Berean Christian Girls Volleyball Preview: Eagles Hope for Fourth-Straight DVAL Title

School: Berean Christian           
Sport: Girls volleyball
Coach:  Jim Simonson, seventh year
Key returners: Brooke Fraser, senior; Lisa Frasier, senior; Jessica Vestel, junior
Quote: "We just want to play consistent all across the floor. We want to make the other teams make the mistakes." — coach Jim Simonson.
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When Berean Christian High joined the Diablo Valley Athletic League — one of the top athletic conferences in the Bay Area — three years ago, girls volleyball coach Jim Simonson thought it was a bad idea.

Three years and three league titles later, Simonson has changed his tune.

Berean Christian, with a student body of just under 500, will hope to run the gauntlet again in the DVAL, and Simonson feels this team can make it four league titles in as many years.

"We're an upper-class dominated team with a lot of experience," Simonson said. "We're not a typical powerhouse team. We're just athletic and play consistent volleyball."

Captain Brooke Fraser, the team's setter, feels this team is humble about its past successes and welcomes the challenge of going for a fourth-straight title.

"We don't really play like we have a bulls-eye on our back," Fraser said. "We just hope people respect us and the way we play the game."

The Eagles have a simple game plan when it comes to volleyball — don't let the ball hit the floor and force the opponents to make the mistakes. As simple as the strategy sounds, Simonson said it's not that easy, especially in the tough DVAL.

"There are some really good players and teams in this league," Simonson said. "Northgate, Concord and Clayton Valley all have some strong players. The kids have really stepped up since we joined DVAL. Our teams have bought into what we preach of nothing hitting the floor and not making mistakes."

What Simonson preaches is just as simple as his game plan — consistency.

"I want us to be consistent on all sides of the net," he said. "I want us to serve consistent, defend consistent and play offensive consistently. I don't want us to hit the ball into the net or have the ball hit the ground. It all boils down to smart, consistent play."

The consensus goal for this year's squad is to bring home a fourth DVAL title. While a strong North Coast Section run is also on the table, the league championship comes first.

"We have to work hard in practice and utilize every minute," Frazer said. "We need a good balance of our strengths and weaknesses."

The Eagles' first game is Tuesday Sep. 7 against Heads-Royce of Oakland at Berean Christian at 6 pm.

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