LJ g VB: All-league honors

Vikings' Madeleine Gates powers a spike against

Clairemont in Scripps Ranch tourney Oct. 3.
Behind her in #3 libero jersey is Amanda Polcyn.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

Middle hitter-blocker Madeleine Gates finally got the recognition she deserved, garnering First Team All-Western League volleyball honors in selections by the league's coaches.

Fellow middle hitter-blocker Emma Willis and defensive specialist Amanda Polcyn were named to the All-League Second Team.

Gates, a junior opting to play only volleyball this year, dominated the net as a sophomore in 2013-14 with an outstanding kill percentage. But in the way newer, lesser-known players have to build up a resume, she didn't receive league honors. This year the honors arrived.

Willis, a senior and like Gates 6'2", worked hard and accepted a full-ride athletic scholarship to play at the University of Denver next year.

Polcyn also decided to concentrate on volleyball only this year, after she and Gates were key players for the Viking basketball team that went to the CIF title game in March 2014.

Gates, a dominant player on the basketball court her sophomore year as well, averaging 11.9 points and 11.7 rebounds a game, failed to receive any CIF honors in basketball last year. In one game, she pulled down 22 rebounds.

Polcyn recently explained her decision to forgo basketball this year and focus only on volleyball, "Last year I played on a club volleyball team that didn't travel, and it was hard to play (high school) basketball and do homework as well. I figured if it was that hard being on a non-travel team, it would be that much harder on a team that travels."

Gates and Polcyn play year-round on club volleyball teams, in addition to playing on the La Jolla High volleyball team. Their schedules are wearying.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper