Albany High is playing for the state championship this Saturday. This may the best Albany team since the Lindsey Kagawa days. They have an exceptional junior who I believe will be going to WSU. Have you seen them play.

They are quite good on the net, serving and passing. They have some height.

I also saw Albany on Cal Hi Sports and they're impressive. They defeated Sacred Heart Cathedral (CCS) in five sets. Albany has four girls 6 feet to 6'2" & they're athletic. Albany will be on in DIII on Channel 41 (ComcastCA).

Palo Alto will be on at 7pm for DI on ComcastBA (CH 40)
Presentation will be on at 5pm for DII (CH 40)
Branson will be on at 10am for Div V (CH 41)

Div II is the tough CCS bracket with Presentation, Saint Francis (CCS champ), Archbishop Mitty, Los Gatos, etc.

Albany has gotten quite good. (They beat Campo!! who lost a number of seniors from last year's State champ team and were young and rebuilding this year). After Albany lost to Campo earlier this fall, and then lost to Branson/Marin I think, D5 State winner, Albany coach started 5:30am practices and everyone bought into getting better fast with a huge sense of urgency.
They are also quite tall and athletic.

The D3 team from socal who Albany is playing against Sat aft is the same one Campo beat last year. Cathedral Catholic. Coach was quoted in local SD papers that she hoped Albany gave them a good game and didn't just hand the state title to them. Probably not a good thing to say.
(I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that she was perhaps just responding to local SDiego fans comments).

Cath Catholic is athletic. So is Albany.

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Nor Cal took 4 of the 5 Div State Titles last December including D1.

So Cal has one Section (Southern) that throws all their strong programs into D1, regardles off student body enrolment, so it was a real upset when Palo Alto HS won D1 last year.

So Cal is sorta projected by some to take 3 of 5 Div titles this year, but I am not ruling any norcal team out....
Nor Cal teams are done with 'just being honored to BE in the State Title Match' which was the case a few years ago.
D4 norcal represented by Union Mine HS/foothills might have the most challenging opponent....La Jolla Country Day School is VERY strong.

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Broadcast Audio Streem info
Edited to add: More broadcast info (also including NorCal area): http://www.cifstate.org/index.php/state-championships-/volleyball-girls/483-2011-cif-girls-volleyball-state-championship-tv-listings

CIF State Finals will be broadcast on Time-Warner Cable only; see: http://www.twcsocal101.com/varsity_roundup.html
LA area: TWC Channels 101 (SD) and 700 (HD);
SD/No County area: TWC Channels 411/890;
Desert Cities area: TWC Channels 111/590.

If you don't have Time-Warner, there will not be a video-stream, but there will be a live audio stream on:
http://www.kbcsports.com/.../details.asp?GameID=6143

Also, I have to believe that www.thebackset.com will post updates live from Irvine.

Plenty more info and program on this link, and brackets which will be updated during the day Sat.
http://www.cifstate.org/index.php/state-championships-/volleyball-girls/324-cif-state-girls-volleyball-championship-brackets-

Katiana lives right down the street from me. she is the tallest at about 6'2". They will have a good team next year as they have a great junior and sophomore plus a good Libero who is a*sophmore.

I noticed Albany will have a good team next year too.

Campo had a freshman this fall who is AAAAAA. So we'll see if the rest of them can get it all together for next fall.

Absolutely wild match.

Norcal took the other 4 Divisions.

Congrats to Branson D5, Union Mine D4, Presentation D2, Palo Alto D1.

and to Albany for being a breath away.
Up to now Albany had been out for years and years in the Section Playoffs, first round.

On Socal chat groups, the region is VERY TICKED with losing 4 of 5 again.

paly won the first two against marymount, dropped the second two, and was down 13-7 in the 5th!!! before rallying and getting the W (forgot the final score). what an exciting final set to watch

I know for Cal, our only 2012 recruits are foreign players but were there any players tonight that are highly regarded and have signed LOIs for 2012?

OBear073akaSMFan;643503 said:

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I know for Cal, our only 2012 recruits are foreign players but were there any players tonight that are highly regarded and have signed LOIs for 2012?

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There are bound to be players who played and signed LOIs, but not with Cal. I understand that Cal is going to have a few walk-ons joining, but of course that means no LOI.

California 2012 commits
from one of the vb websites....RK
The 2 international players have LOI. Don't know about the others.

Gombar, Nikki Press Release Listed on: 11/10/2011
OH - Marymount International Rome, Italy 2012

McKennon, Mary Listed on: 10/22/2011
L 5-9 Corona del Mar, CA 2012

Riddering, Natalie Listed on: 5/23/2011
L 5-9 El Camino Sacramento, CA NCVC (Northern California Volleyball Club) 2012

Vukasovic, Lara Press Release Listed on: 11/10/2011
MB/RS 6-4 XVIII Gymnasium Frejus Var, France 2012


2013
Below are commits only. LOI for 2013 won't be offered till next Nov.

Jensen, Alyssa Listed on: 4/26/2011
S 5-10 St. Josephs Academy Fenton, MO High Performance STL 2013

Jordan, Jenelle Listed on: 8/8/2011
MB 6-3 Bellaire , TX Texas Pride Volleyball Club 2013

Kerr, Madeleine Listed on: 7/23/2011
L 5-8 Torrey Pines Rancho Santa Fe, CA Encinitas WAVE VBC 2013

Ogbogu, Chiaka Listed on: 8/8/2011
MB 6-2 Coppell , TX Texas Advantage 2013

oskigobears;645957 said:

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2013
Below are commits only. LOI for 2013 won't be offered till next Nov.

J
Kerr, Madeleine Listed on: 7/23/2011
L 5-8 Torrey Pines Rancho Santa Fe, CA Encinitas WAVE VBC 2013

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In the past our L and DS were walk-ons. Even now I believe Robin was a walk-on at the start (not sure about now) Is Madeleine, whose father is steve Kerr a walk-on?

Don't know. Nice that she committed so early.
In the past we have had some liberos received a scholarship, generally after their frosh year...
Kathan had one, but not sure how many years.