The 2014 San Pedro Prep Girls Volleyball scene all saw signs of promise with first-year head coaches.

At San Pedro High, the Pirates once again placed third in the Marine League but were finally able to clear one hurdle by sweeping rival Narbonne of Harbor City, ending a nine-match, five-year losing streak to the Gauchos, despite once again being eliminated in the first round of the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I playoffs.

Meanwhile, both Mary Star and Port Of Los Angeles claimed league titles on the same day, with the Stars winning a share of the Santa Fe League championship, their first league crown in five years, and the Polar Bears claiming their third straight Crosstown League championship. However it was the Stars that made it out of the first round in the CIF-Southern Section Division IV playoffs before finally bowing in three sets to Savanna of Anaheim in the second round.

All that promise should lead to more rewarding success down the road as the 2015 season has already begun.

So far, Mary Star and second-year coach Tyler Jaynes appears to have the best team early on, and they're also the most experienced, returning eight from last year's 15-10 team, and without a single senior on the roster, plus sweeping POLA with ease in a nonleague match last Thursday.

MARY STAR (15-10 overall in 2014) - Jaynes has a legit team that is primed to repeat as Santa Fe League champions and maybe even winning it outright, although they still have to deal with the team who shared the title with them in St. Genevieve of Panorama City, who will once again field a strong squad themselves.

Junior outside hitter Ally Spillane, the reigning 2014 San Pedro News Pilot Prep Girls Volleyball MVP, is one of four returning All-Santa Fe League studs, including fellow juniors in setter Angela Pisano, outside hitter Lexi Andrie and middle blocker Kaitlyn Martinez. Junior middle blocker Gianna Fletcher is another solid performer for the Stars, who break in freshman Jenna Denardo as the new starting libero to make up for the graduation defection of four-year veteran Hope Marinkovich.

Sophomore defensive specialist Hanalei Emnace, junior back-up setter Theresa Ibarra and junior opposite hitter Ticela Molio'o will also play prohibitive roles for the Stars, who get a crack at Savanna in a playoff rematch Tuesday, and an intriguing South Bay battle against El Segundo next Thursday. Both matches will be at Mary Star.

SAN PEDRO (13-15-2 in 2014) - Second-year coach Chris Ceballos has a young Pirates team that will also be very dangerous as they will challenge both reigning Marine League champion Carson and Narbonne for league supremacy, already gaining revenge from last year's first round loss to South Gate by sweeping the Rams on Thursday.

Returning All-Marine League junior Katie Bentovoja makes the move from starting setter to outside hitter, taking advantage of her amazing talents. Senior Brianna Corallo and talented sophomore Amya Crouch takes over the reigns as a setter tag team, but Ceballos is high on two freshman outside hitters who have already shown great potential in Hadley Grooms and Sara Peterson, the younger sister of recently graduated three-time All-Marine League hitter Paige Peterson.

Middle blocker Isabella Mejia, defensive specialist Samantha MacElven and outside hitter Jerielle Datingaling also return as senior veterans for San Pedro, and sophomore Allison Lyons is scrappy as a libero. Other key players to watch includes returning junior libero Jordan Freitas and sophomore middle blocker Rebecca Alvarenga.

San Pedro gets to test themselves right away on Tuesday as they open league play at home against Narbonne, and they also have a nonleague match at Elizabeth Learning Center, last year's CIF-LACS Division IV champions.

POLA (14-9 last season) - Losing a great core of players from last year's league championship team, including top killers Makayla Warth and Julia Garcia who elected to not play their senior season, expect some growing pains out of the Polar Bears early on, but second-year coach Rowel Ramirez should have them back on track in contention for a fourth straight Crosstown League crown, with Foshay Learning Center being the top challenger.

Not only are setter Jaida Nabayan and defensive specialist Abrie Trivison the only seniors on this year's team, they are now only 2 of three returning players. Look for their leadership to guide POLA in the early stages before league competition along with sophomore middle blocker Areelle Navarro as the third returning varsity player.

On the good side, four players from last year's JV team that went 17-0 make their varsity debuts in junior outside hitter Dominique Wade, the sister of former SPNP Prep Girls Volleyball MVP Angela Wade (2013), sophomore defensive specialist Sachi Verner, junior outside hitter Jasmine Atri and junior setter Mariam Moreno. Also keep an eye on sophomore outside hitter Orianna Pele, who will join the team at mid-season.