Over the past 15 years, volleyball at Rocklin HighSchool has built up a dominant program that has featured four league championships. It has also featured camps and clubs to improve current and future Thunder girls from sixth grade on up; when there is a spot open, they have someone to fill it.

Last season was just a minor speed bump in Rocklin’s hopes of winning another title, as the Thunder finished second in the Sierra Foothill League with a 27-14 record. Granite Bay finished as the SFL champions last year and was runner-up in the Sac-Joaquin Division I Section Playoffs.

“We hope to win league title again,” said Dave Muscarella, whose club plays Division II, “and get back into [Sac-Joaquin] section playoffs and maybe compete for a section title.”

Muscarella went on to say that he hopes they can improve on their setting and defensive front, both were weaknesses for the Thunder last season.

“We’re more mature and more experienced heading into this year,” said Muscarella.

Rocklin lost four seniors from last season’s squad, but replaced them with nine seniors out of the 11 coming in this season.  Of those nine, two have committed to colleges and two have several schools wanting them to commit. 

But that talent doesn’t end with the seniors. Sophomore Maddie Haynes is a top 50 prospect at outside hitter and Muscarella is expecting her to be a leader and compete with the seniors in 2013.

Muscarella is expecting good things from seniors Jolie Mead and Bethany Mandon at the middle position, Kate Mitchell at defense, and Megan McBroome at outside hitter.

Source: http://www.placerherald.com/article/thunder-seek-return-sfl-supremacy