- The Fresno Bee
Saturday, Jan. 07, 2012 | 10:01 PM
School: Central Valley Christian
She's qualified because: In returning to the perennial Visalia volleyball power where she was The Bee's Player of the Year in 2003, Warkentin has led the Cavaliers to consecutive Central Section Division IV titles in her two seasons as coach following a year as an assistant. Top-seeded CVC beat No. 2 Bakersfield Christian 25-17, 25-8, 25-14 for the section title (the school's third overall) then won a CIF Southern California Regional playoff match before its season ended with a 19-25, 25-19, 17-25, 25-15, 15-6 loss to Francis Parker-San Diego. "I feel like I am standing on the shoulders of some giants who have come before me," says the former Meghan Scheenstra. "It's an honor and pleasure to coach at a school like CVC where volleyball is loved and supported like it is. We've got so many girls who want to continue the tradition, it's a coaches' dream."
Landmark victory: The Cavaliers' 31-7 season included a 20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 26-24 conquest of Clovis West, which was ranked No. 1 in the section by The Bee at the time and went on to capture its third Division I championship in the past four years. The Golden Eagles had swept the Cavaliers easily each of the previous two seasons in nonleague matches partially arranged by Rhonda DeRuiter, who coached Warkentin at CVC before going to Clovis West. "That was huge for us," Warkentin said. "They are such a good team and so well coached. We knew we would have to play at the top of our game to get them and that's what happened. From what I've seen as a coach and what I've played, I don't think CVC has ever seen that sort of team volleyball where every girl was contributing. It was such a fun match."
Helping hands: Warkentin credits the work of her assistants -- former high school and college rival Kim (Wynn) Schommer and former college teammate Abbie Wright -- for the success of a program that has gone 62-12 with two Central Sequoia League titles over the past two seasons. Schommer -- who went through Mt. Whitney High and Vanguard University during the same time Warkentin played at CVC and Biola (a Vanguard rival in Southern California) -- has been a boost to the Cavaliers' defense in her two seasons. Wright, who was Warkentin's setter at Biola, has provided a boost to CVC's setters during her one season. "I have the two best assistants," Warkentin said. "They have brought a lot to our program."
