Success is a funny thing. For the past two seasons, the Malibu girls volleyball team had its way with the Frontier League, posting records of 14-4 en route to two second-place finishes and a well-earned, albeit somewhat dubious “reward:” promotion to the higher-profile Tri-Valley League.
After prowling around as a big fish in a small pond, the Sharks have now been cast into a sea of larger predators. Facing off against TVL powers Oaks Christian, Oak Park, St. Bonaventure and small-school power La Reina, survival may be the appropriate term as the girls get their feet wet in their new surroundings.
“We are no longer the big dog. We are not the elevate, terminate volleyball team that we were in the lower league,” Malibu Coach Carlos Gray said. “We have to focus on the strengths of our team. We are a small, scrappy defensive team now and that is what we have to be in the new league.”
As with most sports in this unique two-tier league system, the two teams with the best overall records in the Frontier League for the past two years get moved up into the TVL while the two worst overall records in the Tri-Valley League team get moved down into the Frontier.
The winners, if you would like to call them that, were Grace Brethren and Malibu, who join a very formidable league. The losers were Nordhoff and Villanova Prep. But were they really winners?
“And in two years the same four schools will probably switch again,” said Gray, who begins his 12th year as head coach. “We belong in the Frontier League. But we will make the most out of it. We will work hard. That I can promise.”
Leading the way for the Sharks will be a quartet of ladies who have been named captains this year. Seniors Allison Hahn, GiGi Hadid, Laura Kiefer and Logan Beitler are the only returning players from a year ago, when Malibu finished 18-7 overall and advanced to the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs.
A back injury to senior Moorea Maguire prevented her from playing her final season. She is now the varsity team manager and frosh-soph assistant coach.
“We are not as physically gifted as a team as we were last year. But we are going to work hard and come together as a team,” Gray said. “We have four senior captains who have made strides in their growth as leaders and players. I love working with these ladies because they are such a hard working group. They enjoy each other.”
Hahn, an all-league performer in 2010, returns as setter for the Sharks. Gray described her as the “engine that makes the team go.”
“I am looking forward to playing with these girls because we have been developing as a team. I think we have a lot of good things ahead of us,” said Hahn, a three-year starter. “Having been a part of the team for three years, I’m really excited about being a captain. It’s a rewarding moment to be a senior and a leader.”
Joining Hahn as three-year lettermen will be Hadid, an outside hitter, and Kiefer, a middle blocker. Kiefer will be playing alongside her sister, Kate, at the middle position.
“GiGi is probably our most explosive athlete,” Gray said. “She is a very good passer and a good defensive player. She is finally ready to grow into that leadership role.
“I expect Laura to be one of the better middles in this league. She is a tremendous blocker.”
Hadid hosted a team barbeque at her house this summer in efforts to strengthen the team chemistry.
“I’m happy that I get to play with my three fellow seniors,” Hadid said. “Each of us has a special thing that we can teach not only on the girls on varsity but the lower levels too. It’s really cool that all of us get to be captains our senior year.”
Beitler transferred to MHS last year from Palisades Charter School. She has become a strong addition to a team that graduated nine seniors.
“She is the best pure hitter on the team,” Gray said. “Extremely hard worker. She overachieves for her ability.”
Malibu will open up the portion of its home schedule on Thursday against Lighthouse Christian at 4 p.m.
“It’s been a challenge losing so many seniors but we have developed so much this past summer and we’ve been working really hard,” Hadid said. “Once we get used to playing at that higher level, we will step up and show our potential.