Now that the preseason is over and league play has begun, teams are beginning to establish themselves while others are attempting to recover from disappointing starts. 

The Saugus Centurions are at the top of the Foothill League and in the Heritage League, Trinity Classical Academy is the star, with a 5-0 league record.

Saugus (13-1, 2-0):

The Centurions started their season on a 10-game win streak and went 29-0 on sets won.
In the last preseason game against Village Christian, Saugus fell 3-1. Despite the minor setback, they rallied back and won their first two league matches 3-0.

Through their 13 wins, senior outside hitter Leila Ballard has guided the team with 203 kills, which ranks her fifth in California. Aiding Ballard in her efforts is Katelyn Nelson, who leads all CIF Southern Section Division 3 players with 44 blocks.

With a head full of steam, Saugus will face off against Hart Tuesday at 5 p.m.

West Ranch (6-1, 2-0):

West Ranch is currently in second place in the Foothill League with a record of 2-0. Seven games behind Saugus, the Wildcats’ best chance at passing the Centurions in the ranking will need to be done within league play.

The team has the players to get it done. Its players average 12.7 kills per set and have 79 serving aces on the season. During their loss against Campbell Hall, Freshman Devyn Kobe set a school record for tallying 41 kills in a single game. 

The Wildcats hope to continue their league-winning streak against the Vikings on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Valencia High School.

Golden Valley (5-2, 1-0):

Up two spots from last season, the Grizzlies are currently sitting in third place but will need to continue to win league games to keep their ranking.

With Hart and Canyon having one league win, a loss for Golden Valley can be detrimental. 

Tuesday, GV will play Canyon at 5 p.m., with the winner of the match taking the third place spot.

Hart (1-7, 1-1):

With only one win this season, the Hawks are training to turn their season around and make a push for a higher ranking in the Foothill League.

Thus far, Hart’s lone win was against Valencia, which went five sets (25-22, 21-25, 16-25, 25-20, 15-13).

The Hawks have a shot to make a splash on Tuesday when they play the top-ranked Saugus.

Canyon (11-6, 1-2):

Despite having one of the best overall records, Canyon’s 1-2 league record holds them down in the ranking. They can skyrocket above Hart and Golden Valley into third place with another league win.

The Cowboys can do so on Tuesday when they play Golden Valley at 5 p.m.

Valencia (3-8, 0-2):

With two more wins than the Hawks, Valencia still ranks below due to their two league losses. But with more overall wins, if the Vikings can turn things around in the Foothill League, they can easily take Hart’s position.

They can make a name for themselves on Tuesday when they host the 6-1 Wildcats.

Castaic (3-5-2, 0-2):

While the Coyotes are at the bottom of the league, Castaic has already improved from last season when they only won a single game. 

Like other teams in the league, Castaic can quickly jump the rankings with more league wins.

The Coyotes can turn things around Thursday at 5 p.m. against Hart.

Trinity Classical Academy (5-6, 5-0):

In the Heritage League, the Knights stand tall against the rest with a perfect 5-0 record against league opponents.

Leading the team is Chloe Horning, with 98 digs on the season and an average of 4.3 digs per set. Another key player for the Knights is senior Emerald Lipis, with 73 kills, the third-most in the Heritage League.

In Trinity’s next match on September 17, the Knights will have their hands full with Lancaster Baptist, whose sole loss of the season was against Trinity.

Santa Clarita Christian School (0-5, 0-2):

As a complete opposite of Trinity, SCCS has yet to pick up a win this season. With plenty of games left, the Cardinals have time to turn their season around.

They have an opportunity to turn their fortune around Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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