It's been approximately nine months since Dayton High's volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Truckee in the 3A state finals.
Instead of forgetting the disappointing loss, the Dust Devils are embracing it.
"We definitely have some unfinished business," DHS coach Monica Halverson said Thursday night. "We talk about it a lot. We talk about being a finishing team; finishing all the time. We're not scared of anything.
"We got off to a bad start (in that match), and I'm hoping that our experience and dealing with that means we won't have that deer-in-the-headlights look again."
The Dust Devils, who were 21-6 last year, open their 2011 season today at the Yerington Tournament. Dayton plays at noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The tournament concludes on Saturday.
Halverson returns five players from last year's squad - sophomore outside hitter Madison Foley, 6-4 middle blocker Cassie DePew, 6-1 middle blocker-outside hitter Erin Edison, setter Cora Jeffreys and outside hitter Taylor Hill.
Foley averaged 2.9 kills per game, 0.7 assists per game and 1.2 digs per game. An accomplished club player, it's thought by many in the area that Foley could play at the next level if she keeps progressing.
"At the beginning of the summer I told her I thought I might need her to set," Halverson said. "I didn't know how well our new setters (Jeffreys and newcomer Alyse Fletcher) would step into that role. She did a great job. She knows the game. She dominated. She can dump it and she can hit it.
"Cora might feel a little pressure, but I think she'll step up. She has gone to a lot of camps and clinics. It's up to her."
DePew and Edison could form quite a blocking tandem if and when they play together. They could cause fits for opposing hitters and middle blockers.
Besides Fletcher, Taryn Schriner, Makaila Marshall and Ashley Hill will be looking for court time. Hill steps into the libero role.
Soccer girls hope
for better performance
Coach Jared Miklich lost nine players from last year's team - six to graduation and three who opted not to return to the sport this year.
"We're down quite a bit from last year," Miklich said. "We're starting with brand-new girls essentially. We were hoping to see a lot more freshmen and a few sophomores coming out. As of now, we have only two freshmen and three sophomores. It's a rebuilding year for us.
"We'll be young as far as skill level and experience. It's a lack of motivation among today's youth which is sad. Our local league in town is nice, but it doesn't help them build up skill and get ready to play at the high school level."
Miklich does have his top scorer back - Maribel Ledezma (10 goals). Also returning is Savannah Parsons, who scored three goals last year.
"I didn't see here all summer," Miklich said. "It doesn't look like she's missed a beat. She's in great shape."
Miklich expects Ledezma to get a lot of defensive attention, and he believes she will be up to the task.
Parsons will be counted on to anchor the defense along with new goalie Muranda Fowler, who replaces Natasha Wells, who was one of the top 3A keepers and kept the Dust Devils competitive many times.
"She has to learn to keep her head in the game," Miklich said. "Muranda is great at coming out on breakaways. She's a tough girl."
Other returnees are midfielder Devon Cates, fullback Cassidy Council, forward Erika McCoy, back-up goalie Kyle Pack and midfielder-fullback Serena Pistilli.
The top newcomers besides Fowler are Patricia Rodriguez and Madison Reid.
Numbers up for boys soccer
For the first time that he can remember Dust Devil soccer coach Karl Watts has enough players to have an 11-on-11 scrimmage.
Watts is hoping better numbers and a better attitude will add up to more victories. Dayton posted just five victories a year ago.
"There is a new spirit and enthusiasm out here," Watts said. "It's nice to have a fresh start, and I hope something good comes out of it."
Goalie Edgar Diaz, forwards Miguel Salcedo and Arturo Mercado and P.J. Vasquez, back-up goalie/forward Colton Mason, midfielders Ryan Greenwalt, Jose Salas and Leo Rodriguez plus defender Benny Alfaro return from last year's squad.
Newcomers this year are Jesse Garcia, Spencer Ruiz, Jonathan Hernandez, Martin Rubio, Sergio Talavera, Marcos Rodriguez, Augustin Ruelas, Jeff Brooks, Shay Hamblin, Isaac Olson, Jeremy Lozano and Raul Rojas.
'We don't have any super players; no dominant players," Watts said. "We have a lot of players coming out for the first time."
Watts is hopeful that his players stay upbeat throughout the season and make daily improvement.
The Dust Devils open against Sparks on Aug. 30. It's a tough opener to be sure, and Watts wants to make sure that the Railroaders know they have been in a game when they walk off the field.
Breithaupt top returnee
in cross country
The Dust Devils return just seven runners from last year's program, and are expected to field a good boys squad.
Aaron Elissa, William Fitch, Jamie Woods and Skyler Rose return on the boys' side, while Katrina Breithaupt, Isabella Anderson and Kaia Galloway return on the girls side.
"I have four strong boys: Skyler, Aaron, Jamie and Joe," coach Shawn Anderson said. "I am looking for a big improvement from Jamie Woods this year and fast times from newcomer Joe Law. Skyler and Jamie put in a lot of mileage this summer and it should pay off for them this fall.
"We have just a couple of freshmen. I have only one freshman, Philip Hevener, who has attended summer practices. I am hoping for a few "wild cards" from the younger guys so the boys team can put up some decent team scores. Hopefully, I will get a few more freshman runners when school starts."
That was accomplished when Nick Langstaff and Benjamin Ply joined the boys squad.
Anderson faces a major rebuilding job with the girls.
Other than Breithaupt, the talent is unproven. Breithaupt was sixth in regionals and 10th at state last year.
Anderson, the daughter of the head coach, has a stress fracture. The other three members of the team are Galloway and newcomers D.J. Ply, Megan Austin and Kylie Crosby.
