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Both the Altimira Middle School's girls' seventh- and eighth-grade volleyball teams recently ended their 2008 seasons in triumphant fashion, with both Lady Wolf squads, coached by Mike Powers, claiming a share of the North Valley League crowns.

The Altimira eighth-grade girl spikers compiled an 8-3 overall record, which included a 6-2 league mark that earned them an NVL co-title with Cloverdale's Washington Middle School. Comprising the co-champion Altimira volleyball eighth-grade girls - who also won the NVL title last year as seventh-graders - are Jasmine Aceves, Jamie Ballard, Riley Ellis-Reis, Kristin Gare, Alexis Long-Am, Katie Lyon, Courtney Mackling, Cierra Percy, Micaela Shrum, Emily Sterner and Courtney Struthers.

For the season, the eighth-grade Lady Wolves were led by Lyon's 80 good serves, including 31 aces and only six misses, along with 12 digs and - in a must-win match against Cloverdale - she had a run of 12 service points in a game-two win; Ellis-Reis' 73 good serves, including 26 aces and 13 digs; Aceves' 59 good serves, including 11 aces, 51 kills and three blocks; Long-Am's 27 kills and three blocks; Ballard's 26 kills and 14 blocks; setter Mackling's 14 digs and 10 blocks; and Percy's three blocks. "Courtney (Mackling) was our setter all year and by running a 5-1 offense, she was the setter whether she was in the front row or back row," said coach Powers, who is also Sonoma Valley High School's junior varsity head volleyball coach. "Courtney improved all year long, and her good sets were reflected in the number of kills that our players executed. As a team, we had 143 kills on the season."

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After completing a near-perfect season with a 10-1 overall record, the Altimira seventh-grade girl spikers snared their NVL co-title with Washington Middle School (Cloverdale) after finishing league play with a 7-1 mark. The co-champion Altimira volleyball seventh-grade girls consisted of Christina Alvarez, Melissa Alvarez, Janet  Cabrera, Caprice Camilleri, Jazmin Chavez, Paige Giomi, Colleen Giroux, Maria Hawing, Fatima Lopez, Brooke Slack, Bronwyn Todd, Abby Van Kirk and Edy White.

The Lady Wolves' splendid season was led by Cabrera's 84 good serves, including 29 aces; Hawing's 83 good serves, including 32 aces and 30 kills; Chavez's 25 aces and 11 kills; Christina Alvarez's 19 kills and 13 blocks; Camilleri's 11 kills; and Giomi's 10 digs.

"All of the seventh-grade girls improved their volleyball skills, and they learned to play together as a team. Playing good defense was an important key to our success this year and Paige (Giomi) not only played great defense, but also she was one of our team's best passers," coach Powers said. "This season was a very rewarding season for both our Altimira teams. I enjoy coaching at the middle-school level because the girls get a taste of the type of system we run at Sonoma Valley High School. As Sonoma's jayvee volleyball coach, I want to equip the girls with the skills they will need at the next level.  I think there is a bright future for Lady Dragons' volleyball if the girls keep progressing in their skills."

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