After her young team missed the CIF-Central Coast Section playoffs for the first time in "I don't know how many years," Live Oak volleyball coach Laura Coleman approached the 2008 season with a peculiar expectation - one that leaves the Lady Acorns with nowhere to go but forward.
"Our goal is not to finish last," Coleman joked during Tuesday's practice in the cacophonous Live Oak Gymnasium. "Growing pains are brutal. Last year, I thought we'd do okay, but our players were so young.
"We ended up missing the playoffs by one game."
Live Oak wound up in a tie for fifth place with Leigh at 5-9 in Blossom Valley Athletic League play. The Mount Hamilton Division awarded four playoff spots, leaving both squads on the outside looking in.
"We started peaking right at the end of the season," said Coleman, now in her 12th season at Live Oak. "If we had made the playoffs, we would have done something special. It was too little, too late, I guess."
With five sophomores and two freshmen on the varsity roster, the gold-and-very-green Acorns are shaping up for a similar storyline this fall - complete with a happier ending Coleman hopes.
Live Oak graduated two all-league honorees from a 2007 team that finished 12-17, but welcomed back four starters, including last year's division Freshman of the Year, Gabriela Cinkova.
"Like most public schools, we're going to have some holes," Coleman said. "I have to teach our girls to get better fast. We'll need our veterans to step up to the plate."
Cinkova knows all about that. As a freshman, she was moved up to varsity after injuries took their toll on Live Oak's first string. Cinkova quickly became an offensive mainstay.
"Being a freshman on varsity is a good experience," the 6-foot-2 outside hitter said. "You just have to do your best and not get nervous - that's what I'm telling the younger girls this year."
Cinkova's expertise is being appreciated elsewhere as well. This offseason, she was named a junior editor for Volleyball USA, a nationwide magazine printed four times a year. Cinkova writes articles and columns that cater to younger players.
"It's a lot of fun doing that," she said. "That's another good learning experience."
Cinkova will anchor the Acorns' front row again this year, hammering alongside three other veteran hitters in Annie Reyes-Ortiz, Alika Lau and Arianne Fitch. They'll compensate for Live Oak's young middle blockers Katie Obbema - a freshman - and sophomores Devan Duarte and Jamie Barger.
"Our middle hitters are new but they're tall - a lot taller than last year," said Lau, one of two seniors on the team. "The younger girls are learning to play as a team. Our blockers and hitters play very well together."
Blocking was the strength of last year's team, Coleman said. This year, it's passing. Live Oak has a promising set of juniors in veteran setter Jenna Robertson and defensive specialist Guilia Seminatore, plus soft-handed contributors Alisa Bruschetti - a sophomore setter - and freshman DS Alli Unger.
"They're starting to play like a team," Coleman said. "I've been beaten by one player. I can never seem to win with one player, but I've been beaten by one player.
"I like these girls because they play more as a team instead of relying on one person."
Working together will be crucial in fulfilling the players' goal - making a return trip to CIF-CCS.
"We're going to be a lot more competitive," Lau said. "I'm not sure yet how we'll do, but I think we'll do as good or better than last year. Missing the playoffs hurt last year. We don't want it to happen again."
The Acorns are taking all of the right steps to prepare for a challenging regular season. They've played in more scrimmages than last year and have scheduled several challenging tournaments, including this weekend's Milpitas Spike Fest.
Live Oak opens league play Sept. 24 at home against rival Sobrato - last year's Santa Teresa Division winner - before facing Mount Pleasant, Leigh and reigning Mount Hamilton Division champion Leland.
"The younger girls' confidence is not going to be there right away," Coleman said. "But by the start of the season, hopefully, you have a lot of games under your belt and you can develop your team. These are my babies. They have to grow up."
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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