"Giving girls a chance to fly"
Watsonville
Starlings Volleyball
Club
Watsonville Starlings
Program History
Watsonvile Starlings was the first league program to offer volleyball to the girls in the
community of Watsonville.  Participation in athletic activities is an effective measure in
keeping kids off the streets and out of trouble which is the primary goal of the Starlings
program.   More than volleyball, the program helps girls become more responsible, more
disciplined and more mindful of their habits regarding their physical and mental health.      

Starlings 2007
Our first EVER Starlings team was our group of 16's. We started with 12 girls. Our very
first tournament was a three day assault at the Presidents Day tournament in San Jose,
where we started off as the 154 seed and ended at the same spot.  Compare this to our
final tournament of the year in San Diego where we competed against 40 Starlings teams
from all over the country and finished 15th. GREAT WORK Starlings!!!

In March 2007 I realized that I had to much free time on my hands and started the
Starlings 14's team.  Thanks to the leadership of Coach Monce, we were able to offer the
14's girls a season and the experience to develop their skills of volleyball.

Starlings 2008
Starlings had one 14's team a 16-1 team and added a second 16-2 team and had over 30
girls participating in the program.   Watsonville Starlings has grown to be a program that
supports positive life skills and helps ladies build confidence and the 137th seed and
ended as the 79th seed, one of the 169 teams that made the most improvement over the
three days of game play.   Once again...GREAT WORK Starlings!!!
Check out our
teams
The second season of Starlings brought more accomplishments.   All Starlings teams were finishing in the top of
most of their final tournaments.   Starlings 16-1 finished in the top five of all eight tournaments played this season and
finished first place in two.   In San Diego, the 14's team played in the Division 5 pool and finished first place.  The 16-2
team played in the 16's Copper Division 4 pool and finished in second place, 20th out of 47 teams and earned the
Watsonville program their first medal.   The 16-1 team played in the 16's Gold Division 1 pool and finished 4th place
out of all 47 teams in their age group that played in San Diego 2008!!!

Starlings 2009
This season of Starlings was better than ever.  We had some of the strongest teams go through so many
unpredictable changes and we were still able to excel as teams.   Even though we lost some good athletes we
proved to be the strongest program in the area.   This year starlings started with 4 teams; one 17's, two 16's and one
14's team and after many changes the program ended with three strong teams.   

The 17's team started off rough playing at a much higher level than last season, losing many games but after a few
tournaments we were able to get back to the game we were used to playing and got over the "bump" of power
league.   If things work out right... look out next season NCVA.   The 16's team was good all season and began to
really gel as a team in the end.   The had to deal with a lot of mid season changes and did a great job staying focused
on what was important... playing as a team.   The 15's team had to deal with the most change but after it all they
became one of our strongest teams.

This year all Watsonville Starlings teams did a great job in San Diego.  The 15's played some tough matches , had
some close games and great victories  and finished in 12th out of 42 teams.   The 16's also had some close games
and played strong to the end finishing 11th in Silver Division, winning the 1st ever match between Watsonville 15's &
Watsonville 16's.  Starlings 17's won 1st place Silver division coming in 9th out of 39 teams overall.

This season, Watsonville Starlings also had 2 ladies selected out of over 70 athletes to participate in a USA Volleyball
training camp.  Illyssa Segura and Vanessa Torres travelled to North Carolina where they trained with some of the
best athletes and coaches from all over the United States.  
GOOD JOB LADIES!!!

Starlings 2010
As predicted, Watsonville Starlings has proven once more to be an elite volleyball club that is more than capable of
playing with the big... and tall girls.   For 2010, Starlings had one 18's team, one 17's team and a new group of
15/16's.   All teams made amazing improvements over the season and became strong competitors at all of their
tournaments.  The reputation of being "that frustrating Starlings team" continued to hold true as we beat teams that
would walk on the court, laugh at our size and question our game.  Many times these teams learned that what we
lack in size, we make up for with hustle and heart... don't question our game:)   

In the league, the 15's team made huge leaps over the season.   Their greatest accomplishments were winning their
first games as a team and then going on to place 1st in two Area League tournaments!!!   The 17's went through a lot
of changes which resulted in them seeing moments of greatness, and then moments of difficulty.   All in all, their final
tournaments demonstrated the potential this group has for their future as a strong team.  The 18's continued to do
really well as a group and you could tell how the team started to flow on the court.  They continued to shock people
with their size and amaze people with the things they could do.   Some of the saves this group made would draw an
audience waiting for the next.  It was great to watch and amazing to help organize a program to make this happen.   
The 18's finished 5th in their Area and COULD have finished top 10 in the League overall BUT the girls just had to
go to PROM... it was boring anyways!!! :)

In San Diego, the 15's had a rough first day, losing all their games, probably due to the "shock factor" of the size of
the tournament and not being focused.   This is true because on the second day the team won all three of their
matches with focus and control from beginning to end.   They continued to ride this wave into the final day of the
tournament, finishing 2nd in their pool, 26th overall out of 37 teams.  The Starlings 18's began the first day as a
strong and focused group and won their first two games with confidence, winning a verrrry tough first game against
the 2009 Starlings Champion, Starlings Omaha.   Their second day saw tougher competition but also saw the same
success.   They fought back in some tough games and beat Shonto Starlings, who knocked them out of Gold Medal
division in 2009.   On their final day, the 18's lost a close battle with San Gabriel Red which meant the girls now had
to win the next 3 matches to get to the gold medal game.  The team was only able to win 2, losing once again to San
Gabriel Red.  In th end, the Starling 18's team placed 3rd among 30 teams and earned bronze medals in Gold
Division.

With this came an end to an amazing ride with a group of terrific athletes and young ladies.   Their future is now in
their hands but the foundation they now have and the one they have left behind will assure success for each of them.  
They have all become more confident, strong, self determined and beautiful people and will take these values on to
college and beyond.   The Starlings 18's that will be graduating with the program will be leaving behind memories of
amazing play but have also been amazing mentors to the next generation of athletes that will begin to make fans out
of everyone who watches them play!   2011... here we come!
204 Broadway
Santa Cruz Ca, 95060
831.588.5853
coach@watsonvillestarlings.com