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All photos by Andrew Self/ special to the Valley Chronicle | ||
September 04, 2013
The Hemet Bulldog's girls volleyball program has been a growing force over the last three years and has proven it by winning three consecutive CIF championships.This season, the team looks to again make history and earn a fourth straight CIF title.
"We are going to work hard to build a team that deserves to make a good run into CIF again," said second-year head coach Janie Washburn. "We hope to be very strong fundamentally, especially with our passing. That will allow us to showcase some of our offensive weapons."
Washburn said the potential of a four-peat has lit a fire underneath the Hemet team.
"It is quite a motivator, especially for our seniors," she said. "With this being a little bit of a rebuilding year after the loss of seven seniors and two underclassmen, we definitely have the goal of going all the way again, but we will be working hard every step of the way there."
The Bulldogs won in a nail-biting championship game versus Saddleback Valley Christian that went five sets last year in the finals. The experience of knowing how to play in such a tight playoff game is what Washburn says will help the team this season.
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There are also some underclassmen who have stepped up for Hemet this season, according to Washburn.
"Some of the younger girls have worked hard to earn a spot on the court," she said. "And some of this year's seniors have really improved and are allowing us to use them in different ways than we had originally anticipated."
Staying focused and mentally locked in will be the key for the current lady Bulldogs.
"When we are focused, we have been passing serve receive well, allowing us to become more of a dynamic offensive team," Washburn said. "We are also working on serving tough to keep our opponents out of their own systems."
But it has not been a seamless beginning to the season.
"It is tough bringing in eight new girls to the varsity level because there is such a jump from the level of play from junior varsity," Washburn said. "But they have worked hard over the summer and are learning how we run our offense and where they need to be on defense."
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"I think people are expecting us not to do as well this year, but we are going to be fine," Self said. "I have a lot of confidence in our seniors. We have a lot of good experience."
Self said because the team has won three consecutive championships, it forces them to come out to play every match.
"We kind of have that target on our back. People want to beat us just because we have won in the past," Self said. "We have to be mentally and physically prepared for every game. We can't ever let down."
Senior Baylee Christian, who is a three-year varsity member, agrees that people may be underestimating the Bulldogs this season.
"I think people should expect us to never back down against anyone," she said. "We've been working really hard so far and it is really paying off."
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"We're definitely underestimated as a team because of how many seniors we lost," she said. "But, I know we can reach our goal of CIF."
For Coach Washburn, she simply hopes her team can remain locked in to every match.
"We need to pass well so our hitters have the set and have every option they need to put pressure on our opponent's defense," Washburn said. "We are not a tall team, so we will need to be smart and consistent."
The Bulldog's next game will be at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 in their home gymnasium when they face La Sierra High School.
San Jacinto High School will play their next home game on Oct. 8 at 4:45 p.m. when they begin Mountain Pass League play against Tahquitz High School. Tahquitz High School plays at home today, Sept. 5, at 4:45 p.m. versus Rubidoux High School. West Valley High School will play at home on Sept. 12 at 4:30 p.m. versus Norco High School.
http://www.thevalleychronicle.com/Articles-Sports-c-2013-09-04-84984.113122-Hemet-volleyball-on-hunt-for-fourth-consecutive-CIF-title.html
Source: http://www.thevalleychronicle.com