Team looks for another post-season run
By Hector Trujillo
The Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) varsity womens volleyball team finishes another impressive regular season on Oct. 24 versus Cathedral Catholic High at home in hopes of preparing for another post-season run.
The team had a 19-12 overall record as of deadline.
The Lady Falcons defeated Mt. Carmel High and San Pasqual High in last season’s Division II playoffs, not dropping a single set before being eliminated in dramatic fashion by La Jolla Country Day 3-2.
“When we are playing well, we’re playing at a really high level on defense and on offense,” said head coach Roni Hooper. “This makes us a really balanced and exciting team to watch.”
Scripps Ranch High started off the season with back to back wins over Patrick Henry High and San Marcos High before dropping its first match to Westview High School on Aug. 15 in tournament play. The Lady Falcons then returned to form by winning three of the next four, with the only loss coming against Murrieta Mesa High the following day.
After losing another nail-biter to Valley Christian High on Aug. 29, Scripps Ranch High returned to its winning ways by defeating La Jolla Country Day and Helix High School before falling to San Marcos High on Sept. 10.
The 2025 squad is made up of nine seniors out of 16 players, and are led by the efforts of Bryce Leatherwood, Elyse Taschner and Olivia Bryant, who was unavailable due to injury in the Redondo Union and Mira Costa womens volleyball Power Classic tournament held on Oct. 3 and 4. The 28-team tournament consisted of seven pools, with four played at Redondo Beach and three at Mira Costa, which included five teams ranked among the top 25 in the country.
Scripps Ranch High faced Bishop Montgomery High and Archbishop Mitty High, both among the top in the state. SRHS still managed to qualify for the gold bracket thanks to its 2-1 victory over Aliso Niguel High.
The Lady Falcons also took on Sierra Canyon High, which is the number one team in the state and ranked third in the country. SRHS also faced Centennial High School from Corona.
“The tournament prepared us well for all the other league matches that we’re playing,” Hooper said.
Earlier in the season, Scripps Ranch High ended up winning a tournament it hosted on Sept. 19 and 20 by defeating all six opponents without dropping a set, and followed up with a 2-1 victory over Otay Ranch High in the final.