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2008

AVC Coach Jane Cwayna's Marauder's Taller and Deeper in 2008

Abridged and edited by the AV Hub from an article 08/29/08 By GREG WAGNER/Valley Press Staff Writer

"We have some height and some depth and that has me excited," Cwayna said. "It's a game where you have to have some height."

Last season AVC had only one player as tall as 5-foot-10, but this year the Marauders, who open their season tonight at 6 p.m. on the road against Glendale, have seven at least that tall.

They will be joined soon by towering  6-foot-3 Khaliah Burnley, a middle blocker from Quartz Hill High School who decided to pass on a scholarship at Cal State LA and use AVC as a springboard to a better offer.

Former Quartz Hill Rebels outside hitter Kahli Remy will be captain and starter at outside hitter along with Jeannette Niswonger. They lead a team of 12 that includes only one sophomore - outside hitter Jennifer Earwood, who was third on AVC with 126 kills and was the lone 5-foot-10 Marauder last season.  

However, having so many first-year collegiate players doesn't seem to be an issue for a team that has high hopes for a strong finish in the Foothill Conference (AVC came in sixth last season).

"Volleyball is volleyball," Remy said. "If we love the sport, it's not hard to adjust (to playing in college)."

Cwayna, beginning her 27th season at AVC, has had to adjust some with new assistant coaches Turhan Douglas and Mark Cruz replacing the familiar faces of Karen and Larry Valencia. The two coaches, who are in charge of the Valley's Revolution Volleyball club, have brought some new techniques to Marauder Gym, including the swing block.

"I'm willing to adjust to be successful and win," Cwayna said. "It's teaching an old dog new tricks, but I'm learning to adapt to different ways of doing things."

What Cwayna says her players need to now adjust is their passing and defense. During two preseason scrimmage tournaments - in which AVC won 10 of 18 games - blocking and hitting shined as the Marauders' strong suits, but AVC struggled with those other two components.

That's why Cwayna has Niswonger starting at outside hitter. The 1996 Mojave grad has proven to be the most efficient passer. She has told her squad to look to put her in position to pass off most balls.

"You go with your strengths," she said.

Tatiana Wesley and Priscilla Hall have been named starters at middle blocker, with Ashley Marroquin the starting setter and Nicole Moran the libero. Paige Hobson will play opposite hitter.