After playing just a single match last season, the reigning NSCIF Division V champion Colusa RedHawks are eager to get back on the court.
With three returners off last seasons team and a strong supporting cast making their varsity debuts, expectations are running high for the RedHawks to replicate their 2019 success this fall.
Leading Colusa is Coach Kim Roper, who enters her second season at the helm after spending six years heading up the RedHawks JV program, which is significant in that, during that stint, she guided this particular group of athletes to a record 25-2 finish and went undefeated in league.
That experience, coupled with the fact that she has coached many of these same players in club volleyball since they were in the sixth grade, without question gives the squad an advantage that comes with familiarity.
At the core of this years RedHawk team are three varsity returners from 2019: seniors Reese Roper and Abby Myers, along with junior Karsyn Gwinnup.
Two seasons ago as sophomores that played all the way round, Roper registered 181 kills and 257 digs, while Myers scooped 253 digs and tied for second on the team in serving points with 228.
Gwinnup, a late season freshman call-up in 2019, gained some valuable experience during the RedHawks run through the section and state playoffs.
This year, Roper will reprise her role, with Myers shifting to setter in the 5-1 system, and Gwinnup starting in the middle.
Colusa has a great deal of depth in the front row and will turn to seniors Leah Ferrara, Clara Dorsey, and Holly Hickel, along with juniors Nicole Carrere and Brooklyn Bradbury and sophomore Ellie Faris on the attack.
In the back row, senior libero Anahi Guzman will anchor the defense, which should also include senior Abby Wolf and junior Lexi Avera.
Two other versatile juniors, who should see action in a variety of situations, will be Jasmine Bernardo and Carly Simmons.
Given their athleticism and experience, the RedHawks have to be considered not only a favorite in the Sacramento Valley League, but also likely to mount a successful defense of their section title.
Still, Coach Roper remains just cautiously optimistic about her teams chances.
” We dont have much height, so we need to play a quicker game, but that works for us,” Roper said. ” We have good athletes who have played a lot of club, so I think were going to be fine.
Colusa should face its first major test at the end of this month, when the team heads to Sutters Battle for the Buttes Tournament, but also cannot look past Sacramento Valley League opponents Willows, East Nicolaus, Durham, and Pierce as the season progresses.
The RedHawks opened play on Wednesday, with a match at home against Middletown and will host Sutter tonight. –
