“Our goal is simple. Make the playoffs.”

New Davis High girls volleyball coach Julie Crawford feels she has the players to make it happen and is encouraged by what she sees.

“At practice, (the girls) are focused and they are all hungry to learn and improve,” the Harper Junior High physical education instructor explains. “They take what we do very seriously and they respect what I have to say.

“They have desire.”

Last year, with Leigh Whitmire at the coaching helm, the Blue Devils went 8-16 (6-4 in Delta Valley Conference). They just missed the Sac-Joaquin Section’s 16-team postseason tournament.

However, despite losing seniors Rachael deVries, Angie Rinaldi and Cassie Varland, Crawford is excited by her 12-person roster — and the chances of extending the season.

There’s senior setter Nikki Persinger …

“She is extremely talented,” the coach points out. “I will rely on her to run the court this year. I just told her … that she is the captain of our ship.”

Then the Devils have Lyndsay Chambers, a junior right-side hitter …

“(She) is playing the best volleyball I have ever seen her play,” says Crawford, who coached the JV girls last year. “This will be her third season playing for me and she continues to impress me every day. I am so proud of the player she is becoming. She will be a huge offensive threat this season.”

And newcomer and middle blocker Madison Whitehead?

“She is young (a sophomore), strong and talented,” Crawford says. “She is so raw, and I am excited at the opportunity to start molding her into a great volleyball player. She will be a huge contributor … with both hitting and blocking.”

So what about returning senior libero Jordan Kelley?

“Quick and athletic. She has a way of making the ball do exactly what she wants it to do,” the coach explains. “Our offense begins with what kind of pass she gives us out of the back row. She is consistent and vocal — two qualities that are must-haves.”

And then there’s junior outside hitter Angelina Leigh …

“Angelina has so much potential to be one of the top outside hitters in the area,” Crawford concludes. “She is quick, jumps high and has a fast arm swing. She is also a great blocker and passer. You can expect to see her on the court all season, playing all the way around.”

Crawford says she wants the girls to “feel confident in not only themselves, but in our team. I want them to know that I have confidence in each and every one of them, and that is why I chose them for this team.”

“I want them to go out onto the court each match and smile and … give it all they (have) and compete.”

Last week’s Pioneer Jamboree gave Crawford a chance to see her girls in action — and she came away with a good feeling:

“It was nice to break up our practices and go play a couple of competitive teams (Pioneer and Napa). I was very pleased at our play against Napa. I also got the opportunity to give every player on my team some court time. That will not always be the case once the season begins.”

After a doesn’t-count-in-the-record CIF Foundation Game on Monday at Pioneer, the Blue Devils host Rio Linda on Tuesday (6 p.m.). The following week Vacaville is the destination (Tuesday, Sept. 6) before the Saturday, Sept. 10, Christine Craft Tournament in Sacramento.

The Davis Fall Classic will be conducted on Saturday, Sept. 17, featuring 16 teams. After that, Delta Valley Conference play begins Monday, Oct. 3, at Grant.

Crawford also likes her girls’ attitudes toward each other:

“I love how they all get along and act with one another. They are positive and encouraging to each other all of the time.”

And focused on that year-end playoff berth.

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at [email protected] or (530) 747-8047

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DHS senior Nikki Persinger goes up high for a spike during a recent Blue Devil workout. First-year head coach Julie Crawford is counting on Persinger to be a leader on a Davis team that hopes to get to the postseason. Wayne Tilcock/Enterprise photo

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