After graduating seven seniors from a league championship team a year ago, many volleyball programs would go into a rebuild mode the next year. The El Capitan High girls volleyball team just reloads. Despite a roster that has just one senior and only four returning players from last year, the Gauchos are again the favorite to win a sixth consecutive Central California Conference championship this year.

 

The Gauchos (17-7) opened up conference play on Monday night with a 25-15, 25-21, 22-25, 25-7 victory over Golden Valley to extend their CCC winning streak to 25 consecutive matches. Freshmen Madison Miller and Jasmine Arebalo Bernardo both played key roles as Miller finished with 11 kills and 14 assists and Arebalo Bernardo recorded 14 digs. Junior Anushka Elwin turned in a strong all-around match with 11 kills, 19 assists, 11 digs and four aces. 

 

“Two of our key newcomers are freshmen Madison Miller and Jasmine Arebelo Bernardo, and both have already made an immediate impact,” said El Capitan coach Chela Moreno. “Madison is a right-side hitter/setter and has been a big contributor for us. Her blocking and hitting ability have been phenomenal, especially for a freshman. She has a lot of natural ability, and it's exciting knowing how much room she still has to grow.”

 

“Jasmine is our starting libero,” Moreno added. “I remember watching her in that first game and immediately thinking about Leah Mendoza, who was a standout libero for our program. Jasmine's defense is phenomenal. She plays with absolutely no fear, and she has already made some insane defensive plays for us. For a freshman to step into that position and play with that kind of confidence has been really impressive.”

 

The Gauchos have dominated the CCC in winning five consecutive titles. During that stretch El Capitan has won 54 of its last 57 CCC matches. 

 

“Our goals haven't changed,” Moreno said. “We want to compete for another CCC championship, get back to the playoffs and continue the legacy that has been built within our program. Our players talk a lot about wanting to protect the standard. They know what the teams before them accomplished, and they don't shy away from that. They actually want that challenge. They want to work hard enough to continue what has been built here.”

 

“As coaches, we also try to remind them that they don't have to carry five championships on their backs every time they step onto the court,” Moreno added. “This is their team and their journey. Nothing is automatically given to us because of what previous teams accomplished. They still have to earn it.”

 

The Gauchos may only return four players but all four will play key roles for the team this year. Elwin is one of the top players in the CCC as a third-year player. Annabella Solis is an all-around player who can be a go-to player on offense at times. Ellie Iniguez and Cienna James-Gibson have both made vast improvements from last year and will be key contributors.

 

“With such a young team, consistency and focus are going to be huge, Moreno said. “There are going to be mistakes and growing pains, and that's okay. What can't happen is allowing our youth to become an excuse for losing focus or not competing. Everyone has to be on the same page and committed to doing the little things correctly every day. We also have to embrace who we are. We're not the tallest team, so defensively we have to be relentless. We need block touches, we need to pursue every ball, and we need six players committed to keeping the ball off the floor. We have to make teams work for every single point.”

 

This Gauchos group wants the challenge of extending the CCC championship streak. “There's definitely pressure that comes with what this program has accomplished,” Moreno said. “These girls don't want to be the group that doesn't continue the championship streak. But what's interesting about them is that they want that challenge. We're trying to teach them how to embrace that expectation without allowing it to become a burden.”

 

In other MUHSD action on Monday:

Merced 3, Los Banos 2 – The Bears (8-7) edged the Tigers in a five-set thriller, coming back from two games down to win 22-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-16, 15-8. Kasalyn Mou and Kinley Czirban led the Merced offense with Gabriella Randol coming up big at the net. Aaliyah Solis played well in the back row for the Bears. 

Buhach Colony 3, Atwater 2 – The Thunder outlasted the Falcons in an exciting match that tilted back and forth all night before BC emerged with a 25-14, 21-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-7 victory. Julissa Fainter led the Thunder with seven kills, nine aces, five blocks and five digs. Mia Ruiz added eight kills and Makennah Ayuso chipped in with seven kills. Reese Franklin recorded 23 assists and Maddie Leard finished with 15 digs and six aces. 

Lathrop 3, Livingston 0 – The Wolves dropped a Western Athletic Conference match but are off to a good start this season. Livingston is 10-11 overall and 3-2 in the WAC. The Wolves have been led by Aimee Aguilar Briones, Mia Lopez and Alexia Aguilar Briones. 

 

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.