THROW YOUR HANDS UP—Royal High varsity volleyball players Kasey Ring, left, and Kayla Rubio practice blocking on Monday. With the girls’ volleyball season just under way, Marmonte League coaches know every league match will be a battle.

Royal High is quietly emerging as a dark horse favorite to unseat last year’s league champs, Thousand Oaks.

The Highlanders have an experienced, well-rounded squad. Although no Marmonte team was ranked in the CIFSouthern Section Division I-AA poll, RHS did collect some votes.

“I think Royal has a very strong team this year,” Westlake head coach Ernest Rittenhouse said. “They have a couple of really hard hitters.”

Thousand Oaks went 14-0 in the Marmonte last year, but the Lancers may be hard pressed to repeat with nine sophomores on the varsity roster.

TOHS possesses intimidating size along the front row and should be an offensive force.

Newbury Park, Simi Valley and Westlake field strong teams. Although Moorpark is relatively young and undersized, the Musketeers have made the playoffs each year under head coach Brendan Hanson.

Agoura is developing its younger talent base. Calabasas is expected to continue improving and building confidence.

Royal Highlanders

The Highlanders have a quality mix of experienced veterans and promising newcomers.

“We should be able to compete this year. It’s always our goal,” Royal head coach Heidi Buonauro said.

“The Marmonte League is very strong every year, and it’s always a race to the finish.”

Third-year starter Maddie Simpson returns at setter. The 6foot-1 senior will help RHS run an uptempo offense and distribute the ball to multiple players.

Senior outside hitter Kathleen Wright, who is starting for her third season, hits the ball hard and plays passionate defense, Buonauro said.

Abbey Prusa, a middle blocker, is another three-year starter.

“She is a smaller middle, but what she lacks in height she makes up for in quickness,” the coach said of Prusa. “Her mentality on the court really makes everyone better.”

Outside hitter Amanda Soper is an asset, while libero Katelyn Atkin has improved, Buonauro said.

The coach said the Highlanders must maintain consistency and stay mentally sharp.

“They’re a fun group to watch,” she said. “They play with all their heart on every play.”

Thousand Oaks Lancers

Fourth-year head coach James Park said the Lancers face an uphill battle to win league again.

“It’s a youth movement,” Park said of the nine sophomores on the roster. “I think I have only three legal drivers.”

Katie Deamer is the lone senior. The outside hitter is a good leader, Park said, who will be counted on to keep the team’s emotions steady.

Outside hitter Karis Schneider, libero Rachel Cookus, middle blocker/opposite Summer Esseff and opposite Jillian Johnson are sophomores who must play well.

Junior setters Kayla Frisoli and Ashley Rosenberg will also contribute.

Park knows the Lancers have size to be strong offensively, but he hopes they develop consistency in passing.

“I think we’re going to have some growing pains here and there,” the coach said.

“As we go along, we have to take one step at a time. We have to take baby steps. Maybe we can make the playoffs and maybe play a couple rounds in the playoffs— that would be a great experience.”

Westlake Warriors

The Warriors will use a balanced attack to try and win a league title.

Without a go-to hitter, Westlake will rely on savvy setter Hannah Schuett, a junior, to bring cohesion to the offense.

“This should be interesting,” Rittenhouse said. “We’ll be looking for a hot hitter night to night. We do have a consistent setter.”

Senior outside hitter Casey Levitt is a top returner, along with senior middle blockers Chloe Yates and Melissa Johnson. Levitt and Schuett are competitive beach volleyball partners during the offseason.

What Westlake lacks in offensive firepower, it makes up for with strong allaround skills like digging, blocking, accurate passing and a desire to chase loose balls.

The Warriors started strong by winning five of eight matches at a Las Vegas tournament at the end of August. They also won a fivegame match against Beverly Hills at home last week.

“They’re battle tested,” the coach said. “What I like about this team is that they’re a bunch of hard workers. They really give a full effort.”

Newbury Park Panthers

First-year head coach Chip Tarleton has high expectations for the Panthers.

The team’s goals include winning a league title, winning a section title and winning a state title.

“We have lofty goals,” Tarleton said. “You can’t just say it. You have to back it up with preparation.”

The team plans to stay focused on its goals by following a simple motto: Preparation, poise, pride and perfection.

Tarleton wants Newbury Park to master the fundamentals of passing, setting and hitting.

“We have high expectations for the team, definitely,” said Tarleton, who’s coached club squads for 11 seasons and spent 2007 at Buena as a freshman coach.

“But we have to produce.”

Middle blockers Karissa Flack and Veronika Ban, and outside hitters Amber Glaab and Andreya VanBuren are on-court senior leaders.

“Those four seniors will be the rock for us,” the coach said.

Moorpark Musketeers

The Musketeers graduated seven players from the 2008 squad, but they hope to make the playoffs once again.

MHS is focusing on running more defensive sets and a quicker offense than in previous years.

“It’s definitely a lot different in terms of how I’m approaching (this team) as a coach,” said Hanson, who has guided the squad for seven seasons.

Senior setter Taylor Fredrick will be crucial to the Musketeers’ success.

Other players to watch out for include outside hitters Lauren Rohach, a senior, and sophomore Kayla Sears.

Seniors Allison Smeck, a middle blocker, and opposite Jessica Page will also contribute. Libero Briana Neatherlin is the only other senior on the roster.

Senior Alicia Carter, a college prospect, was expected to start at outside hitter before tearing her ACL, MCL and meniscus in her left knee this summer.

“I’ve seen a lot of improvements in a lot of players and as a team,” Hanson said.

“As far as goals at the top of our list, we want to be one of the top teams in league standings, if not win league. Then obviously we want to get into the playoffs.”

Simi Valley Pioneers A Highlander will lead the Pioneers.

Jason Sherman, a 2004 Royal graduate, is the first-year head coach at Simi Valley this season.

“The person I am today had a lot to do with my mentors and coaches at Royal,” Sherman said.

“It’s cool to do what they loved, and hopefully I can do the same thing at Simi Valley. I feel like I’m paying homage to the coaches I had at Royal.”

Sherman said SVHS has a nice blend of veterans and newcomers.

“We’re shaping up pretty good,” the coach said. “We have good camaraderie and we come out and work hard every day.”

Simi Valley will rely on two seniors to lead the way—setter Corrine Ostrovsky and outside hitter Amber Clemons.

“Both are a little undersized,” the coach said, “but their volleyball I.Q. is far ahead of someone still in high school. What they lack in size, they make up for in work ethic, heart and all those other intangibles.

“The way they see the court makes my life easy.”

Senior libero Christina Flenker will also be a factor.

“Top to bottom, we have team players,” Sherman said. “We’re really good working together.”

Agoura Chargers

Head coach Brock Redmond doesn’t use the word “rebuilding” when talking about Agoura.

To Redmond, this is a development season where underclassmen have the chance to step up.

“Realistically, I don’t think playoffs are in the picture,” the second-year coach said.

“But I think we’ll have a better year, whether our record shows it or not.”

Redmond has a track record of improving programs. He led downtrodden Newbury Park to the playoffs in 2007. He’s also coached at Westlake, TOHS, Oak Park and at the club level.

Mackenzie Gromek is Agoura’s top returning player. Gromek is a four-year starter at outside hitter.

Setter Catherine Davis, a senior who has started for three seasons, and senior outside hitter Hannah Teitelbaum will give the Chargers some punch.

Redmond hopes Agoura will improve its serve-receive passing. He wants the younger players to adjust to varsity ball.

“In our league, it’s extremely tough to get into the top four because the top six teams are playoff material,” the coach said.

“We have a lot of talent, and we have a lot of kids playing club and working hard in the offseason.”

Calabasas Coyotes

The Coyotes have struggled since joining the Marmonte.

Marla O’Hara, the eighth-year coach, has good reason to be optimistic for the future.

O’Hara said more Coyotes are playing club volleyball than ever before—about a half dozen at the varsity level and 1214 throughout the program—and the squad has consistent outside hitters and a solid, young core.

“They really want to learn how to win,” the coach said.

“Our goals are to stay positive and play aggressive—and see if we can get some W’s under our belt.”

Libero Emma Gottlieb and outside hitters Marissa Rossi and Lauren Goss are part of a sound sophomore class. Senior Emily Cohen returns to start at middle hitter. Setter Sarah Conley and outside hitter Wendy Cyffka are also expected to chip in.

“We’ll play with a lot more confidence this season,” O’Hara said.

“The girls are talking about winning. That’s something we haven’t had in the past. We’ve kind of been kicked around in league for so many years. We have to get over the hump. They really want to try to turn the program around.”