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2007-2008
Antelope Valley Girl's
 CARA SHERARD - The powerful junior practices her moves in Quartz Hill's gym. She had 28 kills in five games against Hart. RON SIDDLE/Valley Press |
By ERIC BACA
Valley Press Staff Writer
Yes, Vocke is well-aware that the Rebels have opened league play 6-0, but, according to Vocke, it was the first time his girls shed their individuality and played as a cohesive force.
"Thursday was the best we played all year," Vocke said. "Sure, we've won other games, but this was the first time that we won a game as a unit."
Much of the Rebels' success - along with a heightened emphasis on teamwork - this season can be attributed to the performances and leadership efforts of Michelle Carroll, Chelsea Hamilton and Cara Sherard, each member of the trio bringing her own strengths and unique talents to the courts for the Rebels.
While the arsenal of Hamilton and Sherard has been dominant and hard to ignore, for Vocke it has been the consistent play of setter Carroll that has put his Rebels in first place.
"She's the quarterback for the team," Vocke said. "Everything runs through her. If she doesn't set it up, then the others don't get their hits. She's the floor leader."
In the Rebels win over Littlerock last week, Carroll's consistent touch set up Hamilton and Sherard for a combined 24 kills. Although not in the spotlight as much as previous years, Carroll understands her role and doesn't mind deferring the attention to others.
"It's always about the team," Carroll said. "I can't be selfish about it. It's not about me."
Despite her selfless approach, Carroll would like to see a few changes that would give role players like her some well-deserved attention.
"I think they should change the way they do the league MVP," Carroll said. "It should be changed to look at the personal quality a person brings to the game."
What Caroll brings to the game are three years on varsity, including membership on the 2005 Golden League championship team. But for heavy-hitter Hamilton, it's Carroll's mental quickness that has been most noticeable this season.
"She's such a smart setter," Hamilton said. "She knows how I like the ball set, and she knows my strengths and weaknesses and can put it where I can get to it."
And Hamilton gets it.
In fact, the senior has already amassed 72 kills in nine games this season, including seven in a win against last year's Golden League champion Lancaster.
On what Vocke called, "a whip for an arm," the Rebels' opposite hitter has been unstoppable. While an imposing force on the court, it's Hamilton's vocal leadership and example that Vocke depends on.
"I just love her vocal aggressiveness on the court," Vocke said. "She never gets down on anyone. She's always smiling."
In addition to her heavy hits and towering frame, Hamilton's left-hand lead has opened up many options for the Rebels' offense, "Nobody expects it and aren't ready for it," Carroll said in regards to her teammate of three years.
Even though she is slow to admit it, the southpaw understands from a team point of view, what having two strong hitters on opposite sides - one left-handed, the other right handed - can do.
On the other side from Hamilton is newcomer to varsity, Cara Sherard who has exploded for the Rebels offensively. The junior outside hitter has led the way with 103 kills, playing more like a seasoned varsity starter than a rookie. If Vocke would have had it his way, she would be well into her second varsity campaign already.
"She's always had that natural ability," Vocke said. "She should have played varsity last year, but it wasn't up to me. If nothing else, she would have been good competition.
"She's the steadiest players on the team, the most consistent."
Despite being the offensive leader for the Rebels, Sherard recognizes her key weakness, as well as the overall improvement in the team dynamic.
"I am a pretty shy person," Sherard said. "I don't want to yell on the court, but everyone tells me I need to work on that, but I am the same way at school, and I know it transfers on the court. We are starting to gel more on the court and getting more comfortable with each other. It (volleyball) is really helping me open up to my teammates."
Oddly enough, Sherard initially had no desire to play volleyball, succumbing to a friend's invite to volleyball tryouts in seventh grade. But once Sherard stepped on to courts, she knew she was a volleyball player.
Although a varsity standout now, Sherard remembers her first days on the courts of Quartz Hill.
"Tryouts were so difficult," Sherard said. "So many people had club experience, and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it."
That single decision to continue playing has already materialized in to decisive wins for the Golden League favorites.
Against Hart High School, Sherard muscled 28 kills in five games, proving early on that she has found her home on the varsity team.
"I have really had to step it up," Sherard said. "But I feel confident that I will do OK this year. The senior players have been really helpful and made me feel part of the team."
On the backs of Carroll, Hamilton and Sherard, the glass looks half-full for the Rebels at mid-season, but Vocke remembers when things weren't running as smoothly.
"Anytime you have 16 girls on a team, you're going to have some issues," Vocke said. "Before the Lancaster game, I told them that they've gotta get rid of whatever problems they've having."
Message received.
After Vocke's pep talk, the Rebels responded with a 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-9, 25-17) reminder that meant more than just another 'W' in the win column.
According to Hamilton, the victory over Lancaster was crucial to the team's future success. "Lancaster was definitely our main focus," Hamilton said. "They're a good team, and we knew had to play our best when we came out. All of us came out nervous because we still remember what happened last year. But once everyone calmed down, we did OK. You have to have the right mindset."
Hamilton said that while they are happy to beat the defending champions, she can't help but think about what could have been last year.
"I think had we had the heart to do it we could have taken it," Hamilton said. "I mean, it's not that we didn't have the potential or the talent, we just didn't play like a team."
In an effort to communicate better on the court, the Rebels have begun to devote more time to doing non-volleyball activities. Hamilton said she can already see a noticeable difference.
"We really weren't a team last year," Hamilton said. "I feel like this year we were able to overcome our differences."
Carroll echoed those sentiments of her teammate.
"Last year was really hard," Carroll said. "None of us had played together on a team before. But we know Vocke and we've played together here and on other club teams, and I think that has helped. We all come back with different views on the game - different talents."
Even with a number of weapons at his fingertips, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice, Vocke remains cautious, not wanting his girls to peak too fast. Instead, the first-year varsity coach hopes that when CIF comes around, the Rebels will be at their best.
Although the Rebels will graduate Carroll and Hamilton at year's end, along with four other players, Vocke had one comforting thought.
"Makes me feel good knowing Cara is coming back."
The Rebels face a tough Highland team tonight, looking for their seventh straight Golden League win.
