"T-Birds trio wraps up volleyball career...Dahl, McClaflin, Dubois say so long to high school volleyball at all-state series" -- July 14, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN


FIFE -- Tumwater High School volleyball player Danielle Dahl stepped up to serve, down 10-7 in the second game of the Washington Coaches Association all-state series.

She tossed the ball into the air, leaped, and then smacked the ball toward the opposing teams' court. The ball sailed out of bounds to the right.

Dahl, a first team all-league middle blocker, walked toward her team's blue-padded chairs on the sideline with her arms stretched far to the right and left. With a shrug of her shoulders, she said, "I don't know why I can't serve the ball."

Team Blue, the team Dahl and Tumwater first team all-league teammates Kaileen McClaflin and Jessica Dubois suited up for, lost 3-1 Thursday in a best-of-five match at Fife High School. Tumwater head coach Tara Croft co-coached the Team Blue with Anacortes head coach Barb Cicotte.

The team lost the first two games to Team Red 25-20 and 25-19, respectively.

Dahl was flabbergasted by her struggles serving.

"I was getting ready to serve and I stopped for a second," she said. "I tossed the ball with a total different hand, and I was just like, 'OK, I don't know how to jump-serve.' My mind just went blank. I just hit it and totally messed up."

Even so, Dahl bounced back and the team played better in the third and fourth games, taking the third 25-15 but losing the fourth 15-10.

"I just lost my train of thought," she said. "It was just really funny."

The Tumwater girls haven't played since the state tournament, and Dahl said getting back their rhythm and into the volleyball atmosphere was a challenge.

Croft's players, however, enjoyed the four games and the opportunity to play with each other one last time before departing for college.

"It's a last little hurrah for them to play," Croft said. "(To) get their last little competitive juices out."

Dubois, an outside hitter, is the only Tumwater player who will continue playing volleyball -- for Bellevue Community College -- but she didn't play in the all-state series because she's
recovering from foot surgery.

Dahl plans to attend South Puget Sound Community College, while McClaflin is committed to the University of Arizona in Tucson.

McClaflin, a libero, said the three Tumwater graduates are tight-knit.

"Lots of sleepovers, lots of team-bonding," she said. "Lifelong friends."

Teamed with girls from Fife, Highline, White River and Anacortes high schools, McClaflin noted the difficultly of learning to play with knew teammates.

"I'm a really outgoing person, so I knew all of their names on the first day," McClaflin said. "Not everybody knew how to play with each other, but it was an all-state situation, so it was fun."

Croft left a legacy with her players -- all three Tumwater girls refer to the coach as more than a friend.

"She's the best coach I've ever had," McClaflin said. "Not only volleyball-wise, but mentally. She was always there, a good listener, giving good advice. She's like my second mom."

Dahl, Dubois and McClaflin played and matured under Croft's instruction for four years, Croft said.

Croft, a 1991 Tumwater graduate, said the all-state series provided a nice exit for her players to step through.

"It was a great thing for them -- a last little time to play before they're done," she said. "They can retire their spandex."