Central Valley’s and Ceres High’s girls volleyball programs enter the 2024 season with tempered expectations due to roster changes brought on by graduation and defection to other sports.
“Coaching is my passion,” said Kelly Heese, sixth-year head coach of the Bulldogs. “It’s not about winning and losing. The success comes from building these athletes and seeing them grow throughout the season.”
“The biggest part is trying to build that culture,” Central Valley second-year leader Courtney Dayhoff stated. “You have to trust each other. It’s okay if you make mistakes. Your teammates need to pick you up.”
The Hawks have a roster size of 10 players.
“I kept it small this year,” Dayhoff said. “I tried to keep more, well-rounded players. The biggest strengths are they work really well together and they hold each other accountable.”
Central Valley returns four players from last year’s team, including Jayden Corona (Sr.), Marion Dennison (Sr.), Tanveer Kaur (Sr.) and Julyanna Valencia (Sr.).
The Hawks have six newcomers: Olivia Cervantes (Sr.), Julianna Lopez (Sr.), Gabriela Delatorre (Jr.), Payton McConnell (Jr.), Emily Carranza (So.) and Sofia Garibay (So.).
Natalie Acosta, Amerie De La Torre, Llarely Gutierrez, Jocelyn Munoz, Jannet Valencia, Jessica Ramos, Yaneli Ramos, Daniela Rodriguez and Briann Tavares were all lost to graduation.
Dennison and Julyanna Valencia have been named team captains.
“They’re my dynamic duo,” Dayhoff said. “They really balance each other out. They encourage their teammates on and off the court. They’re open and friendly.”
The Bulldogs have a roster size of eight players.
Ceres High returns just two players from last year’s team, including Genesis Sio (Jr.) and Priya Martinez (So.).
The Bulldogs have six newcomers: Georgia Simonuti (Sr.), Riley Gaskill (So.), Brianna Maravilla (So.), Maiya Thao (So.), Janelli Villegas (So.) and Kamea Brown (Fr.).
Ceres High didn’t graduate any players. The Bulldogs did lose talent to girls flag football and several players opted not to return to the team.
Martinez has been named team captain.
“I’m giving her the challenge to step up to the plate,” Heese said. “She’s young. She’s an amazing player. She has to be the leader on the court as the setter.”
The Bulldogs amassed a 5-23 overall record and finished in seventh place in the Western Athletic Conference with a 3-11 mark in 2023.
The Hawks posted a 1-22 overall record and placed last in the ultra-competitive Central California Conference (0-12) for the fourth time in five years last fall.
Crosstown-rivals Central Valley and Ceres High will compete in the same league this fall. The Hawks moved from the CCC to the WAC as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s conference realignment plan.
The new-look WAC features a total of eight teams, including Central Valley, Ceres High, Livingston, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Pacheco and Lathrop.
Los Banos and Mountain House departed for the CCC and Valley Oak League, respectively.
Livingston previously competed in the Trans Valley League.
“Being in the new league, we’ll be more competitive,” Dayhoff said.
“We’ll get better as we grow,” Heese added.
Ceres High defeated Central Valley 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-19, 25-23) in non-league play last season.
The Bulldogs and Hawks will now compete against each other twice a year.
“In my eyes, it’s just another match,” Dayhoff said. “But it means more to the girls. They really want to win. They’re hungry.”
“The girls are excited to have them back in the league,” said Heese, who has ties to Central Valley as she served as head coach of the girls volleyball program from 2012-16 and boys team from 2016-21. “They like the competition. I don’t prepare them any differently.”
While it might not happen this fall, Central Valley and Ceres High could return to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs in the near future.
Central Valley and Ceres High both secured their last postseason berths in 2016.
The Hawks had a 30-23 record in WAC play and advanced to the playoffs three times during Heese’s four-year stint as head coach.
“As long as they stay focused, we’ll have a chance,” Dayhoff said. “Anything is possible.”
“I’m trying to build unity,” Heese added. “You have to work for the good of the team. Once we do that, everything else will fall into place.”
