For six seasons running, the Redwood High girls volleyball team had made the MCAL tournament its own party, celebrating a title each year from 2002-2007. Last fall, that run ended when Marin Catholic claimed the title at Redwood.
But while no Giants player or coach is downplaying the Wildcats' achievement, they can't help wonder what might have been had Redwood setter Michaela Sinrod not suffered a season-ending broken finger shortly before the postseason began.
With the 2009 MCAL playoffs beginning Tuesday, Redwood will have a chance to begin a new postseason streak. And Sinrod will have help setting the stage for such a run, particularly from teammate Lucia Pohlman, who stepped in for Sinrod last season despite a lack of experience at the position.
"They're both such good athletes," Redwood coach Katie Pease said of her setters. "And they're both such students of the game. And to have two at the same time for two years, I just feel so fortunate to have both of them playing for me, and it makes my job that much easier."
Sinrod, a 5-foot-9 senior, still has the primary setting duties. But Pohlman, a 6-foot junior who is also an outside hitter, is there to assist when needed. Combined, they averaged more than 30 assists per match as Redwood finished 14-0 in MCAL play. Those efforts helped Redwood's Ursula Kunhardt and Kat Gueth combine to average more than 20 kills per match.
"It's really nice because I have played with Michaela since I was 14," Gueth said. "And
with the two of them, the ball always seems to get to where it's supposed to be. I think we are the luckinest team around to have those two setters."
"I set more of the time and Lucia hits because I don't hit," Sinrod said. "So whenever she's hitting, I'm setting. I set more but she definitely gets her reps in for sets. The last four years I've played club, I've been the only setter on the team and it's really a huge load, a lot of work to do. That's one thing I like about high school. You
have someone who understands the pressure that you're going through."
Pohlman got a crash course in that subject last fall.
"I hadn't set in the season ever," Pohlman said. "As soon as Michaela got hurt, I started practicing. I didn't have any time. She got hurt and then I started practicing to be a setter. I don't think there was really room to be nervous. The pressure was on and I had to do it. I definitely tried my best. I just didn't know how to set. So it's hard to say, 'Yay, I did a great job.' But I tried my best."
Pease said she is pleased with both players' setting this season. And she credits Sinrod for the development of Pohlman in that area.
"She's been so good to Lucia," Pease said. "For a lot of kids, it might be kind of scary for such an athletic, big body to transfer in to your same position. But she's been a real mentor to Lucia. É Michaela has been so good to Lucia and I think wherever she ends up in what she's doing, she will be able to give Michaela a little credit for just being so good to her."
Sinrod said the two are not competing against each other - "I wouldn't say we have a rivalry because we enjoy when the other one does well," she noted - but rather are united in chasing common goals for team success.
First among them is another MCAL title.
"After last year, we didn't come in with expectations, we came in with goals," Sinrod said. "Last year, we didn't expect that I'd get hurt, we didn't expect that we'd have to completely change our lineup. We didn't expect that we'd face such challenges at the end of the season. I think this year we didn't have expectations but we expected everyone to work towards the goals that we'd set the first day."
Both players said the loss to Marin Catholic should make things a bit easier this year.
"I'd say the pressure is less than last year, frankly, because we lost," Sinrod said. "Last year everyone was kind of gunning for our No. 1 spot. Everyone was trying to take down Redwood as it always has been. But I think this year since it's already been done, everyone's just trying to take the pennant because it's up for grabs."
"We're not trying to hold our fortress anymore," Pohlman added. "Last year we came in with a lot of really refined players. And we expected to do really well. We expected to win. Where this year, we came in with a lot more new players and I think this season has been a lot more fun being able to live up to our potential. É We've been working really hard and the regular season has been flowing nicely. I feel like it's a race to finish line now and we're ready to close it out."
Pease said her squad is capable of great things.
"This team is better" than the 2008 Giants, Pease said. "Everybody gets along so well and Lucia and Michaela have really learned how to work together and complement each other. And it's not a competition but rather everybody's pushing one another to get better."
2009 VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
MCAL
Tuesday: First round: Justin-Siena at Branson; Terra Linda at Marin Catholic, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Semifinals, 7 p.m.
Friday: Championship, 7 p.m.
BCL West
Wednesday: First round, 7 p.m.
Friday: Semifinals at Marin Academy, 5 & 7 p.m.
Saturday: Championship at Marin Academy, 7 p.m.
BCL Central
Wednesday: Semifinals: San Domenico at Bay School and Pescadero at S.F. Waldorf, 7 p.m.
Friday: Championship at International (S.F), 7 p.m.
NCS
Nov. 11: First round
Nov. 14: Quarterfinals
Nov. 18: Semifinals
Nov. 21: Championships
NorCal
Nov. 24: Semifinals
Nov. 28: Championships
State
Dec. 1: Semifinals
Dec. 5: Championships at UC Irvine
