West Valley High School Boys Volleyball 2024 Season Preview(CA)

With a new season comes new hopes and aspirations for the West Valley High School volleyball team. Coach Shaun Pulsipher, a West Valley alumni himself, sets high goals for his team this year – to win the league championship or at least make the top 3 and proceed to the playoffs. The road to achieving this is not an easy one, but Pulsipher believes in his team and has a clear vision of what needs to be done. Heading into the 2019 season, the team has a mix of experienced returners and talented new players. Pulsipher looks to his few returning players to step up and lead the team to success. One of these key returners is Diego Allievi, a starting outside hitter who was named to 1st team all league as a sophomore. Pulsipher expects a breakout season from Allievi, who will be a vital part of the team's offense with his skills at both the service line and the net. Another important returner is Lafayette Tatum, a senior who is only in his second year of volleyball. Pulsipher will rely heavily on Tatum to shoulder some of the offensive load. In addition to the returning players, the team has a new transfer student, junior Carlvin Valdez, who brings a variety of skills to the table. If Valdez is cleared to play, Pulsipher believes he could be the missing piece that takes the team to the top this season. For Pulsipher, it is not just about the physical aspect of the game. He emphasizes the importance of pride for the school among his athletes. As a West Valley alumni himself, Pulsipher knows what it takes to win and strives to instill that same drive and hunger for success in his players. For him, it is not just about winning games, but also about representing the school with pride and honor. The team's schedule this season is challenging, with a couple of tough non-league matches against big teams from Temecula – Great Oak and Chaparral. Pulsipher is looking forward to these games as they will be a true test of the team's skills. They will also face last year's varsity tournament champions, Rancho Verde, in a non-league match. In league play, Pulsipher believes that Liberty High School in Winchester will be their toughest opponent.