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Sports

Windward Spikers No. 4 in Preseason Poll

The Wildcats are one of three Alpha League girls squads ranked in the Top 10.

The first CIF Southern Section preseason sports polls of the fall season have been released and Windward School is ranked No. 4 in the girls volleyball Division 3A Top 10 poll. 

The poll was voted on, coordinated and finalized by the CIF Southern Section Girls Volleyball Coaches Advisory Committee. Top 10 polls for each division will be updated weekly throughout the season.

Windward's Alpha League rivals Campbell Hall and Brentwood are the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the Division 3A poll. Rim of the World, from Lake Arrowhead, is No. 3.

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Last season, all three Alpha League teams advanced to the Division 3A semifinals. League winner Brentwood was upset by Rim of the World in five sets while second-place Campbell Hall eliminated the third-place Wildcats in four sets. Campbell Hall went on to sweep Rim of the World in the final.

Rounding out the Top 10 teams in Windward's division are No. 5 La Sierra, No. 6 San Dimas, No. 7 Gabrielino, No. 8 Montebello, No. 9 Arrowhead Christian and No. 10 Westminster La Quinta.

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The Wildcats, coached by Damon Van Leeuwen, had a 20-9-2 record last season and finished 6-4 in league matches. 

Los Alamitos is the preseason favorite in Division 1AA. Completing the list of initial No. 1 squads are L.A. Marymount (Division 1A), St. Lucy's (Division 2AA), Downey (Division 2A), Pasadena Poly (Division 3AA), St. Margaret's (Division 4AA), Hemet (Division 4A), Desert Christian Academy (Division 5AA) and Firebaugh (Division 5A).

The girls volleyball season officially begins August 29 and the playoffs will start November 7. The CIF Southern Section finals will be Nov. 18-19 at Cypress College and the state tournament will be from Nov. 22 to December 3. 

Windward opens its season on September 1 with a home match against Louisville. Click here for the Wildcats' full 2011 varsity schedule.

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