Girls volleyball: Mustangs not late in the game

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - One of the first questions the Costa Mesa High girls

volleyball team asked its new coach was, will you be our coach next year?

Well, after less than a month since being hired, Allison Salladin is

excited to stay on board because she has so much vibrant youth to work

with.

Salladin, a 26-year-old walk-on coach, is developing her young team

and it has started the season with a 1-4 record as the Mustangs prepare

for their Pacific Coast League opener at Northwood, Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.

“I’m really excited,” Salladin said of the future. “I don’t have any

seniors. I have a lot of young talent. I want to develop play that we can

carry on to next year and have them grow with team spirit and carry that

onto next season. I’d like to be competitive and finish third place in

league.”

The Mustangs earned their first victory of the season Wednesday, when

junior middle blocker Sharon Day, the team’s captain, led Mesa with 14

kills in a four-game victory over Saddleback.

“She’s by far my hardest hitter and most consistent player,” Salladin

said of Day. “Absolutely competitive. She’s my best blocker.”

Junior Devin Denman, who also plays on the girls soccer team with Day,

is another team captain. And, like Day and junior Kristen Bagwell, is a

returning starter.

Emily Abbott, another soccer player who was a returning starter, tore

her anterior cruciate ligament three weeks before volleyball began its

first practice and will miss the season. Junior middle blocker Jackie

Greaney also returns from last year’s varsity team.

Freshman Jenny Sparks is starting at setter for the Mustangs this year

and Salladin is noticing frequent improvements.

Salladin believes third place in the PCL would be a great

accomplishment for the Mustangs. Though she is a bit new in the game,

Salladin still realizes matches against crosstown rival Estancia will be

vital in the PCL standings.

“We’re looking forward to that game, very much so,” Salladin said of

her team’s home date with Estancia, Oct. 9 then at the Eagles’ gym, Oct.

25. “We’ve been talking about that one a lot.”

COSTA MESA GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

9 Sharon Day middle blocker Jr.

12 Kristen Bagwell outside hitter Jr.

3 Devin Denman outside hitter Jr.

5 Jackie Greaney middle blocker Jr.

13 Jackie Havens outside hitter Fr.

10 Jennifer Jordan outside hitter Jr.

2 Stacy Kirkorian defensive specialist/setter So.

7 Amy Langmos outside hitter Jr.

4 Jenny Sparks setter Fr.

11 Ann Marie Topps middle blocker Jr.

Coach: Allison Salladin