COLUSA, CA (MPG) – When the RedHawks open their season on Aug. 15 at home against Clear Lake, nine players will be making their varsity debuts, a far cry from last year’s veteran squad that featured seven seniors.
While the majority of the current team lacks experience against varsity competition, all them have played club ball, which will make the transition much easier.
Leading the way for Colusa, third in the Sacramento Valley League with an overall record of 25-11 a year ago, is senior Elle Faris, an All-SVL pick in 2022.
Faris, who played all the way around last year, finished with an impressive stat line that included 193 kills, 57 aces, 241 digs, and 372 service receptions.
This year, the RedHawks will also look to Faris to share the setting duties as well, reprising a role-played last season by their All-Northern Section selection Karsyn Gwinnup, who has graduated and moved on to play at Pasadena City College.
Another familiar face, who will mirror Faris in hitting and setting, is junior Addison Lay, who a season ago accounted for 149 kills, 34 blocks, and 104 assists.
Both Faris and Lay provide height to the front row and will be joined by incoming juniors Aliah Ramirez and McKenna Azbill.
Senior Allie Reading, who logged 90 digs and 40 aces, settles in as an opposite, while Abril Guzman, a late season call-up last year, could additionally see some time in the front row, as will sophomore Cece Mitchum, who will hit from the pin.
Except for Guzman, who will also play in the back row where, in 33 sets last year, she made 45 digs, the rest of the defensive crew includes juniors Ariana Avera, Ava Garcia, Olivia Huskey, Eliza Mitchum, Makayla Sciortino, and Mia Valenica, all entering their first varsity season.
Garcia will most likely spend several rotations facilitating the offense as a setter for the RedHawks, who have greater depth than they have had in some time.
And while there will be an adjustment period, as the new players adapt to the speed of the varsity game, the athleticism and shear power Colusa possesses – both on the attack and at the service line – will definitely work to their advantage,
Still, this season, the task for coach Kim Roper, who is entering her fourth year at the helm, is finding the balance in her team’s rotation.
“These incoming girls are the first group I haven’t coached previously, so I’m learning what they can do,” said Roper. “I told them that we will be competitive, not only against our opponents but within our practices as well. We have a lot of interchangeable parts, which is good. That depth will allow us to play the matchups.”
Perhaps the greatest challenges Colusa will have in the SVL will be going head-to-head with reigning league and Northern Section Division IV champion East Nicolaus, along with NSCIF Division IV runner up Willows, although if the RedHawks can develop team chemistry and play to their strengths, they could be a handful for their opponents.
