GILROY—The Christopher volleyball team made the move to the Monterey Bay League’s tough Gabilan Division last season, joining powerhouse teams such as Salinas, San Benito and Notre Dame. The perennial favorites took the top three spots, but the Cougars proved they deserved to be there, too and finished fourth in the division with a 14-18 overall record. Now that it has a year of experience under its belt, Christopher is looking to infiltrate the top three.
“It was definitely a learning experience, especially for some of our younger kids that are back on the roster this year,” Cougar coach Brian Calimpong said. “We got a full education on what the Gabilan Division is all about which, as a coach, it is exciting because is a much higher caliber of volleyball.
“We’re taking a role in being one of the better teams in our league. It’ll still be a really tough fight with those top three, but I think overall we’re going to be stronger.”
The Cougars have a stellar core returning including their offensive juggernaut Olivia Tabron. The senior was third in kills in the MBL, racking up 239 last season. Tabron has played almost every position in the front row over her high school career, starting with middle hitter before moving to the right side last year and has the potential to play on the left this year. But with hopes of a breakout season—and earning a First Team All-League honor—Tabron is looking to do even more.
“She really wants to go switch rotations and be that on the court presence that we need and she’s getting there,” Calimpong said. “In practice she’s working hard and learning how to play the back row and contribute in that fashion.”
Christopher will also see the return of Marielle Gomez (libero/defensive specialist), Christa Arroyo (setter/opposite hitter/libero) and Samantha Dolan (outside hitter/middle blocker) who all had standout sophomore campaigns. Now that they’ve joined the ranks of upperclassmen, Calimpong said he’s expecting more out of each of them and they are delivering.
“I’ve seen a great deal of leadership from them this offseason,” he said. “They’re coming into their third year on varsity and they know what the program is about. They know the flow and they’re trying to get better as well.”
Triple athlete Ally Foster—who also plays basketball and does track— along with Katelyn Biray and Dolan will provide strength and power in the front row. Gomez and Arroyo will split time as setters and are providing leadership and consistency in the back. Overall, Calimpong said, the Cougars will be a more physical team this season.
“I feel like there’s a couple areas where we’re strong,” he said. “How that all melts together will be the ultimate challenge though.”
As always, Calimpong said he’d like to see improvement from his team on their serve-receive. That will be crucial if the Cougars want to achieve their goals of returning to the Central Coast Section tournament and staying competitive in the division.
“In the upper (division) there’s no night off,” Calimpong said. “It’s going to be tough match every night and you have to bring you’re best stuff. That’s a great challenge for us and hopefully we’re up to it.”
