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By Loren Kopff
@LorenKopff on X
Maybe last season was the beginning of the future as Artesia High won a CIF-Southern Section divisional championship for the first time ever and Gahr High reached the quarterfinals for the second time in the past three seasons. But the addition of the new Suburban Valley Conference, divided by four leagues based off last season’s computer rankings, allows programs like John Glenn High and La Mirada High a chance for an automatic berth into the playoffs and possibly a deep run in the postseason.
ARTESIA PIONEERS
16-11 overall last season, 5-5 in the 605 League, 4th place, swept Schurr High in the CIF-Southern Section Division 8 championship match
39-54 overall last five seasons
Head coach: Francisco Serrano (second season, 16-11)
Last time program missed the playoffs: 2024
Rio Vista League this season, graduated nine seniors last season
With the good comes the bad and for head coach Francisco Serrano, this season is not going to be the same as 2025 when the Pioneers got a forfeit gift from Dominguez High, allowing them to reach the required .500 record to advance to the playoffs. From there, the rest was history. The celebration of the CIF-SS Division 8 championship lasted into the spring, but now the Pioneers must deal with the fact that only four players return from last season’s magical team.
“The CIF championship celebration lasted until April of 2026 with the City of Hawaiian Gardens annual parade where the girls got to be the Grand Marshalls,” said Serrano. “The season from last year meant so much for the program, the school, but most importantly for the community. It gave hope and lots of dreams to our future players that anything can be achieved.”
Middle blocker Camryn Potter, outside hitter Haley Robertson, libero Averie Garrison and defensive specialist Theresa De Avila, all seniors, are the only returners on a team that will have half a dozen new seniors and four juniors. With the departure of three key seniors from last season’s team, Serrano says the challenges will be building the team again with the varsity rookies. He believes the team is there, but building the chemistry will be the bigger issue.
Artesia will be relying heavily on Robertson, but Serrano believes the team has other strong players that can duplicate another run for a CIF-SS championship. He thinks senior Emma Castillo, Jayleen Granillo, Angelee Huerta and junior Natalia Romero will make an impact this season to go along with the four remaining players.
As far as the Rio Vista League goes, where the Pioneers will face Firebaugh High, La Mirada, Mayfair High and Whittier High twice, Serrano doesn’t have much to say about it since this is the first season of facing new league opponents.
“However, I do believe the team has the potential to accomplish the league championship or end up in the top [three] of the league,” he said.
CERRITOS DONS
24-6 overall last season, 10-0 in the 605 League, first place, lost to Paloma Valley High in four sets in the Division 4 second round playoffs
102-36 overall last five seasons
Head coach: David Cuthbert (13th season 121-95)
Last time missed the playoffs: 2002
Gateway League this season, graduated five seniors last season
Cerritos High had dominated the 605 League for the past seven seasons, going 68-2 with both losses coming to Whitney High. This season will be completely different as the Dons will be facing Downey High, Gahr, La Serna High and Warren High twice in the highly competitive Gateway League.
“We had a great time in the 605 League; we enjoyed the competition and community of those schools and built some great rivalries,” said head coach David Cuthbert, the program’s leader in season’s coached and victories. “We are proud of what we accomplished on all three levels of our program, but we are excited to face a new challenge in the Gateway League. We have played most of those teams in the past few years. I think there will be a lot of parity, and a lot of close games. It’s a great opportunity for our players to play in more close games and we are hopeful it can help the players and the program develop.”
One advantage Cerritos will have in jumping into a new league will be the fact that 10 players return from last season’s team. Cuthbert says it’s good to know what the program has and good to have a lot of players with experience playing together. He believes all 10 have improved over the offseason, especially junior setters Kylie Cruz and Leah Hidalgo, who are a little more consistent in their play. There’s more depth in the defensive specialist position, especially with junior Chloe Gomez, and Cuthbert has been pleased with the development of senior outside hitters Ceana Merino, and Avery Updike and junior outside hitter Ally Veron. He says they are all becoming really well-rounded players.
Freshman opposite hitter/outside hitter Tara Namiranian, who Cuthbert says is a very capable young player who he hopes will adjust quickly to high school volleyball, has been ‘a nice surprise’. She is the lone freshman on a team of 19.
“I’m confident in my team,” says Cuthbert. “We have been competitive with our new league foes over the past few years with some wins and some losses when we have met in tournaments or non-league games. We are just aiming to be playing our best volleyball when it comes to league games. It’s going to be a really fun year.”
GAHR GLADIATORS
26-10 overall last season, 10-0 in the Mid-Cities, first place, swept by Santa Barbara High in the Division 5 quarterfinals
84-70 overall last five seasons
Head coach: Charity Dennis (sixth season, 84-70)
Last time missed the playoffs: 2024
Gateway League this season, graduated five seniors last season
Last season was one of the best the program has seen in over 25 seasons, winning over 20 matches for second time in the past three seasons, both resulting in trips to the quarterfinals. The Gladiators didn’t lose much from last season, thus making this season in the new Gateway League more interesting.
“It was a special season because the team learned how to trust the process and each other,” said head coach Charity Dennis. “The 25-10 record and quarterfinal run were the results of that commitment. Returning nine players gives us a strong foundation. [Junior outside hitter] Violet [Hackworth] and [sophomore libero] Kylee [Shaver] have improved tremendously since last season and I’m very excited to see them take on bigger roles this year.”
The team is off to an excellent start, winning its first nine matches including all seven to start the season in Honolulu at the Sacred Hearts Academy Lancer Invitational. Senior setter Lauren Blanco, senior right side hitter Raeana Sousa and junior setter Sykoya Molina have also been in the starting lineup of the returners.
Of the newcomers to the varsity program, Dennis said that freshman setter Kenzie Vikchai, who brings stability, talent and versatility, and sophomore opposite hitter Julia Mathai and sophomore middle blocker Amira Benton each bring dedication, work ethic and physicality.
“We are excited to watch their impact grow on the team in the 2026 season,” she added.
City rival Cerritos, whom the Gladiators have played 13 times since 2012 but has defeated just four times, figures to be a competitive league opponent along with La Serna.
“The new league is an exciting opportunity for our program,” said Dennis. “We are looking forward to competing against strong teams, but our focus is on ourselves, our preparation and effort as well as our ability to execute when it matters the most.
“We need to trust our preparation and take care of the matches in front of us,” she continued. If we do that, we’ll put ourselves in a strong position to compete for a league championship and reach the playoffs.”
JOHN GLENN EAGLES
1-18 overall last season, 0-10 in the 605 League, sixth place
28-69 overall last five seasons
Head coach: Daniel Reyes (seventh season, 39-81)
Last time made the playoffs: 2024
Division 10 last season
605 League this season
The new 20-school conference gives struggling programs like the one John Glenn has to not only compete with the likes of Bellflower High, California High, Lynwood High and old league foe Pioneer High, but get a golden chance to finish in the top three and grab a spot in the playoffs. The Eagles have advanced to the playoffs just twice under head coach Daniel Reyes, who in 2024, gave the program its first winning record since 2009. Since 1998, Glenn has been to the playoffs eight times and this season, will have 11 seniors from a team of 14 players.
LA MIRADA MATADORES
1-21 overall last season. 0-8 in the Gateway League
59-54 overall last five seasons
Head coach: Kayla Long (second season, 1-21)
Last time made the playoffs: 2023
Division 9 last season
Rio Vista League this season, graduated one senior last season
La Mirada High had its worst season in quite a long time under Kayla Long, who replaced longtime head coach Kimberly Mahan. This season, the Matadores have four returning players from last season and 13 seniors on a team of 17.
“I was just getting them with all-skills training instead of positional training,” said Long of last season. “It’s all about going for the overall, which is getting them fully developed. If that means last year was a rebuilding year, then…rebuilding to get the development is more important in our minds.”
Long says senior setter Isabel Fimbers, who is also a dependable opposite hitter, is the most improved player from last season while freshman setter Mackenzie Norton is the most improved newcomer to the team because Long tabbed her as very versatile.
NORWALK LANCERS
15-10 last season, 5-3 in the Gateway League, tied for second place, lost to Marshall Fundamental in four sets in the Division 6 second round playoffs
72-60 overall last five seasons
Head coach: Paola Nava (sixth season, 72-60)
Last time missed the playoffs: 2021
Mid-Cities League this season, graduated four seniors last season
Norwalk High has had a solid program since 2005 despite going through eight head coaches, including Paola Nava, who is now the longest tenured girls volleyball head coach since 2001. Her 72 victories are the most since Jesse Gonzalez won 53 matches from 2012-2015 and she hopes her team, with Oxford Academy, Paramount High, Santa Fe High and Whitney High as new league opponents, can get to the quarterfinals for the second time in the past four seasons and possibly farther.
The heart and soul of the team for the past four seasons has been and continues to be senior outside hitter/middle blocker Mirei Sanchez, who had 15 kills in a sweep against La Mirada earlier in the season. Junior opposite hitter/defensive specialist Ellejhaye Estores and sophomore middle blocker Lailanee Cano are showing signs of filling in the voided shoes of Sanchez next season and beyond.
VALLEY CHRISTIAN DEFENDERS
24-3 overall last season. 8-0 in the Olympic League, first place, lost to Marina High in four sets in the Division 2 first round playoffs
100-45 overall last five seasons
Head coach: Stacy Brannon (third season, 45-9)
Last time missed the playoffs: 2009
Graduated six seniors last season
One of the area’s top girls volleyball teams once again put together a fine regular season, losing the season-opener against Etiwanda High before going on a 15-match winning streak, then sweeping its last nine entering the playoffs. There, the Defenders were stunned by Marina High in four sets.
V.C. won it’s first Olympic League title since 2016 after finishing in second place five straight seasons. Still, the Defenders are locked and loaded with six solid returning seniors among the 10 seniors on the team, and junior setter Taylor Lyons as the team is trying to have at least the same results as last season.
“We want to win league for two years in a row and a goal is to get further in [the playoffs] than we have the last two years,” said head coach Stacy Brannon.
She and the team are leaning on senior outside hitter Tessa Dobmeier to be the leader once again. Brannon says she is off to a good start through the first six matches this season and is nearing the coveted 1,000 kill club for her career. Senior outside hitter Jenna Van Kampen, who will be opposite Dobmeier on the court, brings outstanding passing and defense from last season and continues to lead the team on the outside opposite, according to the former star from V.C.’s National Championship team of 1998.
Senior Brooklyn Warner, who was an opposite hitter last season, is now a middle blocker and Brannon says she is fitting in her new role nicely. Senior Anika Visser has also changed positions and will be the libero while senior setter Lucy Taylor is in her fourth season on the varsity team.
The top newcomer is freshman outside hitter and setter Scarlett McGuyre, younger sister of senior opposite hitter Whitney McGuyre, Brannon says Scarlett is one of the hardest hitters on the team and will be a setter in the back row.
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