TOP 10 TEAMS

1. Harvard-Westlake

2. Thousand Oaks

3. La Canada

4. Granada Hills

5. Flintridge Sacred Heart

6. West Ranch

7. Valencia

8. La Reina

9. Oaks Christian

10. Saugus

Others: Taft, Birmingham, Campbell Hall, Newbury Park, Burroughs, Burbank, Louisville.

TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kellie Barnum, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Camille Coffey, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Sr.

Hanna Levanen, Granada Hills, Sr.

Danetta Boykin, Birmingham, Sr.

Kat Workman, La Reina, Jr.

Christina Higgins, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Christina Nelson, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Amber Hawthorne, Granada Hills, Sr.

Alyssa Walton, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Sr.

Micaela Anderson, La Canada, Soph.

Dani Salka, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Alex Nyman, Chaminade, Sr.

Carly Carapella, Valencia, Soph.

Tani Slauson, West Ranch, Sr.

Jaclyn Clark, Saugus, Jr.

Samantha Kaul, Canyon, Sr.

OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

Chloe Tom, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Sr.

Alessandra Orlandini, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Jr.

Shelby Tom, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Jr.

Juliana Tucker, Campbell Hall, Jr.

Reagan Clark, Chaminade, Jr.

Emily Moss, Notre Dame, Jr.

Liz Landon, Granada Hills, Sr.

Kate Kaplan, Granada Hills, Sr.

Marissa Boyd, Granada Hills, Sr.

Taylor Kline, Taft, Sr.

Naz Malal, Taft,

Sr.

Guadalupe Arizon, Sylmar, Sr.

Katie Kiel, Verdugo Hills, Jr.

Kristin Wendel, La Reina, Sr.

Rachel Gam, Oak Park, Sr.

Michelle Boskovich, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Shayne Kybartas, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Tara Robinson, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Jocelyn Cervantes, Bell-Jeff, Sr.

Allyson Lods, Lancaster, Sr.

Emily Ottinger, Quartz Hill, Sr.

Eirene Kim, La Canada, Sr.

Katie Pierce, La Canada, Soph.

Laura Schroeder, La Canada, Jr.

Sarah Blomgren, Saugus, Jr.

Brittani Elser, Hart, Jr.

Hannah Orlandi, West Ranch, Sr.

Shelby Kunz, West Ranch, Sr.

Bree Braucher, West Ranch, Sr.

Maddie Hardesty, Golden Valley, Sr.

Brooke Dawson, Valencia, Sr.

Leah Gagliardi, Crescenta Valley, Sr.

Sarah Tubert, Burbank, Sr.

Joanna Masopust, Santa Clarita Christian, Sr.

Jasmine Burton, Louisville, Soph.

Stella Carnegie, Viewpoint, Jr.

Claire Meriwether, Viewpoint, Sr.

MATCHES TO WATCH

Thursday: Thousand Oaks at Santa Barbara

Sept. 14: Harvard-Westlake at Santa Barbara

Sept. 24-25: Saugus tournament

Sept. 25: Van Nuys tournament

Sept. 27: West Ranch at Campbell Hall

Sept. 28: Bishop Montgomery at Harvard-Westlake; La Canada at Flintridge Sacred Heart

Sept. 29: Brentwood at Oaks Christian

Oct. 2: Royal Invitational

Oct. 5: Taft at Birmingham

Oct. 7: Oaks Christian at La Reina; Taft at Granada Hills; Valencia at Saugus

Oct. 19: West Ranch at Valencia

Oct. 23: Sylmar tournament

Oct. 26: Granada Hills at Taft

Oct. 28: Birmingham at Granada Hills

Oct. 29-30: Redondo Union Power Classic; Crescenta Valley tournament

Nov. 2: La Reina at Oaks Christian

Nov. 4: Royal at Thousand Oaks

5 BURNING QUESTIONS

1. Which City Section League is the most competitive?

West Valley.

Defending Div. I champion Granada Hills returns five All-City players — Pacific-bound Hanna Levanen, UC San Diego-bound Amber Hawthorne, Austin Peay commit Liz Landon, Kate Kaplan and Marissa Boyd — and Xava Grooms has made significant strides during the offseason but the Highlanders will face challenges in their pursuit of repeating. Birmingham, led by Danetta Boykin and four other returning starters, could face the Highlanders three times this season including the playoffs. Taft won't have an opportunity to face Granada Hills in the postseason, but is a strong favorite to repeat in Div. II behind Taylor Kline, Naz Malal and legendary coach Arman Mercado.

2. Will Valencia extend its run of Foothill League titles to nine in a row?

Last season again demonstrated the Vikings should never be counted out and this year will be no different. Despite an early loss to West Ranch last season, Valencia rebounded to win the title by a two-match margin over Saugus and West Ranch. The race could be a bit more crowded at the top this year, with Saugus relying on junior Jaclyn Clark and West Ranch relying on a deep senior class that includes Tani Slauson and Hannah Orlandi to challenge a scrappy Valencia team led by sophomore setter Carly Carapella and senior Brooke Dawson.

3. Can Thousand Oaks actually regain the Marmonte League championship, despite not having any seniors?

Yes. Behind Karis Schneider, Jillian Johnson, Summer Esseff, Rachel Cookus and Newbury Park-transfer Danae Theiler, the Lancers might have just enough to hold off Royal, Newbury Park and Westlake.

Thousand Oaks will also get some valuable experience playing Ventura, Dos Pueblos, Orange Lutheran and Santa Barbara in nonleague matches.

4. Who could emerge as the area's standout newcomer?

There are many young players ready to contribute right away, but Louisville's Jasmine Burton could have the most significant impact.

Burton is a 5-foot-10 left-handed setter/opposite who is quick on her feet and jumps a mile high. The sophomore will also learn a thing or two from veteran coach Sabine Stork.

5. Which team will win the Tri-Valley League?

It should come down to La Reina and Oaks Christian. La Reina will ride All-Southern Section slection Kat Workman but Oaks Christian has the depth and experience behind seniors Christina Nelson, Tara Robinson, Michelle Boskovich, Shayne Kybartas and emerging junior Maddison Howard.