Paloma volleyball coach Kaas gets career win No. 300
Paloma Valley volleyball coach Stephen Kaas was honored for his 300th win. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group) By Paige Mendez, Correspon...
By Paige Mendez, Correspondent
The Paloma Valley High girls volleyball team won its matchup with Ontario Christian in four sets Tuesday, marking 300 career wins for head coach Stephen Kaas.
Ontario Christian took the first set 25-20, but the Wildcats had an answer in the remaining three. Set two had Paloma up 25-18, while the remaining two were much closer calls, with final scores of 25-22 and 25-23.
The team was led by Lara Martinez, who had 18 kills on the night, and by Grace Liesemeyer, who had 15 defensive digs.
Kaas said those two led a team full of athletes who did what they needed to do.
“Everyone did their job. Lara scored a bunch, Baylie (Moore) scored and blocked,” he said. “Our setters gave all our hitters great balls to swing at. After a slow start, our passing was great.”
That passing resulted in a team total of 42 assists on the night.
Aside from the milestone win, Kaas said the game was big for the growth it represents.
“This win was big because of who we were playing,” he said. “Our team has been progressing with each match. We are not the same team that started the season.”
The beginning of league play came with a couple losses, to Santiago and Redlands specifically, but with two wins in between those and an overall 11-4 record, progress has seemed fairly consistent for the team.
Kaas said this group is seeing those results because of their sense of identity.
“This team is special because they know who they are and what they want to become,” he said. “We have a plan and we have faith in that plan.”
As far as his career milestone, he explained exactly what he will celebrate about it.
“I’m excited about it, but it says more about longevity and it’s just about plugging away,” he said. “I’m most proud of the fact that we only missed playoffs that first year … and we’ve now put together a streak of six league championships and it’s only getting harder because our league is getting tougher but that’s why we’re doing it. It’s fun.”
Kaas and his team are one week away from seeking the next title and the start of league play, with one non-league game at Valley View coming up Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Coach Stephen Kaas gestures toward the sidelines during Tuesday's match. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)
Lara Martinez goes high above the net during a play Tuesday night. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)
Paloma's Kamryn Anderson prepares to put the ball over the net. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)
