She Sticks Around, Is Notre Dame’s Glue

The concept of transferring tugged at her arm, whispered in her ear.

Her friends at other private schools told Mary Clare Coghlan to switch schools because Notre Dame High’s time had come and gone.

After all, she would be the Knights’ only returning starter on a volleyball team that lost nine players and added a new coach.

But Coghlan studied the options and chose the most sensible one--to stay at Notre Dame.

The 5-foot-7 setter, a second-team All-Southern Section Division III selection last season, couldn’t say no to a family legacy.

She is the fourth of five Coghlans to attend Notre Dame. Transferring just didn’t seem right.

“I read in the paper about people transferring to be with their friends or coaches,” Coghlan said. “I love my school. I knew it would be a new challenge for me, but I decided I was going to face it.”

Coghlan is still reminded of what could have been--”If only you would have transferred here,” an opposing player told her recently after a match--but she stands by her decision.

Notre Dame, with a 6-3 record (1-1 in Mission League play), hasn’t disappointed her.

Coghlan relishes the leadership role she plays.

She feels stronger than last year thanks to a conditioning program with strength guru Mark Hoffman, who counts among his clients pro beach volleyball player Kevin Wong, who represented the U.S. at the Olympics.

Under Hoffman’s tutelage, Coghlan has become acutely aware of nearly everything she does. She must write down and submit to Hoffman what she eats, how much she sleeps and what exercise she does on a daily basis. She even has to catalog what vitamins she takes, including dosage.

“I would always work out, lift and run, but only so I wouldn’t get hurt,” Coghlan said. “Now I’m much more educated about training. Even the littlest things about stretching and everything.”

Coghlan’s attitude and ability aren’t lost on Notre Dame Coach Cindy Friedman.

“She brings a ton of experience,” Friedman said. “She knows the game and knows how to lead the players on the court better than most players I’ve seen at the high school level.”

Coghlan’s leadership extends beyond the court.

She convinced former players Adriana DiNallo and Lindsey Richardson to return to the team after taking a year off.

“I guaranteed them we would have fun,” Coghlan said. “They came out because we needed them.”

Just like Notre Dame needed Coghlan to return.

*

Ashlie Hain of La Reina has committed to UC Irvine.

Hain, a 5-foot-7 setter-outside hitter, was an All-Southern Section Division IV selection last season for the Regents, who are ranked No. 2 in Division IV-AA.

Hain chose UC Irvine over Rutgers and became the second La Reina player to commit to a Division I school. Middle blocker Jennifer Ryan committed to Santa Clara during the summer.

*

Brenn Larson, setter-outside hitter at Westlake, could have had a tough Thursday. Instead it turned into a triumph.

Already feeling the weakening effects of influenza, Larson suffered an allergic reaction from medication prescribed by a doctor and broke out in hives before a match against Royal.

Larson played, however, and had eight kills, 22 assists, 12 digs and five blocks to help Westlake (6-1, 5-0) take a step toward its fifth Marmonte League title in six years.

“Whether she’s sick or not, she brings her instincts and aggressiveness on the court,” Coach Rey Reyes said. “You’d never know she wasn’t feeling well.”

*

Another tournament, another championship for Harvard-Westlake.

The Wolverines won the 20-team San Marcos tournament Saturday, defeating Irvine for the championship, 15-7.

Courtney Schultz was most valuable player and Terbrie Taylor was an all-tournament selection for Harvard-Westlake, which defeated San Clemente in the semifinals, 15-9.

San Clemente was ranked No. 2 in Division I-AA and Irvine was No. 2 in Division I-A.

“It puts everything into perspective of where we’re at and what we can do,” Coach Jess Quiroz said.

Quiroz was particularly impressed with the victory over San Clemente.

“They were all six feet or 6-foot-1, and some were 6-2,” he said. “It was like, where did they come from?”

The Wolverines also won the Iolani tournament in Hawaii in August.

*

Ventura had a strong showing at the San Marcos tournament and tied for third with San Clemente.

The Cougars lost to Irvine, 15-12, in the semifinals despite holding a late lead.

“It was one of those games we probably should have won, but it was so late in the day,” Coach Debbie Litten said.

Ventura defeated Channel League rival San Marcos in the quarterfinals, 15-13, and split with San Clemente in pool play, 16-14 and 14-16.

Setter Robyn Keune was an all-tournament selection for Ventura.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Girls’ Volleyball Top 10

Rankings of teams in the region

*--*

RK LW School (League) Rec. 1 1 Harvard-Westlake (Mission) 14-0 2 2 La Reina (Tri-Valley) 15-0 3 3 Oxnard (Pacific View) 11-3 4 8 Ventura (Channel) 6-1 5 4 Sylmar (Valley Mission) 7-0 6 5 La Canada (Rio Hondo) 11-2 7 6 Village Christian (Alpha) 15-0 8 7 Highland (Golden) 7-1 9 9 Westlake (Marmonte) 6-1 10 10 Chatsworth (West Valley) 6-1

*--*