AJ’s 16's Sweeps EVJ 16’s
to 16 Open Region Title

When the two best 16’s teams in the Region squared off in the 16 Open Regionals final, only one thing was missing.

A Coach!

Arizona Juniors dedicated and dominated the day by not dropping a game en route to the Open Gold medal at Open Regionals on June 14th.

Arizona Juniors Coach Molly Stark was felled by some minor emergency surgery the night before Regionals that left this group under the care of Assistant Coaches Melissa Griffin and Kyle Ausmus and the need to use what Stark had engrained in them all season. ‘Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals!’ Stark says. “A strong structure can't be built without a strong base. We continued to progress as a team because the players believed in developing their fundamental skills. They took it seriously and it paid off. “

“ Our team had fun playing and looked forward to each and every competition.” Stark says admiringly of her girls. “We have a great rivalry between our team and East Valley Juniors and either team was capable of winning. But going undefeated for the entire competition was a huge confidence booster and helped to mentally prepare us for Nationals. Also, my assistant coaches did a great job this tournament and throughout the season.”

Stark also used her team's discipline to get them through their season’s most important tournament without her. “I also believe that players need discipline. They need to know that certain behavior on and off the court is expected while other behavior is not tolerated. I choose a team based not only on physical skill and athletic potential but on personalities and attitudes on and off the court.”

Maybe what Stark loved most about her team was the passion they had for the game. “We were so fortunate to have a team that loves to play together on the court and gets along so well off the court. They truly work together with little or no drama and each player understands her role.”

Stark understands she has set a high standard for this squad, but they seem to be embracing it. “This team has a very bright future.” She says smiling. “Already the girls are setting goals for next season!”

16AAA Title Tilt Goes to
Gila Valley 16 Janene

East Valley 15-1 Head Coach Mindy Marques credited her squad for making a supreme effort at Regionals. “Our performance in the regional tournament was very special to us because we were missing 3 starting players due to injury and being out of town and still came up big.” She added, “The eight players that we had pulled together as a team and played their hearts out, showing determination and having faith in each other. Players stepped up to the challenge and succeeded. It was one of our best performances all season.”

Marques’ commitment to her team embodies her philosophy as a coach. “We believe that all players have the ability to become great all around volleyball players, we give a lot of positive feedback and repetitions at practice. We really focus on teamwork and building cohesiveness throughout the entire season. We spend time together off the volleyball court, having team dinners, doing community service projects, team hikes, team meetings and goal setting. We even had our team participate in a community run last season.”

No doubt this kind of commitment has paid off, and to Marques, will in the future of these young women as well. “Well many of them will move on to 16-1s next season; I will stay coaching the 15-1s. They all have a bright future in the sport and it been a privilege coaching these young women.”

Unshakable Litchfield Park 15 National Top
Colorado Crush for 16AA Title

Coach Rosario Lopez worked his team practice after practice to keep them calm in stressful situations.

“In practice we would place each player in an uncomfortable position making each player learn every position. We did this as individuals and as a team. In the end each player was able to be calm and secure in their abilities and performed without any hesitations” Lopez said.

And it was that unshakability that helped his Litchfield Park 15 National team beat the Colorado Crush 16’s team in the 16AA Region Championship held June 7th at South Mountain Community College.

Lopez’s strategy of keeping his girls on their toes paid off all season. “I always changed practices making each player adapt to new surroundings.” He said. “I made each player become problem solvers and to think outside the box. We also played in several out of state tournaments again forcing this team to adapt to new surroundings this made them very well rounded. This team would practice three times a week and played more out of state matches than in-state region matches.”

Litchfield went into Regionals as the team to beat and came into the Region Championship across the net from the Colorado Crush’s 16-1’s team as the 9th seed going in.

Lopez credits his team’s unity as an underlying factor of their season’s success. “I would have to say their unselfish attitude towards each other. It was very clear in the beginning of this season that they were special indeed. Each tournament they played together they showed the quality of team spirit that I have not seen before.
“They would all do whatever needed to be done and none of them were looking to be the hero. Rather they were looking in the same direction at the same goal. Their work ethic at practice spilled over into the tournaments they played. This was the hardest working team that I have ever coached and yet they made it look easy. They found their playing rhythm early and worked on it as the season progressed. There were no stars on this team and they all knew that they needed each other to be successful. They never made any excuses for a poor performance and they always talked about what they could do better the next time. As a coach I am very proud to be a part of this season it has been a pleasure to be their coach.”

As they move up into the 16’s division, much will be expected of this team, both by Lopez and the girls themselves. “I think the future of this team is bright and that our program is now starting to produce upper level players. It is only the beginning for this team. I would like to see them stay together but I know that with our training system engrained in the players of this team, no matter where they go they will all be successful. They will always be Litchfield Park.”

Litchfield 15 Semi National Stops
Verde Heat 16-Red for 16A Gold

Where are you Christmas?

Sung well into February, it would seem more of an error in scheduling, but for the Litchfield Park 15-1’s team and coach Tracy Irving, it became a turning point to a season.

“ That when the girls began turning the corner a bit.” Irving remembers. “We were playing in a region tournament and we had a player decide she was going to sing ‘Where are you Christmas?’ Needless to say while winning games we were all singing this song and it brought the girls closer together.”

Close enough to take the Region’s 16A division championship with a win over the Verde Heat 16-Red team on June 7th.

Irving’s squad put aside the fact they were younger and less experienced than many of their opponents. “This was their first year playing together and many of the girls this was their first year in club.” Irving says. “For them to achieve this was a testament of their hard work and sacrifice and I am proud of all of them. They all learned their positions and with girls that were setters in high school playing front row for us without any complaints from them or their parents really helped as well.”

Litchfield claimed two of the three 16’s titles at Regionals, and Irving says it’s the work the teams put in. “During the regional tournament the girls finally saw what could happen if they used the defensive system we teach as well as the conditioning program we use. They were still fresh and mentally focused.”

Irving sees the game becoming more and more about size and offense, but her philosophy goes the other way. .” I believe that the defense aspect is the most important and that’s what I try to emphasize. All of the young ladies can hit but if you can’t defend you can’t win. Being a first year coach and a region champion was a great bonus. And I would like to thank the club, girls and parents for supporting me.”

“ We have a bright future.” Irving points out. “I am excited about next season as we had a young team with a few 13 year olds playing and starting for us and oldest girl just turning 15. So we are all looking forward to our next run together.”

June 2008

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