5-feet, 10-inch range, charging to victory with discipline and teamwork.

“The biggest thing about this team is teamwork,” said Sunseri. “They are already exceeding my expectations. It’s scary coming into this year without much offense thanks to graduation. They are showing me that they do want to step up and be the go-to player.”

Senior outside hitter Kathleen Malonzo and defensive specialist Allison Pronge also enjoyed strong performances versus the Mustangs. Sunseri, in fact, referred to Malonzo as the epitome of the team this season, where untested players may shine, depending on their mentality.

“[Malonzo] has always been a backup secondary player,” said Sunseri. “She didn’t play a ton last season, but when she hits the ball, she is so strong. Her upper body strength is incredible. Her biggest issue is that she is afraid to make mistakes, but when she gets over that, she is just powerful.”

Sunseri figures Lincoln to be the Raiders’ toughest rival in league this season. The Lions boast one of the top volleyball athletes in the section, and Sunseri said there is no strategy to dissuade athletes who overmatch the team.
Yet, Silver Creek is set to fight to the end.

“Win or lose, they all have really good attitudes,” said Sunseri. “In terms of winning or losing, they have a good perspective on it. Most of the girls at Silver Creek play multiple sports. Almost everybody on the team plays two or three sports.”

While other schools specialize, Sunseri banks on the fact that attitude overcomes a lot of obstacles, as will versatility.

“We don’t have any power hitters on the team this year,” she said. “But I think we are going to be able to hold our own. It’s nice because I have coached them for a couple of years now. It’s nice to see the growth over the years to see where the girls have improved and matured.”

SPORTS BRIEFS

Coyote Creek National Junior Basketball signups
NJB (National Junior Basketball) is a nonprofit organization with local chapters in 6 states.  The Coyote Creek chapter services the greater South San Jose area in an around Blossom Valley and South Evergreen.  

This year, we are offering a co-ed clinic for 2nd graders, divisional play in three grade levels for 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, and 7th/8th grade boys, and the same for girls. We also offer an "All-Net" division for a higher level of competition with four girls’ and four boys’ teams (one each) from 5th to 8th grade. Last, but not least, we are also running a boys’ JV High School division for 9th and 10th graders. 

Practices start in October, while first games are December 3rd. Fees are $100 for the 2nd grade clinic, $225 for all other divisions with discounts for multiple siblings.

Online registration is open at our website www.coyotecreeknjb.com or attend open registration on Sept 16 at Oak Grove High School.  

Divisional  evaluations are on Sept 30, Oct 1, or Oct 2nd

All-Net Try-outs are on Oct 7, 8, or 9th  

All evaluations will be held at Oak Grove High School.

Opening Day Jamboree will be held on Saturday, December 2nd at Oak Grove High School.

San Jose Evergreen National Junior Basketball Registration
Basketball season is here again! Come and join the fun. San Jose Evergreen basketball is ready for you. Sign up is as easy as 1, 2, and 3!

1. Go online to http://www. sanjosenjb.org.

2. Complete the registration form, sign it and print a copy.

3. Bring the completed registration form, proof of residency, check, cash or pay pal receipt to one of the following registration and skills evaluation dates and locations below.

Registration and Skills Evaluation:
September 9, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Chaboya Middle School, 3276 Cortona Dr.

September 16, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Chaboya Middle School, 3276 Cortona Dr.

September 18, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Most Holy Trinity, 2040 Nassau Dr.

September 21, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Most Holy Trinity, 2040 Nassau Dr.

September 23, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Chaboya Middle School, 3276 Cortona Dr.

Please note: All players must go through a skills evaluation.

Who can play?
All 3rd to 8th grade children living in the San Jose Evergreen Area boundary: the boundary includes the area south of Alum Rock to Capitol Express Way / Yerba Buena Road, and east of the 87.

For the boundary map, please see the following link http://www.sanjosenjb.org/boundary.php.

What the league provides:
• Separate Boys/Girls Teams: Div3: 3rd/4th; Div2: 5th/6th; Div1: 7th/8th; HS; All Net teams for 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades

• 8 Regular Season Games, Post Season Tournaments, pictures and Trophies for everyone.

• The league teaches sportsmanship, fundamental skills development, and great family fun.

• Basketball Skills clinics to be held throughout October

Fees:
$215 – Registration fee

$40 – Volunteer fee – refunded upon completion of 4 hrs worked

$35 – All-Net fee if player makes All-Net team

$60 – If you need a uniform. $30 for reversible jersey, $30 for reversible pants.

$20 – $10 each blue & gold game shirt worn under jersey (optional)

$15 – official green, blue & white regulation basketball

Note: Fees (minus $35) are only refundable before 12/1/06. After 12/1/06, zero refunds.

EVHS football gears up for Sept. 8 season opener versus Los Altos

Questions remain on offense as season gets underway; wide receiver Larry Lacotti departs for Oak Grove

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

A Sept. 2 scrimmage against Monta Vista High School still left Evergreen Valley head football coach Leo Olmscheid with some unanswered questions about the makeup of his 2006-07 team.

Although the scrimmage was meant to serve as one final tune-up before a Sept. 8 season opener at home against Los Altos, Olmscheid, in his first year at the helm of the football program, said the week of practice leading up to the game will be the real test. Nevertheless, Olmscheid found value in holding the scrimmage.

Evergreen Valley head coach Leo Olmscheid, far right, confers with his offense during a Sept. 2 scrimmage at Monta Vista high School. Derek Pauli (in red) is still competing with teammate Gabe Rodriguez at the quarterback position for playing time.

“The scrimmage we kind of set up as a learning process,” said Olmscheid. “…We wanted to have our kids learn, so there was a lot of talk and instruction out there. It’s good because we went against somebody else, instead of beating each other up throughout double days in camp, and all that.”

Complicating matters more for Olmscheid was the news that promising senior wide receiver Larry Lacotti, who caught 12 passes for 162 yards last season, transferred to Oak Grove. Olmscheid said he found out about the change just prior to the start of two-a-day practices in late August. Lacotti, who also served as a defensive back last season, was to play a pivotal role in the Cougars’ offense this season.

“One person’s not going to make or break a team,” Olmscheid said of Lacotti. “Yeah, we lost him and he’s gone, but that’s pretty much it.”

When asked about the circumstances surrounding Lacotti’s departure to Oak Grove, Olmscheid only offered a simple but terse “no comment.”

Still, despite the sudden change, Olmscheid said he won’t change his philosophy on offense to counteract the departure of Lacotti. To that end, Olmscheid said he still plans to use senior Nathan Goodrich as one of his two receivers on offense, while a host of receivers, including Anthony Alexander, will fill the void left by Lacotti.

“We think of it kind of like an injury,” Olmscheid said of replacing Lacotti. “So, if someone goes down, now we have to have someone else step up. I’m confident in the guys we have. They’ll step up and do what they’re supposed to do.”

While the receiving corps has seen some changes, Olmscheid said he’s pleased with the way his offense’s running game has been working. Speedster Quentin Scott and promising junior running back Eugene Wright are expected to at least split time at the position this year. Scott, a five-foot, nine-inch senior, racked up 288 yards on just 31 carries last season in limited playing time, an average of over 9 yards per carry.

“Quentin had some great runs today,” Olmscheid said of Scott, following the scrimmage. “He has great balance and good feet. He got outside on a couple of nice cutbacks. …If we can get a one-two punch going with those guys, then we’ll be okay.”

And while the running game appears set, the question of who will be handing the ball off to the running backs remains. From the start of summer practices, Olmscheid said the quarterback position would be an open competition between juniors Derek Pauli and Gabe Rodriguez. Following the scrimmage against Monta Vista, Olmscheid remained non-committal on either player.

“They both look good at times and they both look bad at times,” Olmscheid said of his two quarterbacks. “…We still don’t know who we’re going to go with. They both have their pluses and minuses.”

Instead, Olmscheid said the week of practice leading up to the Sept. 8 game against Los Altos will go a long way in determining who calls the signals under center this year.

“Throughout practice, we’re going to see who’s going to kind of step up and say, ‘look, this is pretty much the last straw,’” Olmscheid said of the competition at quarterback during practice. “I’d like to go into our first game knowing that, okay, Derek’s our guy, or Gabe’s our guy. I don’t want to have to go through a two-quarterback system. But if it works out to where we think they are both being competitive and they’re both doing what they’re supposed to do, then we’ll have to try something like that.”

EVERGREEN SPORTS SCHEDULES 9-11 to 9-22

Evergreen Valley High sports schedule
9/12 – Girls’ tennis at Westmont, 3:15 p.m.

9/14 – Cross country vs. Santa Teresa and Leland at Montgomery Hill, 3:30 p.m.
9/14 – Girls’ tennis vs. Mt. Pleasant, 3:15 p.m.

9/15 – Football vs. Carmel, 7 p.m. varsity and 4:30 frosh/soph

9/19 – Girls’ tennis at Yerba Buena, 3:15 p.m.
9/19 – Girls’ volleyball vs. Leland, 6 p.m. varsity and 5 p.m. JV
9/19 – Girls’ water polo vs. Silver Creek at Independence, 5 p.m. varsity

9/21 – Girls’ tennis vs. Willow Glen, 3:15 p.m.
9/21 – Girls’ volleyball at Mt. Pleasant, 6 p.m. varsity and 5 p.m. JV
9/21 – Girls’ water polo vs. Mt. Pleasant at Sobrato, 6 p.m. varsity and 5 p.m. JV

Mt. Pleasant High sports schedule
9/12 – Girls’ tennis vs. Overfelt, 3:15 p.m.

9/14 – Girls’ tennis at Evergreen, 3:15 p.m.
9/14 – Cross country vs. Silver Creek and Willow Glen at Montgomery Hill, 3:30 p.m.

9/15 – Football vs. Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. varsity and 5 p.m. frosh/soph

9/19 – Girls’ water polo at Sobrato, 4 p.m. varsity and 3 p.m. JV
9/19 – Girls’ volleyball at Leigh, 6 p.m. varsity and 5 p.m. JV
9/19 – Girls’ tennis at Willow Glen, 3:15 p.m.

9/21 – Girls’ water polo vs. Evergreen at Sobrato, 6 p.m. varsity and 5 p.m. JV
9/21 – Girls’ volleyball vs. Evergreen, 6 p.m. varsity and 5 p.m. JV
9/21 – Girls’ tennis vs. Pioneer, 3:15 p.m.
9/22 – Football vs. Overfelt, 7 p.m. varsity and 4:30 p.m. frosh/soph

Silver Creek High sports schedule
9/12 – Girls’ tennis vs. Piedmont Hills, 3:15 p.m.

9/14 – Girls’ tennis at Independence, 3:15 p.m.
9/14 – Cross country vs. Mt. Pleasant and Willow Glen at Montgomery Hill, 3:30 p.m.

9/15 – Football vs. Castro Valley, 7:30 p.m. varsity

9/19 – Girls’ tennis at Leland, 3:15 p.m.
9/19 – Boys’ water polo vs. Piedmont Hills at Sobrato, 5 p.m. varsity
9/19 – Girls’ water polo vs. Evergreen at Independence, 5 p.m. varsity
9/19 – Girls’ volleyball vs. Lincoln, 6:30 p.m. varsity and 5 p.m. JV

9/21 – Girls’ tennis vs. Oak Grove, 3:15 p.m.
9/21 – Girls’ volleyball at Overfelt, 5 p.m. varsity and 3:30 p.m. JV
9/21 - Boys’ water polo at Independence, 5 p.m. varsity
9/21 – Girls’ water polo at Independence, 3 p.m. varsity

For more information on local games, log on to the BVAL Web site at http://www.bval.org/