Lady Skins reaching new heights

Size and power are very useful tools on the volleyball court, and luckily for the Colusa High volleyball team, the toolbox is full this season.

"Our biggest strength this year is height. I have four girls over 5'10," said coach Erica Lemenager. "Skill-wise, we are strong servers and hitters."

Topping the tall talent is junior Katie Mobley (6'3), who is expected to bother opponents as a middle blocker. Emily Mobley, a sophomore who - at 6'0 can hardly be called Katie's "little" sister - is just a sophomore, but is expected to make an impact setting up her teammates.

Cheyenne Rogers (5'11) and Caroline Myers (5'10) will also be key figures in Colusa's game, with Rogers splitting time as an outside hitter and middle blocker. Myers will also use her height and jumping ability to block in the middle.

Seniors Katelyn Mena (setter) and Taylor Herrick (outside hitter) both return from last year, and will not only help provide senior leadership, but will share team captain duties with Myers.

The coach reported that sophomore Mattie Meyers is also going to see a good deal of court time , both as a back-up setter and outside hitter.

Seniors Jessica Garcia and Mariel Bacerra, and junior Andrea Bedolla will also lend their skills to the Redskins, with Bacerra at outside hitter and middle blocker; Bedolla as an opposite hitter; and Garcia, libero.

"As a whole this year we are a much better team fundamentally, and I have several players who are capable of playing in different positions on the court," Lemenager said. "I also have better players coming off the bench."

Whether the improved skills and greater depth will help Colusa improve on last season's 9-14 finish (5-5 Sacramento Valley League), remains to be seen, but Lemenager has established very attainable goals for this year's squad.

"Our team goal is to get a home playoff game. Last year we were seeded ninth, with the top eight seeds getting home games, so hopefully we will get there," she said.

"As far as league, Durham and Willows have been the teams to gun for the past two years, and we have shared third with Live Oak, so this year we want no lower than third by ourselves," Lemenager added.

Contact Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.