Legionnaires start volleyball season 4-2 on court

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The Bonsall High School girls volleyball team had to forfeit two matches because the Legionnaires didn't have enough players, but the Legionnaires won four of the first six matches they played on the court.

The Legionnaires had played six matches as of the end of September. "We got a late start this year," said Bonsall coach Justin Hargrove.

Initially the volleyball program had six girls, but Hargrove desired the option of substitutes – or alternates if a girl was unable to play – before beginning competition. "We waited for a couple of more," he said.

That resulted in forfeit losses to St. Joseph Academy and Del Lago Academy to start the season. A scheduled game against Fallbrook was declared a no contest rather than a forfeit.

Bonsall's team has nine players. Four of those were on the 2019 team (Bonsall did not have a 2020-21 volleyball team), one is a transfer from Otay Ranch High School, one is an exchange student from Brazil who has some volleyball experience in her home country, and three had no volleyball experience prior to the start of the season.

"For not having a season last year, I'm really proud that we were able to get on the court," Hargrove said.

The Legionnaires traveled to Vista to open their season Sept. 17 against High Tech High North County, whose home matches are played at Brengle Terrace Park. Bonsall won in five games.

"It was really good," Hargrove said.

"We played really well," Hargrove said. "Things turned our way and we were able to pull off the win."

A team must win a game by at least two points. If each team wins two sets, the fifth game is to 15 points. Bonsall won that game by a 17-15 overscore. "It was a really tight ballgame and the girls played really well and came out on top," Hargrove said. "We may not be the best team, but we are definitely a well-oiled and a competitive scrappy team and that definitely showed in that match."

Guajome Park hosted the Legionnaires in a Sept. 20 contest which ended as a four-game win for the Frogs. "We struggled a little bit more. They were a better overall team," Hargrove said. "It was a good match. We just didn't come out on top."

Bonsall's first home match of the season, Sept. 22, was against Cornerstone Christian, and the Legionnaires took a three-game victory against the Wildomar visitors. "They played really good," Hargrove said. "It was a good match to focus on the fundamentals and focus on getting better."

The second match of the season between Bonsall and Guajome Park was played Sept. 27 in Bonsall. "We actually ended up winning that one. We made a couple of adjustments," Hargrove said.

Not only did Bonsall address the Frogs' strengths from the previous match, but the additional experience allowed the Legionnaires to work together better. "Those variables and factors kind of helped as well," Hargrove said.

Bonsall won in four games. "We made a good adjustment," Hargrove said.

When St. Joseph Academy traveled to Bonsall for a Sept. 29 match, the Crusaders had an 18-2 record and were ranked first among all Division V teams in the CIF San Diego Section. "They were doing really well this year," Hargrove said.

St. Joseph won the match in three games. "They're a pretty good team, but I thought we played really well," Hargrove said.

"I was happy with the way we fought," Hargrove said. "I thought we did a good job."

Bonsall's Sept. 30 match was at home against Escondido Adventist. The Hawks won the first set, but Bonsall won the next three games. "It was pretty close," Hargrove said. "We really battled."

The fourth game had a 27-25 overscore. "They took the advantage and they almost beat us," Hargrove said.

Bonsall overcame game point to win by the necessary two points. "We were able to keep fighting," Hargrove said.

"I think we did a really good job in executing," Hargrove said. "We competed. I was proud of the way they came back from a loss to a good team."

All four of the returning players from 2019 are seniors, as is the Otay Ranch transfer and one player new to the sport. Two of the seniors, Dani Leung and Hanna Smith, are the team captains this year.

"I'm really proud of the girls we have," Hargrove said. "I couldn't ask for a better team."