Sports
Amador Valley Girls Volleyball Preview: Dons Dreaming of December
Defending NCS champs graduated six seniors, but still aim for State finals in 2010
School: Amador Valley
Sport: Girls volleyball
Coach: Rich Cortez (15th season)
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2009 Record: 30-8 (EBAL Champions, NCS Champions, NorCal semifinalists)
Key returners: Kelsey Williams (senior setter), Rachel Kinnard (senior outside hitter)
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Top newcomer: Marisol Tracy (freshman outside/middle)
Key games: @ St. Francis (Mountain View), vs. Granada, vs. Foothill
Team website: Click here
Quote: "I don't let the record determine our success. Losses in the regular season can actually improve a team. All we want to do is play in December." — Rich Cortez
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He doesn't like the word 'dominant.'
"I guess we've been pretty consistent, but I just focus on attitude."
He refuses to brag about two North Coast Section team titles in the last three years.
"Where do trophies even end up? In your mother's attic?"
But don't think for one moment that Amador Valley High girls volleyball coach Rich Cortez is out of touch with his team.
"I love to win, but that's not why I'm here," Cortez said. "I absolutely love working with kids. I can barely talk about it because I get emotional."
Cortez is entering his 15th season as the head coach at Amador. He's led three squads to NCS titles, but Cortez says his leadership experience comes from his duties as a husband, father and ordained bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"I want these girls to look back at their time on this team someday and think, 'Hey, that's what coach was talking about.' It's about hard work. It's about keeping important things in perspective."
The hard work paid off in 2009. Amador was crowned undefeated champions of the East Bay Athletic League and defeated Granada in the NCS Division 1 playoff championship game.
Amador qualified for the CIF Division 1 State Championships, where they fell to Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) in the Northern California semifinals, two matches short of the state championship game.
The Dons graduated six seniors following their 2009 campaign, including co-captains Nicole Baker and Grace Vickers.
Baker, now playing at Montana State, was a kills machine at outside hitter and named EBAL MVP in 2009.
Vickers, a six-foot-one-inch middle blocker, was an All-EBAL first team selection in 2009. She currently plays at Binghamton Univeristy in New York.
The Dons will be short on returning starters in 2010. They return only five players with varsity experience, including senior co-captains Kelsey Williams and Rachel Kinnard.
"Rachel and Kelsey have been here for four years so it's their team now," Cortez said. "Our captains last year walked out on top and handed it off to them."
Williams was a first team All-EBAL selection last season. As a senior setter, Williams will be an on-court leader for the youngsters in 2010.
"As a setter, I'm always on the court so it's up to me to guide these younger players through our system," Williams said. "These girls have a lot of talent so we just want to build their confidence."
Kinnard is back at outside hitter this season and will have to pick up many of the kills that graduated with Baker last season. Kinnard also says it's up to her to keep the newcomers cool.
"I tell them embarrassing stories about when I was a freshmen all the time," Kinnard laughed. "It's all about making them comfortable."
The co-captains are quick to point out newcomer Marisol Tracy. The six-foot-one-inch freshman has already established herself in practice as a talented athlete anywhere on the court.
"She's just so tall. We're waiting for her to start crushing balls," says Kinnard.
"In practice we just say, 'Go, Marisol! Crush it!'" Williams laughs. "Her confidence is really growing."
With a combination of vocal senior leaders and a new starting lineup with plenty of defensive experience, Cortez said the Dons are sticking to the goal they set each and every year.
"Our team motto is 'Play in December.' There's only one way to do that: get to the state finals."
