SRV Girls Water Polo Preview: Wolves Looking to Mesh Again

School: San Ramon Valley 
Sport: Girls water polo
Coach: Heather Johnston
Key returners: Whitney Pond, Alicia Frost, Danielle Ferraro
Top newcomers: Megan Rodriguez
Quote: "I am excited to see how they come together." – coach Holly Johnston on her team reuniting after playing on separate summer teams.

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The beginning of each season in high school sports is a mystery for any coach.

How will my team mesh together? Will they be better than I am expecting or fall a little short of expectations? Are the other teams in the league better or worse this year?

These are the questions facing San Ramon Valley High girls water polo coach Heather Johnston prepares her team for the upcoming season. But if the coach has any answers as she works her charges through preseason scrimmages, she isn't about to let on.

"I'm a superstitious kind of coach," Johnston said. "I don't want to say too much before we start."

Even though Johnston is keeping things as close to her vest as possible – she's not yet decided if her offense will rely on set plays or counterattacks to generate points – as her team heads towards in opening match of the year against Los Lomas on Sept. 7, there are some things she does know for sure.

Ten seniors are returning to this year's squad including goalies Whitney Pond and Alicia Frost. The Wolves will also have senior leadership away from the net with Danielle Ferraro, last year's assist leader and second in scoring, leading the squad along with junior Megan Rodriguez. Johnston still hasn't decided who will play in the pivotal hole set, just another item on the list of things to be decided during scrimmages.

How the team will mesh together again is probably the biggest question mark going into the season. The team swam during the summer, but for different summer teams.

"I've seen them all play this summer," Johnston said, "but on different teams. It was all age-based. It is hard to say how they'll do without seeing them play together. I'm excited to see how they come together."

How that happens will determine if the Wolves can advance further than last year when they were eliminated in the second round of the North Coast Section playoffs.

Standing in San Ramon Valley's way in East Bay Athletic League play and in the section playoffs later this year will be perennial powerhouse Monte Vista. And Johnston knows beating the Mustangs would be huge for her team.

"We'd like to beat them, get past them," Johnston said.

Is this the team that can do that? It's a mystery that Johnston, along with the Wolves players and fans, can't wait to solve.

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