Del Sol girls’ volleyball team eyes first trip to playoffs

By Brent Hinckley

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | 1 a.m.

Heather Cory

Del Sol’s Gaby Leubke returns the ball in a game against Southeast Career and Technical Academy at Del Sol High School on Oct. 9.

Del Sol's girls volleyball team is on the verge of making its first postseason appearance.

Coach Albert Ronquillo credits his four returning seniors for having the Dragons in position to reach the playoffs for the first time since the school opened in 2004.

"It's a great group of girls. They've done everything I've asked them to do," Ronquillo said.

Setter Kadie Miller and outside hitter Bryanna Chavez are in their fourth year on varsity, with outside hitter Karie Miller in her third year and middle blocker Gabby Leubke in her second.

"In the past we'd start out the season slow. This year, ... we came out a lot better and faster," Kadie Miller said. "The four of us already know what to do and that makes it easier to help our teammates."

The Dragons (12-7, 5-3 Southeast Division) are in fourth place in the division with a two-match lead against fifth-place Basic. Basic won a tie-breaker against Del Sol last year for the final playoff spot.

"It showed us that small things can make a big difference," Leubke said. "It was one game, a matter of a couple points and Basic moved on and we didn't."

Del Sol won the first meeting between the schools this season 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-23) on Sept. 24. The teams meet at Basic on Oct. 20.

"We're better because we play better teams. We know our division is never going to be easy," Karie Miller said. "We really have to believe we can beat Silverado or Coronado or Green Valley."

Last year gave Del Sol confidence that it could compete.

"After last year, coach told us we had knocked on the door, but this year we were going to knock the door down," Chavez said. "We're going to the playoffs this year, and I'm excited."

Leubke is the only member of the team with playoff experience — just not in volleyball. As a sophomore, she participated in the Sunrise Regional tennis tournament.

"This is going to be a completely different experience," Leubke said. "I watched Las Vegas and Coronado (in the 2008 Sunrise Region boys volleyball championship) and it was so intense. I can't wait to see what that's like in the playoffs."

She started playing volleyball as a junior after being recruited by Kadie Miller during their sophomore year.

"We had a lot of classes together and I knew our middle blocker would be leaving," Kadie Miller said. "I told her I'd play soccer if she'd come play volleyball, so she came out. It's been awesome having her."

Ronquillo said Leubke was almost a natural to the sport.

"With her athletic ability she picked up the game real quick," he said.

Brent Hinckley can be reached at 990-7822 or brent.hinckley@hbcpub.com.