Twelfth year head Coach Raissa Adolphe has Crespi in position for another successful season. This is no surprise for Crespi volleyball fans. With Adolphe at the helm, Crespi has been in the CIF Division I Playoffs eight out of the last nine years. In 2003, 2004, 2009, and 2010, the team finished second in the competitive Mission League.
This past season, the Celts were ranked in the top fifty nationally by ESPN, and were also ranked in the top ten in the CIF Southern Section Division I. The 2010 Varsity Team received the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Excellence Award.
On the court, the Celts were led by six seniors and finished second to Loyola with an overall record of 25-9. Two of the seniors are playing at Division I schools. Brandon Lebrock ’10 is at CSUN, while Daniel Stork ’10 is at UCI.
The tradition of success continues this year for the Celts and they are set up for another great season. Even though this may look like a rebuilding year, the 2011 squad might surprise a few opponents. In pre-league play at the annual Best of the West Tournament in San Diego, Crespi finished ninth overall. According to Coach Adolphe, “This team has already done something that no Volleyball Team has done at Crespi. We finished in the top 10 in The Best of The West Tournament, which was comprised of all the top CIF Division I High School Teams in California.”
The Crespi Volleyball Team earned some great experience and finished second in pool play. Crespi had impressive wins over host school Poway, ranked twenty-first by the ESPN FAB 50, and defeated Palos Verdes. The Celts had to defeat Palos Verdes to make the consolation final after losing to Mira Costa, ranked second by ESPN FAB 50.
Although the Celts could not avenge the playoff loss from last year to Mira Coast, they found some redemption in the consolation bracket. In the Consolation Final, Crespi faced Newport Harbor, ranked seventh by the ESPN FAB 50. Through an amazing effort by the entire team Newport Harbor was defeated 2-1.
Since the tournament, the Celts are 2-1 with wins over Oak Park and Notre Dame, and only a loss to Loyola. “This team is intelligent and coachable. They understand how important strategy is in a match, and they have extreme confidence in each other on the court. They demonstrate composure and intensity, as well as the ability to battle and compete to the final whistle,” added Adolphe.
Crespi continues league play tonight at 6 pm against Alemany in the Crespi All-Alumni Gym. This weekend the team will make its annual trip to Santa Barbara for the Dos Pueblos Tournament.
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