The Point Loma High School (PLHS) Lady Pointers varsity volleyball team opens its season Friday, Sept. 11 at home when they host the third annual Celebrity Exhibition Volleyball match. Game time is at 7 p.m. “The event is our team playing against the top professionals in San Diego with all the money going to our volleyball program,” said PLHS head volleyball coach Mike Placek. Placek, a professional beach volleyball player with the AVP, established the Celebrity Exhibition Volleyball match after he was named head coach in 2006 and took over a struggling program that went a combined 15-25 the three previous years from 2004 to 2006. Since then, Placek brought more fan interest and support to the program by leading the Lady Pointers to a combined record of 30-27 and two consecutive CIF playoff appearances in 2007 and 2008. “It is going to be a fun year for us,” Placek said. “We go into this year with only one senior (defensive specialist Megan Hanna) but we also have returning starters — all sophomores. Overall I see us making a lot of improvement this year.” Since 2006, Placek has not only brought a more upbeat atmosphere to the team but has tried to widen the skills of his players to broaden their abilities in the game of volleyball. “As a pro beach volleyball player, you need to develop a lot of different skills of the different positions on the court and be able to do everything,” Placek said. “As a coach, I make them learn everything they can about volleyball. This makes it easier for them to get to the next level if the college coaches can see that,” he said. Placek qualified for his first AVP tournament in 2006. In 2008 he was the runner-up for the AVP Tournament Rookie of the Year. He has also placed third in the San Diego AVP, finished in the top 30 of individual players and finished third in teams with his partner, Russ Marchewka. Placek also currently coaches local club volleyball. Placek will need to continue the program’s improvement in the highly competitive Western League. The Pointers’ league rivals include state champion Cathedral Catholic (34-4 in 2008), Scripps Ranch (22-7 in 2008), La Jolla (24-13 in 2008), Christian (22-16 in 2008) and University City. The Pointers open the regular season at home against Canyon Crest Academy on Thursday, Sept. 24 and open Western League play at home on Wednesday, Sept. 30 when they face University City. “I have great confidence in our team,” Placek said. “We have a great group of girls.”