Zeus showed up

By Michael Ashcraft --

The Lighthouse Christian Academy launched its girls volleyball season Thursday and Zeus showed up for the win.

The latest incarnation of Zeus is sophomore Dahlia Gonzalez, who rained down lightbolts upon the hapless San Fernando Valley Academy Huskies. LCA won in three straight sets 25-10, 25-4 and 25-14.

Their attack was pointedly improved over last year, which was a positive season with 8 wins and 3 losses. The speed of serves and spikes, plus the downward angles, showed solid improvement. Last year's team was formed with a solid core of sophmores and freshmen, a portent for future dominance.

One thing that stood out from the Thursday's win was Dahlia's sound barrier-breaking spikes. In the final play of the game, Dahlia whipped an unreturnable ball down into the Husky side of the court.

More than a few spectators had to scoop their jaws back up off the gym floor.

Where did she get the speed of a Ukrainian anti-tank rocket?

"Softball probably helped with the throwing motion, swinging," Dahlia explains.

The sporty girl who one days wants to get a scholarship to support her studies to become a doctor also plays league softball.

To the observer who hasn't watched the girls' development for a year, the Saints' serves were noticeably harder, faster, deadlier.

"Clara's (sophomore Clara Czer) serves were like gunshots," says Coach Jessica Young. "Daggers."

Is it too soon to call them the Deadly Dames?

Michael Ashcraft teaches journalism at the Lighthouse Christian Academyin Santa Monica.