His Career Got Bigger and Better

Reality hit Doug Magorien like a spiked ball in the face.

Magorien coached Mike Gledhill throughout a stellar volleyball career at Taft High, but it wasn’t until an awards banquet this week that Magorien realized the magnitude of Gledhill’s achievements.

Gledhill, a senior middle blocker for the Toreadors, played in three consecutive City Championship finals, helping Taft win the last two titles. He was selected City player of the year twice and he signed a letter of intent with Pepperdine.

“It shocked me that, here he is, he’s been in a City final every year [of his varsity career] and he’s won the MVP award twice,” said Magorien, who was emotionally moved while presenting Gledhill with the team MVP award at the Taft spring sports banquet. “That doesn’t happen to too many guys. He’s well-deserving. He’s a hard worker and a very conscientious guy.”

Gledhill is The Times’ regional player of the year.

The 6-foot-6 Gledhill, who shared the City player of the year award last season with Rob Nielson of Palisades, earned it again this season after leading Taft to a 17-0 record, including a sweep of Venice in the final.

The Toreadors lost only one game in match play, limiting Gledhill’s statistics to a degree--no five-game, 35-kill performances--but it didn’t matter to him.

“Grant took a game off us, but that was the closest we had,” Magorien said. “We beat teams so handily this year that he’s not going to have these 50-kill games. But the one thing about him is he appreciates it. [Stats] aren’t something he looks for. He puts things in perspective.”

Gledhill put several opponents in the rear-view mirror this season. In 54 games, he tallied 208 kills and 113 blocks with a .455 hitting percentage even though Taft was a marked team.

“Any time you win a championship, the other teams are out to get you, especially because we had a lot of starters returning and the other teams knew that,” Gledhill said. “But I’m never going to forget this in my life. And I don’t think anyone on the team will either.”

Gledhill, who helped Taft compile a 37-2 record when he was in the lineup, isn’t done. He wants to become a setter for Pepperdine.

“If I don’t start the first year or even the next year, that’s fine,” he said. “But I eventually want to get into the rotation as a setter.”

You get the feeling he’ll get what he wants.

*

* All-region volleyball team. D12

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

ALL-REGION BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

*--*

Player School Yr. Position Mike Gledhill Taft Sr. Middle blocker

*--*

FIRST TEAM

*--*

Player School Yr. Position Ken Benesh Village Christian Jr. Outside hitter

*--*

His explosive offense helped the Crusaders win their second consecutive Alpha League title en route to reaching the Southern Section Division III semifinals.

*--*

Player School Yr. Position Gideon Gibson Canyon Sr. Opposite hitter

*--*

Always a threat to top 30 kills in a match, the 6-foot-4 Gibson led the Cowboys to the Foothill League championship. Also a steady passer and blocker.

*--*

Player School Yr. Position Paul Jocas Chaminade Sr. Setter

*--*

Ran the offense with precision, guiding the Eagles to their first appearance in the Division III championship match. Signed with UCLA.

*--*

Player School Yr. Position David Russell Royal Jr. Opposite hitter

*--*

The 6-6 Russell was nearly unstoppable despite moving from middle blocker to opposite hitter midway through the season. Is expected to be a top college recruit next year.

*--*

Player School Yr. Position Trent Sorensen Highland Jr. Middle blocker

*--*

Emerged as one of the region’s top players with strong hitting and blocking ability. Also showed decent back-row skills for a 6-5 player.

*--*

Player School Yr. Position Casey Wilkinson Royal Sr. Outside hitter

*--*

The Highlanders’ best passer also had a solid offensive attack, delivering a career-high 29 kills in a loss to Santa Margarita in the Division I playoffs.

SECOND TEAM

*--*

Player School Yr. Position Wade Carr Westlake Sr. Outside hitter Joe Chavez Alemany Sr. Opposite hitter Adam Hickerson Chaminade Sr. Outside hitter Mike Kennedy Highland Sr. Middle blocker Bart Kowalski Royal So. Setter Jon Moreno Simi Valley Jr. Opposite hitter

*--*

Boys’ Volleyball Top 10

Final rankings of teams in the region

*--*

RK LW School (League) Rec. 1 1 Royal (Marmonte) 19-4 2 3 Taft (West Valley) 17-0 3 2 Highland (Golden) 14-1 4 5 Chaminade (Mission) 19-4 5 4 Canyon (Foothill) 12-3 6 6 Village Christian (Alpha) 24-1 7 8 Simi Valley (Marmonte) 13-4 8 9 Westlake (Marmonte) 14-4 9 7 Alemany (Mission) 13-4 10 NR Grant (Sunset Six) 12-4

*--*