Featured SPORTS

SRHS volleyball team looks to close strong

SRHS senior Ella Fournier sets a shot for junior Bryce Leatherwood during a win against University City High on Sept. 18. (photo by Phuong Vu)


SRHS volleyball team looks to close strong


By Hector Trujillo

The Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) varsity womens volleyball team hopes to put the finishing touches on another strong season in its two remaining games versus Mission Bay on Oct. 23 and Coronado on Oct. 25.

The regular season finale against Coronado will be a rematch from their first meeting on Oct. 9 where the Lady Falcons fell in a 3-2 nail-biter at home.

“The team is doing amazing, and it’s been a really successful season,” said head coach Roni Hooper. “They’re showing constantly in these matches that they are able to play at a very high level.”

Scripps Ranch started off red hot, winning seven of its first eight games with the only defeat coming at the hands of The Bishop’s School on Aug. 23. After back to back losses to Academy of Our Lady of Peace and Newport Harbor, the Lady Falcons rattled off seven-straight victories which included six shutouts.

“It’s really exciting because we really don’t have one player dominating over the others,” Hooper said. “Our goal is to win a CIF championship this year.”

Prior to becoming head coach in 2015, Hooper was the assistant under Ronni Olsen for five years. She also played for Olsen and was a Lady Falcon herself, winning back to back CIF championships in 2003 and 2004.

Among the most notable standouts throughout 2024 are Bryce Leatherwood and senior Mila Gehlen.

Scripps Ranch also competed in the Redondo Union Varsity Tournament on Oct. 4 and 5 where it faced off against San Clemente, Mira Costa, Los Alamitos and Palos Verdes high schools before returning to league play five days later in hopes of defending its league title from 2023 after finishing 9-1.

Of its two remaining matches, Scripps Ranch already defeated Mission Bay High on Sept. 24, and will strive to avenge its first division loss that it suffered to Coronado High – which it swept both times they faced each other last season.

SRHS senior Jamie Blemker spikes the ball against Mission Bay High in a victory on Sept. 24. (photo by Phuong Vu)