Weekend Preview: Volleyball begins

The 7th/8th grade girls scrimmaged Thursday against NDV's 8th grade team

This weekend, three of our four fall teams begin their regular seasons, as the 5th/6th grade and 7th/8th grade volleyball teams give it a go and the 7th/8th grade kicks off their first soccer game.

And of course, all three teams are playing together for the first year in true St. Mary's fashion.

The 7th/8th grade volleyball team consists of only two 7th grade girls, Cynthia and Isabella, as they join seven 8th graders, five from DeMarillac and two from St. Mary's, Sabrina and Belin.

The first volleyball goes flying at 5 p.m. tonight at CYO Serramonte.

Only Cynthia and Isabella have had previous experience playing in CYO and are both going to be playing with an actual volleyball as opposed to a volley-lite in a game. Girls in grades 3-6 use the lighter version of the ball, while the 7th and 8th graders use the professional sized ball.

This will be the fourth straight season St. Mary's has had an 8th grade volleyball team. It was two years ago that the class of 2010 girls went to the volleyball championship. And if this team can put it all together, I think it's very possible that these girls could make a run at the title as well.

In only two weeks of practice, this volleyball team looks a lot further along than any of the teams the three previous seasons.

Their head coach, my classmate at St. Mary's and former high school coach Calman Chin has high hopes for the girls, and already says they are real quick learners. He's optimistic, as we all are, for a successful season.

The other volleyball team, the 5th and 6th graders begin their season Saturday morning at 9:45 a.m. from Salesian.

This is also a brand new team strung together, and the girls who have played for two years, Edwena, Fiona and Victoria are now the experienced veterans of this young squad. Our newest 5th grader Kaela, in her first year at St.Mary's also has some previous experience in volleyball. Those four will be counted on to carry the load until other 5th graders Alexis, Ivy and Alexandria can catch up to speed.

And finally the 7th/8th grade soccer team will play their first game Saturday at West Sunset, starting at 1 p.m.

This team can be the best St. Mary's soccer team with the experience some of the boys from DeMarillac have.

On the St. Mary's side, Brendan, Brandon, Daniel and Hunter, all 7th graders playing in an 8th grade division, are playing in their fourth year. With others carrying the load, these four can be cast in supporting roles where they are more comfortable, instead of being insisted on doing all the heavy lifting.

Hartman, the only St. Mary's 8th grader playing soccer, is only in his second year.