The 2016 Culver City girls’ varsity volleyball team has a new coach. Tanner Siegal replaced Joe Manzo and the results are the same. The Centaurs are still very competitive and they are winning games. They currently have a record of 11-5 and their next matches are on the road against Lawndale on Tuesday, September 27 and Hawthorne on Thursday, September 29. There next home match will be against Ocean League rival Santa Monica on Tuesday, October 4 at 3 p.m.
Tanner, whose father coached volleyball at Culver City, is happy to be in charge but he is really excited about the play of Jessica Stewart. “Stewart is the heart and soul of this team,” said Siegal last week. “As a setter she is the player that runs the offense. She steps up in practice and the games. She uses her voice to inspire her teammates. We are a better team when she is out on the court.”
Stewart thinks the coaching change brings new energy to the team. “We like our new coach. He is really involved. Our team just needs to stay focused. I think if we do that we can go far in the playoffs this year.”
Another player that is having a good year is outside hitter 6’0 Lena Johnson. She is the younger sister of last years’ Culver City co- Male Athlete of the Year, Kyle Johnson.