Veteran returners fuel optimism for Eagles

With all six starters returning, the future is bright for the Estancia High girls’ volleyball program.

Coach Jim Huffman said he believes that future begins now.

“We’re easily the best team that Estancia has had in a dozen years or more,” said Huffman, now in his fourth year as coach. “We should do a lot better. Not losing a starter is pretty significant.”

Estancia went 15-7 last season, 9-3 in the Golden West League, which resulted in a second-place finish and a berth in the CIF Southern Section Division III-A playoffs for the first time in six years.

The Eagles return three first-team All-Golden West League selections: middle blocker Jaye Hellmich, setter Stacie Watson and outside hitter Taylor Brown, all seniors.

Hellmich and Watson are four-year varsity starters.

Middle blocker Olivia Schow and outside hitter Sarah Braunsdorf, both juniors, were second-team All-Golden West League selections a year ago.

Estancia also returns sophomore outside hitter Annie Tomasek, who Huffman said has shown a lot of improvement.

“She played the right side last year and kind of had the deer in the headlights look,” Huffman said. “But this year, she is going to be scary.”

The 6-foot Hellmich helped her Golden West Volleyball Club 17-and-under team win a silver medal in the Gold Division at the Junior Olympics over the summer.

Tomasek, who stands 5-10, helped the Golden West club’s 15-and-under team won a bronze medal in the Gold Division at the Junior Olympics.

“That experience, added to the returning nucleus of the team, should give us a pretty big bump to the talent level,” Huffman said. “And our chemistry is pretty strong. This team is amazingly tight-knit.”

Senior defensive specialists Tracy Patton, Katie Hartwell and Joy Avelino will all provide depth, as will sophomore middle blocker Madeline Stack.

Huffman said freshmen Amy Hartwell and Amanda Watson — younger sisters of Katie Hartwell and Stacie Watson — should also benefit the program.

The Eagles move into the Orange Coast League this year, which, for volleyball, consists of Estancia, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach and Calvary Chapel. The teams will play each other three times in league play.

“My guess is that Laguna Beach will be the favorite,” Huffman said. “But it’ll be four good teams in our league. I don’t think there’ll be any pushovers.”

Beyond league, Huffman said he thinks an extended CIF playoff run isn’t out of the question for the Eagles.

In any case, he said, the goal is to get further than last year’s first-round loss.

“If you can get a couple of rounds into CIF, then anybody can win it,” Huffman said. “Obviously, the key is to stay healthy. As long as we stay healthy, I think we can make a good run into CIF.”

Estancia has a scrimmage against visiting Tustin on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. The Eagles’ first regular-season match is Sept. 12 at home against Irvine, at 5 p.m.

THE EAGLES

3 Tracy Patton Sr.

4 Annie Tomasek So.

5 Olivia Schow Jr.

6 Katie Hartwell Sr.

7 Stacie Watson Sr.

8 Joy Avelino Sr.

9 Madeline Stack So.

11 Taylor Brown Sr.

14 Sarah Braunsdorf Jr.

15 Jaye Hellmich Sr.

Coach: Jim Huffman (fourth year)