Dissension can unravel even the most talented team in any sport.

But Ponderosa girls volleyball coach Sheri Milhollin has a different concern. Her team seems to get along too well.

"I've got leadership – and it's a positive because they're never fighting," Milhollin said. "But sometimes they need to hold each other accountable without worrying about hurting someone's feelings."

The Bruins (16-5) are led by senior middle Lianna Sybeldon. The All-Metro first-team pick as a junior has verbally committed to Washington. At 6-foot-2 with an acrobat's agility, she has a smile as bright and wide as her talent.

Sybeldon leads the Sac-Joaquin Section with 269 kills and is fourth in the state. In most, if not all matches, she is the most talented player on the floor, but is ever mindful of complacency. At times she is playing on a different level.

The Bruins are imposing on the attack with junior Lindsey Bowles, an athletic 5-11 outside hitter, and 6-1 junior rightside hitter Alex Rader, who has missed portions of the season because of a nagging ankle injury.

That height can help the Bruins appear as tall as the pines that surround the Shingle Springs school when they defend at the net.

Senior Alex Mettler provides steady hands at setter. Milhollin calls her most consistent player senior outside hitter Hailey Bellmer. Both are tri-captains with Sybeldon.

Fifth-ranked Ponderosa already has wins over six ranked teams in The Bee's Top 20, and are the only squad to defeat No. 1 El Camino, which the Bruins did in a shortened tournament match at the Christine Craft Invitational earlier this month.

Ponderosa lost in last season's Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals to eventual champion St. Mary's of Stockton. The Bruins have aspirations to challenge for the title again.

The Bruins drew large crowds during those playoffs, playing home matches at Oak Ridge while their gym was renovated, and look to go further this year.

"Last year we had a lot of people come out," Sybeldon said, "so that gives us motivation to work harder in practices so that we can play well in games and go far."

Rankings watch – Top-ranked El Camino debuted at No. 13 in the MaxPreps Freeman rankings, the statistical tracking site's human classification system.

The Eagles are also ranked No. 1 in the state in Division II and fourth statewide by MaxPreps' computers.

CIVT Saturday – The Eagles, as defending champion, headline the 32-team Carmichael Invitational large-school tournament Saturday at El Camino, Del Campo and La Sierra Community Center.

Other field notables are No. 10 Rio Americano, No. 12 Colfax and No. 14 Bella Vista.

Falcons win title – No. 7 Christian Brothers won the 54-team Carmichael Invitational small-school tournament Saturday, sweeping Casa Roble in the semifinals and No. 18 Bear River in the final, capping a week in which the Falcons went 7-0 with a nonleague win over ninth-ranked Oak Ridge.

THE BEE'S TOP 20

PR – Previous ranking

School W-L PR

1. El Camino 15-1 1

2. Union Mine 11-2 2

3. Rocklin 16-4 3

4. St. Francis 12-5 4

5. Ponderosa 16-5 5

6. Granite Bay 8-4 6

7. Christian Brothers 12-3 9

8. Vista del Lago 10-7 7

9. Oak Ridge 7-7 8

10. Rio Americano 13-4 10

11. Del Oro 11-7 11

12. Colfax 12-4 12

13. Nevada Union 10-7 13

14. Bella Vista 9-3 14

15. Franklin 14-3 15

16. Placer 9-4 17

17. Elk Grove 7-6 19

18. Bear River 12-4 –

19. Whitney 8-7 16

20. Roseville 10-10 18

– John Parker

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Reach John Parker at johnparker2008@gmail.com.

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