After Winless Season, Agoura Has High Hopes

There's nowhere to go but up for the Agoura High girls volleyball team.

The Chargers were winless in 2009, losing every Marmonte League match and finishing tied for last place with Calabasas at 0-12.

But coach Brock Redmond has some talented newcomers and enthusiastic returners on his team. With a little confidence, Redmond said the Agoura girls could make the playoffs.

First things first, though. They have to work on winning their first match.

The team has been winning matches over the summer. Agoura even beat a team from Moorpark College in a summer tournament. Redmond has seen his team making steady improvement and gaining confidence.

"Last year didn't work out so well for us," Redmond said. "We've had a tough couple of seasons. The kids know that they're good. They're not so sure they can win, because of what happened in the past."

Redmond added that several of the Agoura players are also on his club team. They have a different attitude toward playing volleyball and that could translate into wins.

Agoura's top two returners are a couple of 6-foot middle blockers, Nicole LaFountaine and Jaclyn Nadler. LaFountaine, a senior, said the girls who are returning are a tight-knit bunch. Creating that tight bond was one of the high points of the 2009 season.

"Last year, we bonded as a team really well and we worked together well," LaFountaine said. "A low is that we lost every single game. This year, I think is really good."

Redmond said LaFountaine and Nadler represent one of the strengths of his team.

"The skills that we have are coming along," Redmond said. "We block extremely well. Our all-around skills are getting there and we're winning matches."

LaFountaine was one of the top offensive players on the team last year. Redmond said he wants her to focus more on her defense this season.

"Offensively, we're not expecting a lot from her," Redmond said. "Defensively, she's going to have to block a ton of balls."

Agoura has two newcomers who should contribute greatly to the team. Freshman Katie Sato and junior Elizabeth Kennerly, a transfer from Ohio, are going to be called upon to make big plays for Agoura.

Redmond has seen Kennerly play for only a couple of weeks, but he likes what he sees. She's a 6-foot outside hitter who played with top-tier club team in Ohio.

"She's very physical—a big, strong girl," Redmond said. "She can play the game."

Sato is the daughter of former USA assistant coach Gary Sato and the niece Eric Sato, who won a gold medal as part of the United States team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. She will play mostly at libero, but will get her chances at outside hitter, too.

"Her all-around game is really strong," Redmond said. "She's a good, solid player. She's going to make an impact in league over the next four years."

Senior setter Kirra Egan will run the offense. Junior Willow Markowitz has been asked to learn a new position at opposite hitter. They are also key players who Redmond expects to raise the confidence and competition levels of the team.

"This is Kirra's first year on varsity. She kind of knows what I expect," Redmond said. "I'm trying not to put too much pressure on her. She's waited her turn to get in the mix."

Markowitz is making the switch from middle blocker to opposite hitter. Redmond said she can hit a ton, but she has been spending most of her time over the summer learning her new position.

"She hits 100 miles per hour," Redmond said. "She's really athletic, really physical. Now she needs to get the reps. I think she'll be fine."

Junior Hailey Wahl, nicknamed "The Wall," is another player Redmond expects to improve this year.

"She's the best blocker on the team," Redmond said. "She's one of the best blockers I've had in my career. She's been doing a real good job in summer leagues."

Agoura opens its season with a scrimmage on Tuesday at home against Newhall Hart. The Chargers' first match is against Campbell Hall on Sept. 13.

"We can't get worse than last year," Nadler said. "A lot of seniors graduated last year. We're trying to get to playoffs for the first time in however many years. I think we can. Everyone has talent at every position. I don't think one player stands out more than the others. We just work really well together."