The Cupertino Courier
Sports
Monta Vista's Gatley is division's MVP
By MIKE BARNHART
When Alex Gatley was a sophomore at Monta Vista, hard work and determination earned her a position on the varsity volleyball team.
"I already had a full squad and didn't think I'd have any room for her," coach Colin Anderson recalled recently, "but exceptional hustle got her onto the team. She was one of the leading players, playing both front and back row."
Her work ethic never has waned.
This fall, her third season as a varsity starter, Gatley led the Matadors to the championship in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. In the process, the 5-foot-6 senior fulfilled a goal to become a strong hitter, an accomplishment that did not go unnoticed. At season's end, Gatley was named the division's Co-Most Valuable Player with Ysabel Zulueta of Milpitas.
"She focused on killing the ball no matter where it was set," Anderson explained. "That improvement is what got her the league MVP. She is a very good athlete, but her effort and desire to improve made her a great volleyball player."
Gatley was joined on the all-El Camino first team by senior teammates Jane Xu, Kelly Bodwin and Devin Peters.
Other first team picks were sophomore Katie Kao and junior Jennifer Riland of Cupertino and seniors Jenna Cleaveland and Emily Shen of Lynbrook.
The honorable mention list included Reya Otenio and Ana Pischl of Cupertino, Marielle Narcisa, Courtney Wen and Sharon Hao of Lynbrook, and Kim Ang, Jessie Barry and Paulina Dao of Monta Vista.
All-De Anza volleyball
Homestead finished fourth in the rugged De Anza Division, but opposing coaches saw enough of Mustang outside hitter Katherine Fischer to select her Most Valuable Player.
Three other Mustangs were honored. Kelly Verstegen and Melissa Cheng earned first team recognition and Allie Fickett was an honorable mention pick.
Field hockey honors
Kasha Sang of Monta Vista and Megan Shimojima of Lynbrook were named Junior of the Year in their respective Blossom Valley Athletic League field hockey divisions.
The efforts of Sang and senior teammate Prina Patel were bright spots in an unusually dreary showing by the Matadors in the Mt. Hamilton Division. Patel was a second team selection.
Shimojima was honored for her play in the Santa Teresa Division. First team selections included Katie Thurman of Lynbrook and Amanda Schlabaske of Cupertino. Lynbrook's Kyla Hunts and Lara Verwe and Cupertino's Ashley Wakefield were second team picks.
Homestead's fine season was capped by the selection of Nicole Caballero, Jamie Keith and Nicole Cefalu to the first team and Shirin Mollah and Ali Holtzapple to the second team.
