Eagles Open Volleyball Season with Three Returning Starters, Home Court Matches Friday
With a 2023 volleyball roster that features three key returning starters and 10 freshmen, Eagles head coach Lyndi Scholl likes what she's been seeing during the first two weeks of practice.
Back from last year are leading scorer Jade Crawford, hitter Karli Reynolds and libero/defensive specialist Ashley Quizon.
Scholl said the new Eagles, from Siskiyou County, California's Central Valley, Oregon and Washington, are "eager and super coachable."
Overall, the coach said this year's roster has "more dynamic athletes," and she expects the team to play at a faster tempo and provide "way more of an offensive threat."
Fans will be able to see more pre-conference home matches this year, starting with two scrimmages this Friday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m. vs. Umpqua Community College and 6 p.m. vs. Lane Community College.
The home schedule also includes a match against Yuba on Aug. 30 at 5 p.m., matches against Cosumnes River and DeAnza on Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the Siskiyous Classic on Sept. 15 when the Eagles will host Mendocino and Los Medanos at 2 and 6 p.m.
Golden Valley Conference play begins for the Eagles Oct. 6 at Feather River and finishes Nov. 10 at Redwoods.
Jade Crawford and Ashley Quizon were both all-conference award winners last year.
A 5-foot-7 outside hitter from Bakersfield, Crawford was First Team All-GVC after leading the Eagles with 276 kills, 299 digs, and 38 service aces.
Quizon, a 5-5 defensive specialist from Denver, is taking over at libero after ranking second on the 2022 team with 274 digs and earning All-GVC Honorable Mention.
Weed High School graduate Karli Reynolds, a 5-7 hitter, was second on last year's team with 116 aces and third in points per set. Scholl said Reynolds will be playing more right-side hitter this season.
New to the team from Siskiyou County are three players from Yreka High, 5-8 middle blocker/opposite Taylor Odbert, 6-2 outside hitter Julia DeLeon, and 5-11 middle blocker Kylie Bucher; and Wintu Baker, a 5-4 setter/defensive specialist from Mount Shasta High.
Also new to the team are 5-7 defensive specialist Amelia Gastelum from Seaside, OR; 5-8 setter/opposite Madison Noble from Upper Lake; 5-10 middle blocker Josie Cole from Bonanza, OR; 5-4 setter Isabella Colombo from Naselle, WA; 6-foot opposite Madelyn Truelock from Lodi; and 5-10 middle blocker Hailey Rock from Orland.
John Durney is returning as an assistant coach, and new assistant coach Cristal Perez was a member of last year's team and a scholar-athlete who earned her Associates in Kinesiology this past spring.
Now in her fourth season as the head coach, Scholl is continuing her efforts to make connections with local athletes and coaches. The team hosted a camp on campus and put on camps at Weed High School, Mount Shasta High School and Sisson Middle School in Mount Shasta.
By Steve Gerace
