At Notre Dame, a Last Chance for Glory : Preps: Five sophomores who were members of the 1990 Southern Section 4-A Division championship team want to go out as winners.

Four years ago as a freshman at Notre Dame Academy High, Kristin McMahon looked at her teammates in amazement.

Although she was confident in her abilities, she was excited to see how good her freshmen teammates were. It was a feeling her teammates shared.

“We knew that we would have good teams because all the girls were so talented,” McMahon said. “With so many good players in the same class, we knew we’d win.”

It did not take long for McMahon’s vision to come true. With help from sophomore classmates Cristine Martin, Jenny Boehle, Katy Kurt and Christine Jinbo, Notre Dame won the 1990 Southern Section 4-A Division championship. The only senior starter was Chrissy Boehle, who was an All-Southern Section selection.

With five starters returning, many expected Notre Dame to go undefeated the next two seasons. That did not turn out to be the case.

“What they didn’t understand was what Chrissy Boehle’s leadership meant to the team,” Notre Dame Coach Tom Brenner said. “They had to learn that even though physically they are really dominant, when they lose their mental side of the game they are just ordinary.”

The Regals found out what Brenner meant in the second round of last year’s Southern Section playoffs when they were swept in three games by Arcadia.

“That loss was definitely an upset,” McMahon said. “I still can’t figure out what went wrong.”

Brenner called the loss the worst defeat in his 13 years as Notre Dame coach.

But McMahon and her teammates are determined to finish their careers as winners. Despite having to play tougher competition after being moved to Division I, the Regals are winning like they did in 1990. They are ranked No. 2 in Division I with a 10-1 record.

“I think that the loss to Arcadia last year taught them a lesson,” Brenner said. “They learned that they can’t let up in a game. They learned that they have to always be behind each other.”

The captains for this year’s team are 6-foot middle blockers McMahon and Martin.

McMahon is a versatile offensive player. Brenner calls Martin the most competitive player he has ever been around.

“McMahon can do it all for us, while we try to go to Martin when she’s angry,” Brenner said. “When she’s like that, we try to get it to her every time.”

McMahon and Martin form the nucleus of Notre Dame’s strong middle attack, and Boehle, a 5-11 senior, is the team’s most effective blocker.

Jinbo has the job of setter, and Kurt is a scrappy all-around player who helps keep a ball in play.

The sixth player is Stephanie Rumsey, a 5-7 junior left-hander. She is the only underclass starter on the team and the only player who was not on the 1990 championship team.

Other players on the team include Ciara Murphy, Beth Herrera and Suzanne Hoffman.

“So far this year, the team is more focused,” said Brenner, who has won seven league titles at Notre Dame. “They know that they have to really work to get better.”

McMahon feels that this year’s team rates with the championship squad of two years ago.

“We’re more rounded as a unit now and more experienced,” she said. “Not only are we more mature, but I also think that our ability level is higher.”

Notre Dame can beat opponents in many ways. What stands out is the Regals’ scoring ability.

“As a team, we are real strong offensively,” McMahon said. “We also have a good defense, but our offense is what is always there.”

Playing in a higher division is a challenge for Notre Dame, but Brenner believes the team is up to the task.

In a tuneup before next month’s playoffs, the Regals will be in the Marlborough tournament Oct. 24.

“The playoffs will be different for us,” Brenner said. “All the teams that will be in the playoffs will be good, so the early round matches will be tougher than before. We just have to be ready.”

McMahon and her now senior classmates are confident that they will leave Notre Dame as winners.

“We know we should win, but we also know we have to play together,” McMahon said. “It may be tougher to win in a higher division, but we realize that we can be at that level and we’re excited to be playing against the best.”