Matsumoto Takes a Different Tack

Reiko Matsumoto doesn’t see it that way, but Fountain Valley High School Coach Lori Zeno says Matsumoto used to play her best volleyball when she was angry.

Matsumoto doesn’t see it that way, but Zeno says Matsumoto’s play wasn’t consistent last season.

This isn’t to say player and coach don’t get along--they do. It’s just that now Matsumoto isn’t angry or inconsistent by anyone’s account. She’s just good.

“It’s really hard to see changes in myself,” Matsumoto said. “I guess I might be better because of more experience.”

Matsumoto, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, has been the consistent force in leading Fountain Valley to an 8-2 overall record and a 4-0 mark in the Sunset League.

“She’s a very aggressive player,” Zeno said. “Last year, she would get down on herself and it would hurt her play. This year, she’s been very positive.”

Last Thursday, Matsumoto had 20 kills to lead the Barons to a 15-6, 15-12, 16-14 victory over Marina.

“It was an incredible performance,” Zeno said. “She only had five hitting errors out of 37 and two of those errors were out of the back row.

“Last year, she seemed to play her best when she was mad--I’ve tried to change that,” Zeno said. “I don’t want her to get mad to play well.”

Fountain Valley’s opponents this season have tried, unsuccessfully, to rattle Matsumoto.

“Other teams have tried serving to her to get her to be tired and to lose concentration,” Zeno said. “But she won’t let it happen.

“She’s who we go to when we need a kill. She’s a phenomenal athlete.”

Matsumoto is not ready to go that far in her self-assessment. “I don’t know . . . I want the ball (in important situations), but we’ve got other players,” she said.

Seems as if Matsumoto and Zeno still don’t see everything the same way.

TOP PERFORMERS

Michele Berkowitz swept her sets, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, to lead Fountain Valley to a 17-1 victory over Westminster Tuesday.

Tami Galeai swept her sets, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, to lead Western to an 18-0 victory over Santa Ana Tuesday.

Cindy Kuragami swept her sets at love twice to lead Savanna to a 9-9 (77-75 game advantage) victory over Brea-Olinda Tuesday and a 16-2 victory over Santa Ana Thursday.

Martha Pinto’s time of 19 minutes 3 seconds broke the Cypress course record by 44 seconds and led the cross-country team to a 21-34 victory over Katella and a 15-50 victory over El Dorado in a tri-meet Thursday.

Terry Smythers broke the San Clemente course record by two seconds with a time of 18:38 to lead the Tritons to a 24-32 victory over El Toro Thursday.

Reiko Matsumoto

Fountain Valley High

Position: Outside Hitter.

Height, Weight, Class: 5-7, 130, Senior.

Last Week: Matsumoto had 20 kills in three games as Fountain Valley swept Marina Thursday.

Season: Coach Lori Zeno estimates that Matsumoto averages four kills per game, or 12 for a three-game match.