Coachable. That’s the word Corona del Sol girls volleyball coach Ben Maxfield used to describe this year’s young varsity squad. 

Maxfield said there are just two experienced players who have competed at the varsity level . Nevertheless, Maxfield described his young squad as hardworking and eager to improve. 

“We are definitely reiterating over and over again the process over the product,” Maxfield said. “We may take some lumps at the beginning of the season, but we should be a very strong team by the time the playoffs roll around.”

Because two-year starting setter Anita Babic is out from foot surgery, Corona del Sol must rely on two less experienced setters. Because Babic was the starting setter, the team has no set system yet and Maxfield said which rotation the team decides to run is currently “circumstantial."

This season, Corona del Sol welcomes two freshmen to their varsity squad. Both Julia Owens and Maggie Beauer have competed at a higher level of volleyball which is a reason they stood out to the coaching staff at tryouts. Owens is an experienced setter who has the ability to control the court and run an offense. Beauer adds height to the team and is a power hitter. 

Additionally, Maxfield has high expectations for several returners on his team. Senior Anna Jackson and junior Sydney Meyer combined for 87 kills last season. Maxfield also said that the coaching staff is expecting sophomore middle Ella Lomigora to increase her offensive power this season. Last year, Lomigora led the state in blocks as a freshman and earned 155 kills. 

Junior Angie Bour is Corona del Sol’s libero as well as one of the captains of the team. Coach Maxfield described Bour as a player who brings a calmness to the court and an eloquent passer. “She has flown under the radar a bit, but I think a lot of people are going to start noticing her now,” Maxfield said. 

Corona del Sol has various leaders on the roster that younger players can turn to, including junior Kacie Webb. Coach Maxfield described her as a consistent player who is a “positive leader both on and off the court." With such a young team, leaders like Bour and Webb are integral to the success of the squad.

In these unprecedented times, coach Maxfield expressed his first priority was safety.

“I think it is important for these players to have the social interaction that comes with sports, and so I am doing everything in my power to make sure no one becomes sick,” he said. The team takes several safety precautions such as wearing masks during practice, daily QR code surveys for symptoms, sanitizing hands frequently and keeping distance as much as possible.