Plenty to see on next level

It’s so great to follow our local players as they move in their volleyball careers to the college level.

It is such a new experience and such a changing time in their lives. The self-confidence that is developed in these experiences is remarkable. Our volleyball area is fortunate to produce a number of collegiate players.

The list of freshmen playing is impressive. Carly Cotton, out of Newport Harbor High, is leading Brown University in digs as its starting libero. Alice Cope also from Newport is the starting middle blocker at Cornell and Jennifer Martin from Corona del Mar is a part-time starter at Harvard, as is Newport’s Jennifer Palmquist at Princeton (she leads the Tigers in blocks per games).

In the Pac-10 Conference, Newport’s Mary Buckingham has made the traveling team at Cal where she is enjoying the experience. Meanwhile at Washington State, CdM’s Conley Kipp is seeing action as a blocking substitute.

Six former Newport girls are enjoying their sophomore seasons collegiately. An amusing game featured Loyola Marymount with setter, Alesha Young, playing against her longtime teammate and friend at Newport, Megan Munce who is setting for Texas Christian University.

Megan is coached by former CdM setting fireball, Prentice Perkins, who knows all about tough little setters.

At Loyola, Newport’s Katie Lawler is also finding time off of the bench in the back court.

Interestingly, another setter from Newport Harbor class of 2008, Catherine Cameron, is a backup setter for Chuck Cutenese’s Orange Coast College team. Cat did not play last season, but is back in action for the undefeated Pirates this year.

At Puget Sound, Newport’s Katie Regan is getting action as an outside hitter, while Jamie Heenan is the starting outside hitter at Vanguard University. Vanguard is coached by former Sailor Marissa Cothran and assisted by another Harbor alum, Jenny Evans Griffith.

At Colorado, Newport’s Alex Penewell is finding a lot of playing time as a 5-foot-11 middle blocker which is amazing. Former Estancia middle blocker, Olivia Schow, was voted MVP of Colby Invitational when she led Bates College to the championship.

Corona del Mar alum Kara Chatham is a back-row specialist at Villanova, while former Sea King Brooke Terry is on the injured list at Iona University.

Katie Wells who played at Newport, was the 2008 MVP at Fordham University and is currently the second leading hitter on this year’s team.

Newport’s Megan Toman returns as a starting outside hitter at Brown and has led the team in kills for many games.

Kasey Kipp, who starred at Corona, is a middle blocker at UC Santa Barbara and still excels with her quick attack in the middle.

CdM’s Juliane Piggott has transferred from UCLA and is currently a starting outside hitter at UCI, while former outside hitter at Newport, CoCo Yokoyama, has ended her career after two seasons at the University of Oregon. Another Pac-10 transfer is Sage Hill’s Cat Dailey, who left Cal to play in the Ivy League at Yale University.

She is currently the leading hitter with over four kills per game.

Jaye Hellmich who starred in many sports at Estancia, is currently leading the Robert Morris Colonials in kills after starting every game.

It is great to follow the volleyball successes of each of these players, but the truest reward that each of these young players will enjoy, is the honor of representing their college’s athletic program. They will always cherish the experience of playing volleyball at the highest amateur level and being a part of the athletic tradition at their college. How awesome!