Courtney Dayhoff, fourth-year head coach of Central Valley’s girls volleyball program, will focus on player development and improvement this season.

The Hawks are facing a rebuilding year as seven players were lost to graduation, including Casandra Carrillo, MariaJose Castenada, Gabriela Delatorre, Payton McConnell, Arely Padilla, Khaleah Phounsavath and Emily Sandoval.

Delatorre was named to the Western Athletic Conference Second Team during her final season with Central Valley.

Delatorre led the Hawks in assists, aces and blocks, and ranked second in digs, and fourth in kills.

“I don’t just look at talent,” Dayhoff said while talking about the process she uses when assembling a roster. “I look at who is going to make the best teammates, who has the best attitude. I think volleyball is 85 percent mental, and if they have the right mindset, they can achieve anything. That’s the culture I’m trying to build at CV. We develop the skills, the wins should follow.”

Dayhoff will rely on 12 players this year, including Sofia Garibay (Sr.), Camila Gonzalez (Sr.), Reylena Herrera (Sr.), Kassandra Torres (Sr.), Amirrah Cornielle (Jr.), Jade Delagrande (Jr.), Mia Guardado (Jr.), Madelyn Morales (Jr.), Deanika Perez (Jr.), Jaydah Trevino (Jr.), Selene Valencia (Jr.) and Selah Chesney (So.).

Garibay, Herrera and Torres are returners.

Gonzalez, Cornielle, Delagrande, Guardado, Morales, Perez, Trevino, Valencia and Chesney are newcomers.

Garibay and Torres were both WAC honorable-mention selections as juniors.

Garibay ranked first on the team in aces and digs, second in kills and assists, and third in blocks.

Torres ranked first on the team in kills, third in aces and blocks, fifth in assists, and sixth in digs.

Garibay and Herrera have been named team captains for the 2026 squad.

“Sofia and Reylena were there from the beginning when I took over four years ago,” Dayhoff said. “They developed as leaders just as I developed as a coach. They love the game. These two players are the epitome of what it means to be a Lady Hawk in our volleyball program and school. The underclassmen really look up to them.”

Central Valley has reason to be optimistic in 2026 as it has nowhere to go but up.

The Hawks compiled a 4-19 overall record and placed seventh in the conference standings with a 2-12 mark in 2025.

Lathrop (21-7, 14-0), Grace Davis (14-10, 12-2) and Beyer (11-10, 9-5) represented the WAC in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

Central Valley made its last postseason appearance in 2017. The Hawks went 8-11 and finished third in the WAC (7-8).

Central Valley’s last winning season was in 2015. The Hawks amassed a 15-4 overall record, took second in the WAC (10-3) and qualified for the Division-III playoffs.

Central Valley has participated in the playoffs three times (2017, 2015, 2014) during its program history.

“We have a strong Lady Hawk team this year in my opinion,” Dayhoff said. “The girls are ready to leave it all on the court and come out stronger than we were last year. All I ask of my girls is that they leave their very best on the court every game.”

Central Valley will face Ceres High twice in WAC play.

The Bulldogs (9-9, 8-6) tied for fourth in the league standings with the Pacheco Panthers (12-14, 8-6) last season.

“The energy is always high because the girls want to represent their school the best way possible especially when our home match falls on our last match of the season and senior night,” Dayhoff said. “They will leave it all on the court.”

Central Valley has lost seven of its last eight matches versus Ceres High since 2019.

The Hawks will try to end the Bulldogs’ run of success this fall.

“It is just another game,” Dayhoff said. “I don’t change anything different when we prepare for the crosstown showdown.”