Ceres High School's varsity girls' soccer team lost several key players to graduation, including three-year starting goalkeeper Nichole Fitch.
The Bulldogs' search for a replacement ended when head coach Randy Cerny successfully recruited 6-foot-2 senior volleyball star Jamie Beck.
"She's tall," Cerny said. "She's athletic. She has great hands. She just needs to learn the rules of the game. That's what we're really focusing on."
Beck played softball last spring. She batted . 328 (19-for-58) with five doubles, 14 singles, 14 RBIs, 11 runs and three stolen bases in 22 games.
This winter, Jamie was voted Western Athletic Conference MVP for her dominant play in volleyball. She accumulated 349 kills, 148 digs, 80 blocks, 47 aces and six assists for the Bulldogs, who tied for second in league play (7-3), qualified for the playoffs for the second straight year and amassed a 17-8-2 overall record.
Jamie earned second-team, all-conference honors while starring in basketball during her sophomore and junior years.
"With her athletic ability, I felt she'd make a great goalie," Cerny said. "She has good lateral movement. She literally punts the ball half the field. I think she's going to do really well. I'm very excited."
Cerny's first stint as head coach of Ceres High's varsity girls soccer team spanned seven years (2002-08). He agreed to return to the Bulldogs in 2011 after Dominic Figueroa departed for Central Catholic.
Randy's sons, Ryan and Kyle, will provide assistance.
The Bulldogs set program records for total wins with 11 and league victories (5) under Cerny's guidance in 2008.
Ceres High finished 1-22, including 0-18 in conference play, during Randy's first year at the helm.
"I was a spectator last season," Randy said. "They needed a coach this year so I decided to come back."
Cerny finalized his 20-person roster earlier this month.
Returning varsity players from last season are Jaspreet Basra (Sr.), Estefania Hermosillo (Sr.), Monica Martinez (Sr.), Olivia Moore (Sr.), Veronica Reyes (Sr.), Brittany Solis (Sr.), Viridiana Arroyo (Jr.), Katie Herrera (Jr.), Karina Manzo (Jr.), Anissa Torres (Jr.), Brittany Valadez (Jr.), Laura Cahill (So.) and Fabiana Soto (So.).
Herrera scored two goals and dished out two assists as a sophomore.
Soto had one goal and two assists.
Martinez and Manzo both tallied one goal and one assist
Hermosillo (two assists), Solis (one goal) and Valadez (one assist) chipped in as well.
Seven of Ceres High's players are newcomers, including Beck, Issabella Carlyle (Jr.), Kaylyn Castillo (Jr.), Yarazeth Gutierrez (Jr.), Ruby Alberto (So.), Laura Barajas (So.) and Gisselle Madrigal (Fr.).
"We picked up some talent," Cerny said.
The Bulldogs will compete in the Pitman, Central Valley and Sierra tournaments during the preseason.
Ceres High's league schedule includes games against Central Valley, Central Catholic, Livingston, Patterson and Los Banos. The top three teams in the newly-realigned Western Athletic Conference qualify for playoffs.
Ceres High and Central Valley competed in the Valley Oak League from 2006-10. Los Banos was a member of the Central California Conference.
The Bulldogs finished 7-14-4 on the year and fifth in the VOL (4-10-2) last season.
The Bulldogs' search for a replacement ended when head coach Randy Cerny successfully recruited 6-foot-2 senior volleyball star Jamie Beck.
"She's tall," Cerny said. "She's athletic. She has great hands. She just needs to learn the rules of the game. That's what we're really focusing on."
Beck played softball last spring. She batted . 328 (19-for-58) with five doubles, 14 singles, 14 RBIs, 11 runs and three stolen bases in 22 games.
This winter, Jamie was voted Western Athletic Conference MVP for her dominant play in volleyball. She accumulated 349 kills, 148 digs, 80 blocks, 47 aces and six assists for the Bulldogs, who tied for second in league play (7-3), qualified for the playoffs for the second straight year and amassed a 17-8-2 overall record.
Jamie earned second-team, all-conference honors while starring in basketball during her sophomore and junior years.
"With her athletic ability, I felt she'd make a great goalie," Cerny said. "She has good lateral movement. She literally punts the ball half the field. I think she's going to do really well. I'm very excited."
Cerny's first stint as head coach of Ceres High's varsity girls soccer team spanned seven years (2002-08). He agreed to return to the Bulldogs in 2011 after Dominic Figueroa departed for Central Catholic.
Randy's sons, Ryan and Kyle, will provide assistance.
The Bulldogs set program records for total wins with 11 and league victories (5) under Cerny's guidance in 2008.
Ceres High finished 1-22, including 0-18 in conference play, during Randy's first year at the helm.
"I was a spectator last season," Randy said. "They needed a coach this year so I decided to come back."
Cerny finalized his 20-person roster earlier this month.
Returning varsity players from last season are Jaspreet Basra (Sr.), Estefania Hermosillo (Sr.), Monica Martinez (Sr.), Olivia Moore (Sr.), Veronica Reyes (Sr.), Brittany Solis (Sr.), Viridiana Arroyo (Jr.), Katie Herrera (Jr.), Karina Manzo (Jr.), Anissa Torres (Jr.), Brittany Valadez (Jr.), Laura Cahill (So.) and Fabiana Soto (So.).
Herrera scored two goals and dished out two assists as a sophomore.
Soto had one goal and two assists.
Martinez and Manzo both tallied one goal and one assist
Hermosillo (two assists), Solis (one goal) and Valadez (one assist) chipped in as well.
Seven of Ceres High's players are newcomers, including Beck, Issabella Carlyle (Jr.), Kaylyn Castillo (Jr.), Yarazeth Gutierrez (Jr.), Ruby Alberto (So.), Laura Barajas (So.) and Gisselle Madrigal (Fr.).
"We picked up some talent," Cerny said.
The Bulldogs will compete in the Pitman, Central Valley and Sierra tournaments during the preseason.
Ceres High's league schedule includes games against Central Valley, Central Catholic, Livingston, Patterson and Los Banos. The top three teams in the newly-realigned Western Athletic Conference qualify for playoffs.
Ceres High and Central Valley competed in the Valley Oak League from 2006-10. Los Banos was a member of the Central California Conference.
The Bulldogs finished 7-14-4 on the year and fifth in the VOL (4-10-2) last season.
