Bonita Volleyballers Hike Before They Spike

August 29, 2009

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UCLA-bound Allie LaPierre leads a strong Bonita varsity volleyball team.

What happens when you combine a bunch of varsity girl volleyball players and varsity boy water polo players? What else … they go hiking!

To Azusa Canyon’s Bridge to Nowhere to be exact. And there was adult supervision, too. The morning and afternoon affair was part of a team-building and bonding exercise.

“It was pretty funny,” said head Volleyball Coach Adriana Contreras. “When we started, all the boys were on one side and all the girls were on the other. They didn’t want to interact. They were a little shy. But towards the end of the hike, it was boy-girl, boy-girl, and everyone was looking out for each other. It was amazing.

“When some of the girls had to carry packs over their heads while crossing a stream, and were losing their balance, the boys were helping them.”

Contreras, who also doubles as an algebra and geometry teacher on the Bonita campus, can only hope that her players show as much communication and camaraderie when the competition heats up.

Melissa Katherman

Knowing Contreras, she’ll get the most out of her talent. Before taking over as Bonita’s head varsity coach last season, she played four years at the University of La Verne, including as a member of its 2001 national championship team. Thereafter, she coached the team as first assistant for another six years.

It was while coaching at ULV and teaching at Bonita that she got the call for the head volleyball coaching job at Bonita. The call had come just in time because ULV had been planning a big Hawaii trip which would have taken Contreras out of her Bonita classroom for what she felt was an unacceptable period.

“When Bonita approached me about the opening, I said ‘Yes,’” Contreras said.

2009 Bonita Volleyball: top from left, Coach Adriana Contreras, Victoria Dennis, Ashley Maxfeldt, Katie Kirby, Briana Kennedy, Danielle Lines, and Ast. Coach Joe Chapin. Bottom, from left, Stat Boy Chad, Lauren Mierke, Allie LaPierre, Delia Bisbardis, Jackie Campa, Melissa Katherman, Carly Miller and Kim Hurley. Not pictured, Patrick Romero.

It was good decision on the part of both Bonita and Contreras because last year she led her team to a quarterfinals appearance in the playoffs before the girls lost to Village Christian. With a full year of teaching high school girls now on her expanding resume, she and her team appear even more formidable this season.

Karly Miller

Jackie Campa

She won’t be facing any shortage of talent. The average height of her players is about 5-10.

“We have a pretty good team of players coming back who are absolute studs,” Contreras said. One of those is Allie LaPierre, an All Miramonte first-team player last year who will be playing for the UCLA Bruins next fall.

“She plays everything,” Contreras said. “She plays outside; she’s a very strong hitter.”

Katie Kirby

Another outstanding outside hitter is junior Katie Kirby, another 2008 first-team Miramonte League selection. One of her Contreras’ key setters will be Ashley Maxfeldt (2008 Miramonte first team) while Jackie Campa and Melissa Katherman are her liberos or back-of-the court defensive specialists. She will also be counting on senior Lauren Mierke, a second-team Miramonte choice in 2008, to help carry Bonita.

Another top talent is 6-foot-3-inch middle hitter Victoria Dennis. Contreras also likes the way Brianna Kennedy is performing. “She looking very good at this stage,” Contreras added.

Ashley Maxfeldt

Overall, Contreras lost six seniors from last year’s team, including all Miramonte MVP Coutney Donaldson, who is now playing for BYU. But their departure didn’t leave the cupboard bare. Eight of her dozen varsity players have club experience.

Delia Bisbardis

Lauren Mierke

If anything, the team may be more focused than last year’s squad. Returning players know what to expect from Contreras, a college coach who brings a university-style approach and structure to her practices. “All the girls seem to be acclimating just find,” Contreras added.

And for some reason, if the season doesn’t have a storybook ending and CIF championship waiting, the girls always can always go hiking.