Girls Volleyball awards were conspicuously absent during the Metro Conference’s 2020-21 all-league awards ceremony June 15 at Hilltop High School.
At 5-0 in Mesa League play with two victories against Otay Ranch and single wins over Mater Dei Catholic, Bonita Vista and Olympian, the Lady Titans’ Season 1 schedule somehow came up short in the criteria used to select a league champion in the shortened season.
“I’d like to think that we were the champions,” Eastlake head coach Erwin Macalaguim noted prior to his team’s 2021 fall debut against the visiting Bishop’s School Aug. 17.
At 9-2 through 11 games this season, Macalaguim is hoping his team can return to dominate the Mesa League once again. The Lady Titans finished the 2019 season 36-10 overall, 12-0 in league play, while advancing to the third round of the Division II Southern California regional playoffs.
Eastlake, a San Diego Section Open Division qualifier, received the No. 2 seed in the regionals and squashed Valley Christian and Rancho Cucamonga to draw 11th-seeded Ontario Christian.
Ontario Christian won 3-0 en route to eventually claiming the state title.
The Lady Titans’ championship pedigree is not lost on their coach.
“It was nice to craft a program that could compete with North County teams, and qualify for the Open Division playoffs,” Macalaguim said. “It’s been nice to witness the growth of the playing talent within the South Bay and the Eastlake community.”
There doesn’t appear to be a shortage of talent after 145 students registered for tryouts this season.
Top returners include seniors Malia Gementera, Abigail Macalaguim and Savannah Johnson. Top newcomers include freshman Ivanna Rivera and sophomore Alayna Toussant.
The Eastlake coach said he feels his team will be right in the thick of this year’s league banner chase.
“There are three teams up for grabs,” Macalaguim said. “Olympian has a good team — they’re senior heavy. Otay Ranch has some really good kids.”
Olympian is off to a 5-0 start this season.
