After two consecutive seasons finishing just short of a playoff berth, the Cerritos College volleyball team is ready to ignite within the South Coast Conference as game one is set for September 9 against Santa Ana College at Gahr High School.

With a roster lacking familiar faces such as sophomore outside hitter Lupe Garcia, who earned 1st Team All-SCC Honors, and Aundrea Stovall, who worked her way to the 2nd team award, the Cerritos College volleyball team hopes to succeed with new faces to make up for their losses.

Head Coach Velazquez-Ortega is set to start her 12th season in charge with a tough challenge ahead of her. Equipped with small amount of returning players, this somewhat experienced squad has high hopes of appearing in playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Captains Jade Garrett and Johanna Peralta believe their intense practices have well prepared them for the upcoming season.

“A lot of running to keep us in shape so we can go to the fifth set if we need to, a lot of jumping, a lot of bleachers, same old same old” explained Garrett.

“We want to make it to playoffs”, Peralta added. “We want to make it as far as we can.”

Surrounded by an impressive coaching staff such as associate head coach Gay Castaneda, the Cerritos College volleyball team are destined to prove that they are ready to give reigning champions El Camino College a run for its money.

In 2011, Cerritos sported an overall record of 10-12, proving there is room for improvement, especially after finishing fourth in the South Coast Conference, and suffering multiple defeats against teams like El Camino College, Mt. San Antonio College, and Pasadena College.

With El Camino traditionally slated on top of the conference, and sitting pretty at the end of last season toting an impressive 14-0 conference record, the Cerritos College volleyball team needs to drastically improve on their 7-7 record in order to expect changes this coming season.

“We have a lot [of tough opponents], not just one, we have a lot”, Coach Velazquez-Ortega sighed. “We are in preseason, it is the time to learn… and it’s a good experience for the girls.”

“Everyday is going to be a challenge so we improve for every single game… and we need to improve”, Ortega continued.

With a jam-packed schedule starting in late September, October is the month to watch out for, as Cerritos hosts Pasadena College at Gahr High School (location of all Cerritos Falcon home volleyball games) on Oct. 7, quickly followed by a road game against El Camino College on Oct. 12.

They then host Mt. San Antonio College on Oct. 24 at home after facing them once before to open up conference play on Sept. 28.

The season is scheduled to wrap up Nov. 16 as the Cerritos College Volleyball team are set to face Los Angeles Harbor College just before Southern California Regionals kick off on Nov. 22.

The last home game of the season is set against El Camino College on Nov. 4 at Gahr High School.