Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of prep previews the Dispatch will be running leading up to the start of the season. We will focus on a different sport and team each week.
What Emily Buchner and Marielle Gomez lack in height, they make up in heart.
The duo are defensive specialists for the Christopher High volleyball team. Buchner, a senior, stands at 5 foot 4, while sophomore Gomez is just 5 foot 3.
While other teams may look at the Cougars backrow and see a weakness, Buchner and Gomez have fun surprising their competition with their skills.
“Emily Buchner on paper may be undersized, but she more than makes up for it in heart and determination,” Cougars coach Brian Calimpong said. “She has worked extremely hard in the offseason.”
While Buchner is an established player on the Cougars roster, that wasn’t the case for the fresh faced Gomez last season. The sophomore had to earn her spot in the rotation as well as the respect of her competition — and she did just that. Gomez had 164 digs and 26 aces in her freshman year, numbers which contributed to CHS becoming Monterey Bay Pacific League champs as well as earning a Central Coast Section Division III Playoff berth.
“It’s not even so much that her volleyball skills are very strong — which they are — but I think it’s just her enthusiasm and heart that she brings to the team that’s phenomenal,” Calimpong said. “She’s one of those kids that any coach would love to have. She always gives 100 percent, I don’t think she knows how to play any different.”
It’s not just their talent that makes Buchner and Gomez have such a strong presence, but their voices too.
Volleyball is a game of communication. It’s one where all members of the team have to talk in order to be successful on the court. Both Buchner and Gomez take no issue with being vocal whether they’re on the floor or not.
“I’ve kind of always been vocal, always helping my team out,” Buchner said. “Now that I’m a senior, it’s like ‘I can do this. I can help my team out. I can be part of the team where if I’m not on the floor, I can still be helping my team out.’ That’s what being vocal is really all about.”
This season the Cougars will face tougher competition as they move up to the Monterey Bay Gabilan Division. Calimpong is confident in his two small, but mighty leaders and their ability to be a force physically and vocally.
Gomez knows the stakes are higher this season and isn’t looking to be in a sophomore slump. She’s hoping to help lead her team to back-to-back league championships as well as further into the playoffs.
“This year I think we’re going to push a lot harder especially since we moved up in league,” Gomez said. “Coach really emphasized that with us. Last year we were facing teams that we were just kind of passing over, but now it’s going to be harder.”
Christopher open its season at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at home against Everett Alvarez.
Gilroy Mustangs
Last year’s record: 5-9 overall; 5-7 in Montery Bay Pacific League
Top returners: Nicole Green, sr., setter; McKenna Morley, sr., MH; Leilani Mah, sr., MH; Bailie Carpenter, sr., OH; Clarissa Quezada, sr., OH
Key newcomers: Too early to tell
Coach Elaine Price’s comment: “Our expectation for the season is do be our best, do our best and play our best in every match.”
Analysis: If you’re looking for experienced volleyball players, Gilroy certainly has them. The Mustangs graduated only three seniors last season and are returning a six players from last year’s junior class — a group that will most likely be their starting rotation. Among this group is the talented setter Green and the Mustangs block leader Mah. Gilroy is under the direction of new coach Price, who is looking to greatly improve on last year’s record. The team certainly has the experience and knowhow to be successful this season and time will tell if Price is the missing piece to Gilroy’s puzzle.
