GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: M-A Set To Begin PAL Bay Title Pursuit

Menlo-Atherton High girls volleyball coach Jennifer Wilson enjoyed a fine debut season a year ago. The former Stanford player led the Bears to second place in both the Peninsula Athletic League's Bay Division and the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.

On the eve of the 2010 PAL Bay season, Wilson, a second-year coach, said M-A's clear-cut objective is to take the next step.

"This year our goal is obviously to win our league, and then to win CCS," said Wilson, whose team finished second in the M-A Varsity Invitational on Saturday. "So do one better than last year."

Most of the Bears' key players are back, leaving M-A hopeful that it can unseat defending champion Burlingame in what should again be a competitive Bay Division. But the Bears are well aware that Burlingame is also stacked with returning talent, including Cal-bound outside hitter Michelle Neumayr, the 2009 PAL Bay MVP.

"Last year, we could not stop her," said M-A setter Sarah Collins, who described how her team hopes to combat Neumayr and other powerful offensive players. "Digging in the seams has been one of our focuses in practice."

Five-foot-11 outside hitter Regina Mullen, an All-PAL Bay first-teamer last year, and middle blocker Diane Seely are M-A's senior anchors. And Wilson called junior libero Hannah Branning "a beast on defense" and a solid passer.

Freshman Pauli King, a 5-11 outside hitter, who has been slowed by a sore shoulder in the early season, should see plenty of time on the court.

"She's definitely going to be a rock star on our team," Wilson said.

M-A figures to miss former setter Sophia Cornew, now playing at Bowdoin College. Wilson said Cornew was "our leader off and on the court," – and the coach added that filling that vacuum is a work in progress.

Sofi King, a senior, shares setter duties with Collins. Versatile sophomore Katelyn Doherty should benefit from plenty of seasoning last season.

"We definitely have a lot of experience and a lot of girls who are comfortable with their roles," said Wilson, whose team hosts San Mateo on Tuesday in its PAL Bay opener.

After M-A's run to the CCS Division I final a year ago – the Bears lost to Salinas – the players said they are plenty motivated to top that accomplishment.

"We all came in here with the same goal of winning CCS," the 6-foot-1 Seely said. "Especially my senior year, I would love to win CCS."

Added Collins: "I think it gives us confidence. Just knowing that we can go that far gives us confidence that maybe we can go farther. Obviously we have big goals, but we try to focus on the small things."