El Cajon — There is a fine line between expectations and reality. The expectations are that the Grossmont College Women’s Volleyball team will be of Championship caliber. The reality will be decided in December at the end of the season.
Grossmont has a tradition of being among the best in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. To the tune of ten PCAC championships since 2000 (the 2020 season was not played due to COVID-19). Included in that number are eight trophies since 2010. The last trophy was in 2019, and while that means it has only been a season since winning the championship, at Grossmont that borders on being in a drought.
The 2022 edition features ten sophomores who all played for the Green and Gold last season.
“It is nice to have some experience and maturity on the court,” Callahan said during a recent interview.
On the offensive side of the net, 2021 PCAC First Teamer Madi Bogle returns to her Outside Hitter role as Brooke Miller is on the other side. Bogle and Miller combined for 333 kills a season ago. The duo are the top two returning players from a Griffin squad that went 19-5, 12-2 PCAC and finished in second place in the PCAC. Miller is coming off an injury that cut her season short. “Getting (Miller) back in and being healthy and strong is a great thing,” Callahan commented.
Playing in the middle of the court is a group of five players. Leading the quintet is 2021 PCAC Second Team member Tatiana Taylor. Taylor accumulated 76 kills and 11 blocks. Joining the group are Sophomores Allison Carter and Karsen Carroll. Freshmen Aly Guise and Haven Del Guidice are the newcomers looking to make a difference. Carter had 36 rally enders and 21 blocks. The newcomers of Guise and Del Guidice come to Griffinville with some nice credentials. Guise was a First-Team All-Grossmont Hills League member while leading the Grossmont Foothillers in kills and being tabbed as team MVP. Del Guidice makes her way to El Cajon from Brawley in the Imperial Valley.
Setting the ball will be the trio of Eliahana Finley, Mercedes Lopez and Chelsee Trendler. “The return of Finley and the addition of Lopez and Trendler will help the dynamics of our offense and depth coming off the bench,” said Callahan. Lopez hails from Layton, Utah where she was a three-time letterwinner as well as being an Academic All-State selection. Trendler is a local product from nearby Patrick Henry where she helped the Patriots with 111 aces in just two seasons while dishing out 1,200 assists in the same time span.
Across the net, the Griffins are happy to see the return of Rylee Suggett in the Libero role. In a backup role, the Sophomore from Patrick Henry chalked up 178 digs.
Depth will be a positive for the Griffins in 2022 as they have 22 players on the roster. “If everyone can stay healthy, eligible and mentally tough we have a chance of having a really good season.”
Should the Griffin roster pan out the way that everyone is supposed to, the Griffins will not only be back in the dance in November, but they also look to be making a lot of noise in that tournament. Hopefully, that noise will include raising the third banner to the rafters that says, “State Champion.”