Campbell Hall Given Bye as Volleyball Playoffs Open

Campbell Hall High starts the first round of the Southern Section 1-A playoffs this week--by not playing.

Because Campbell Hall is seeded first in the 1-A Division, the Vikings received a first-round bye and will play the winner of today’s Big Bear-Northview game Friday. Campbell Hall Coach Kris Ragland doesn’t mind the wait.

“Playing a weak, first-round team is not going to help our team, but the extra day of practice is,” she said.

Campbell Hall (16-0) won the Delphic League with a 12-0 record.

The Vikings finished second in the 1-A Division last year and, with five starters returning, Ragland expected the Vikings to do as well this season.

“We’re a well-balanced team, everybody hits, everybody sets,” she said. “I tell them to set it to anybody, I don’t care.”

The key for Campbell Hall has been the play of senior Nicole Holland and sophomore Jeanelle Meskimen, the setters who share responsibility for running Campbell Hall’s complicated offense.

Middle blockers Tracey Sylvester and Crissy Mills have been two of the top hitters for the Vikings and senior team captain Zoe Cassavetes has been a steadying influence on the young team.

“She’s the one that’s pulled it all together,” Ragland said of Cassavetes. “She’s not the best in everything, but where would we be without her?”

Probably at Big Bear.

In other first-round matches Wednesday, Hoover plays at Louisville, Marlborough plays at Chaminade and Notre Dame plays at Arcadia in the 4-A Division. In the 1-A Division, Providence plays at Paraclete, Desert plays at Village Christian and L. A. Baptist plays at Covina.

In a 3-A Division game Thursday, Alhambra plays at Agoura. In 2-A Division games, Morro Bay plays at Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park plays at Arroyo Grande and Royal plays at Paso Robles.

All games begin at 7:30 p.m.