LJ g VB: 7-1 and on the way up

Senior Maya Lightfoot spikes from
her outside hitting position in a
previous Viking match.
(Photos by Robert O'Neill)

By Ed Piper

Heading into their non-league volleyball match at Our Lady of Peace Wednesday afternoon, August 29, La Jolla High's girls were 6-1 on the young season. This means, in the span of the season's first two weeks, they had already won 50 percent more matches than they won all last year (four).

And Coach Kelly Drobeck's squad showed why against the Lady Pilots in the first game: Falling behind 8-1, then 13-4, the Vikings roared back to a 25-22 win behind five kills by junior middle hitter Leyla Blackwell and four by freshman Kylie "Ky" Vaickus. Ky has come on strong in early matches to land a spot in Drobeck's starting lineup. (See previous entry.)

Libero Alex DiNofia receives on the back line. DiNofia's
defense is a key reason La Jolla started out 7-1
this season.

"Our defense is much better than last year," explained 6-foot outside hitter/setter Maya Gessner, who has played a key role in La Jolla's quick start, before the match. "Our back line is better. Last year the players on the back line didn't go for the ball as hard. This year, they are."

The Vikings haven't voted on team captains yet, but Gessner, a peppy, animated presence, already serves as an informal captain. In between points against the Lady Pilots, she turned to teammates to encourage them, "Come on, you guys. Let's keep this going."

Over the recent weekend, La Jolla won three of four games in the Bishop's Invitational Sat., Aug. 25, to finish third in the local tourney. In one day, that doubled the Vikings' total of wins (and almost equaled last year's season total).

Last year, as misfortune begat lack of confidence begat more misfortune, La Jolla's formerly sparkling girls volleyball program took a tumble into the lower reaches of CIF--the quartet of wins all season.

Senior Mo Cromeans
jump-serves in a
previous match.

Gessner, a junior returner, and Blackwell, the Vikings' powerful force at the net, agreed that Drobeck has set a more serious tone with the team this year from the beginning. They also assented to the fact that a 3-1 comeback win at Point Loma last week helped build team strength. "It brought us together," said the lefty Gessner, bringing her hands together.

A trio of players who were in line to return this year are not part of the program. Drobeck cleaned house, clearing the way for a stronger team ethos which the Vikings players seem to embrace. A new addition, via transfer, is 6'1" outside hitter Maya Lightfoot, who played in La Crescenta in Los Angeles last year. Vaickus is the only freshman newcomer.

In Wednesday's match, La Jolla went on to snuff out OLP in four games, 25-22, 23-25, 27-25, 25-22, for their seventh win in eight tries. Gessner recorded 23 assists in the match. Malaya Hood, a junior setter, added 12.

On the season, sophomore libero Alex DiNofia leads the Vikings on defense with 52 digs. Vaickus already has 35, third behind Gessner, who has 40.

Alex Young, a 5'8" sophomore, has contributed some serving effectiveness, with 12 aces. She also has 22 digs on the back line. Blackwell and Gessner lead the team with 17 aces each through the eight matches.

Cromeans and Lightfoot
go up for the block.