Montini freshmen show they're progressing

The Montini girls volleyball team, with three freshmen starting in Wednesday's 25-10, 25-12 home opener win over Westmont, is a work in progress, according to coach Steve Dowjotas.

It's almost a year later after the Broncos (4-3) finished fourth in Class 3A for their best showing in school history.

"We're very young. We started three freshmen tonight and we could be starting a fourth freshman by the end of September," Dowjotas said. "We have a lot of potential. In the regular season it will be an up-and-down battle every game. But when the playoffs come, I think we will be right where we need to be and I'm looking forward to October."

Five players are back this season from the state team and looking forward to having this squad make its own mark as the veterans and the younger players mesh as a team.

"It was such a great experience. But we've returned to work hard with this team," said senior setter Gina Cappetta, one of the team's three captains. "I learned a lot from the (graduated) girls on how to lead and I want to help the newer players as much as I was helped."

This match was never in doubt. The Broncos led from start to finish in each game against the Sentinels (0-2) with the help of 18 aces.

Cappetta took over serving in Game 1 with Montini ahead 8-3. Three aces and kills by Annie Marie Olszowka and Bethany Loftus later, the Broncos were up by double digits for the first time, 14-4.

Westmont enjoyed some brief momentum right after as a Montini hitting error and an ace by Zoe Okon cut the Broncos' advantage to 8 . Later, the Sentinels reached the 10-point mark on a Broncos hitting error to make it 24-10, but a hitting error by Westmont clinched the opening game victory for Montini.

Game 2 saw the Broncos pull away later and the Sentinels staying within single digits most of the time. Olszowka served up 5 aces and with 2 Westmont hitting errors put Montini up 24-11 and helped wrap up the match victory.

Westmont coach Jennifer Gliwa-Bell is optimistic that her team will be better as the season progresses.

"We are very inexperienced and have no club players. That makes a difference. We have a lot of two- and three-sport athletes. We'll take our lumps early in the season as we get into the groove. But as long as they keep fighting, I will be happy and I think we will improve," she said.