The Signal's 2009 All-Santa Clarita Valley Girls Volleyball Teams
First team
Breena Beckett — Senior, Hart
A constant source of energy for the Indians, the senior middle blocker set a new school record with a league-high 115 blocks, topping the old mark of 94, which she set in 2008. Beckett also registered a team-high 196 kills with 63 digs and 21 aces.
Jaclyn Clark — Sophomore, Saugus
As a freshman, the Foothill League saw what Clark was capable of. One year later, that potential became a reality. The Centurion sophomore had 332 kills and 331 digs in 2009, breaking the team record for digs in a season, digs in a career (595) and digs in a match with 36 against Hart.
Nicole Delange — Senior, Valencia
Delange provided veteran leadership and was stellar in the middle for the league-champion Vikings. In her final season with Valencia, the 6-foot-1-inch senior had 140 kills and 39.5 blocks, helping the team to its eighth straight league title.
Tani Slauson — Junior, West Ranch
This season, the setter piled up an astounding 936 assists, which led the Foothill League. Slauson also added 130 digs. Her ability to set up West Ranch’s outside hitters was a major factor in the team’s success early in the season.
Allison Summers — Senior, West Ranch
When it comes to the University of Georgia-bound outside hitter, the numbers speak for themselves. In her final year with the Wildcats, Summers racked up 441 kills, 336 digs and 57 aces and led her team to its first-ever victory over Valencia on Oct. 6. Summers was flat-out dominant and possessed athleticism unrivaled in the Foothill League.
Allison Toledo — Senior, Hart
The Indians’ senior libero also got into the record-breaking action this season by recording 495 digs, which topped her previous mark of 392 set a year ago. Toledo added 429 serve-receive passes, 28 aces and 18 kills.
Second team
Brianna Earley — Junior, Valencia
One of the most versatile players in the league, Earley was moved all around the court this season and consistently produced. The junior finished the season with 88 kills, 258 assists, 225 digs and 32.5 blocks.
Carly Carapella — Freshman, Valencia
Carapella was called up after the Vikings’ league-opening loss to West Ranch. Valencia didn’t lose again until the playoffs. The freshman setter amassed 560 assists, 125 digs and nine blocks, most of which came in the second half of the season.
Casey David — Senior, Hart
The setter/opposite provided a good all-around skill set for Hart, finishing with 309 assists, 134 digs, 40 aces, 20 kills and six blocks.
Hannah Orlandi — Junior, West Ranch
Orlandi was a force for the Wildcats this season, racking up 282 kills in 2009. Her athleticism and power were a devastating combination for the Foothill League’s No. 2 seed.
Shelby Kunz — Junior, West Ranch
In any given game, the junior could be seen diving all over the court with no regard for her own well-being. Kunz finished the season with 415 digs as a key member of the Wildcats’ defense.
Taylor Schubert — Senior, Saugus
The lone senior starter on a youth-laden team, Schubert did whatever her team needed this season. On Oct. 27, Schubert led the Centurions over West Ranch with 10 kills, 12 digs and eight blocks to highlight a senior season in which she had 189 total kills, 231 digs, 37 aces and 19 blocks.
Honorable Mentions
Bree Braucher — Junior, West Ranch
Jennie Long — Senior, Hart
Sarah Blomgren — Sophomore, Saugus
Heidi Brown — Senior, Valencia
Courtney Longshore — Senior, Canyon
Maddie Hardesty — Junior, Golden Valley
Joanna Masopust — Junior, SCCS
Signal Staff Writer
pputignano@the-signal.com
Posted: Jan. 6, 2010 10:02 p.m.
Katie Hank doesn’t need words.
Valencia’s softspoken senior outside hitter let the ball do the talking.
With every thunderous kill, Hank moved the Vikings closer and closer to their eighth straight Foothill League title.
As the focal point of Valencia’s offense, it was only a matter of time.
And as such, Hank is The Signal’s 2009 Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
On the season, the University of Delaware-bound senior had 383 kills, 249 digs and 24 blocks.
But her impact was more than just statistical.
Hank’s quite confidence in herself and her team led to consistent and clutch play throughout the league season.
In fact, she put up some of her best performances of the season during Foothill League play.
In the Vikings’ second meeting with West Ranch, which was pegged as a top challenger for the title, Hank led the way to a 3-1 victory with 25 kills on Oct. 22.
During an Oct. 27 sweep of Hart, another top contender, Hank had 21 kills and 10 digs to take sole possession of first place.
Then on Oct. 29 in a four-game win over Saugus, she poured in 31 kills, ensuring that Valencia was in the driver’s seat the rest of the way.
In the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division I-A playoffs, Hank had 26 kills and 10 digs to earn a 3-2 victory over Villa Park.
However, the run fell short two days later in a five-game loss to El Toro.
Finishing with 24 kills, Hank led the Vikings back from a two-game deficit to force a fifth game.
But a defensive miscue doomed Valencia and ended the season.
Afterward, Vikings head coach Ray Sanchez raved about his team and its leadership.
He described Hank as a tremendous talent and went on to say the Vikings couldn’t replace her with just one player.
You aren’t going to see her showboat, and if you talk to her, she won’t overpower the conversation.
But at 6 feet 2 inches tall, Hank used her presence to spark and motivate her teammates like the best players that have passed through the program.
With every shot that crashed to the floor, and the crack that resounded through the gymnasium when her hand made contact with the ball, Hank proved that actions really do speak louder than words.
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