Meghan McClure has come a long way as a member of the Santa Margarita girls volleyball program.
The journey has been worth it.
“When I was younger,” McClure said, “ … there were definitely older girls (on the team) that I let lead in their own way. I feel like I was a quiet leader on those teams. I think I led more by example.”
She took on a more vocal role last season as a junior.
“As the years went by, I became more vocal,” McClure said. “And this year especially, I knew that I’ve been on the team the longest and that it was my year to take initiative and take the lead.”
With McClure leading the way this season, the Eagles won a CIF-SS Division 1 title and made an appearance in the CIF State Open Division finals.
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ALL-COUNTY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
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“I think that leadership comes naturally,” McClure said. “I kind of let that happen. … In those moments, like the fifth-set against Mater Dei (in the CIF-SS finals) or when we came back against Marymount (of Los Angeles) in the beginning of the year, we just needed experience and someone that’s been there before. And I feel like I was that calm in the storm.”
For her efforts and accomplishments this season, McClure has been selected the Register’s Orange County girls volleyball player of the year.
“She’s one of the strongest players nationally on the net,” Santa Margarita coach Katy Daly said. “She showed her maturity this year with her leadership to lead the Eagles to a successful season.”
McClure finished the season with 483 kills, 233 digs, 61 blocks and 24 aces.
“I knew that I had to be more of a vocal leader,” McClure said. “Coach Daly had told me that now was the time to vocalize and be more loud on the court … It wasn’t necessarily difficult. It was different, not being the younger kid on the team.”
McClure will fulfill her lifelong dream next fall by continuing her education and volleyball career at Stanford.
“It has been my dream since I was five years old,” she said. “I have Stanford pennants up in my room from when I was seven and I visited there the first time. I just knew I wanted to go there. It has been my dream. It is the perfect place for me.”
McClure isn’t done with her athletic career at Santa Margarita. She played on the school’s softball team as a sophomore and junior, and she plans to be back out at third base in the spring.
“I’m better on defense,” she said. “I’ve played softball since I was five years old,” McClure said. “It has been a big part of my life. Until I was 10 or 11, I thought I would play softball in college. I thought that would be my sport.”
McClure said her batting average is somewhere between the high .200s and low .300s.
“When I went to (Santa Margarita), I knew the softball coach and I didn’t necessarily want to play, but I ended up doing it and it is one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made,” she said. “I’ve learned so many different skills and it is kind of like a release for me. It puts a smile on my face.”
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
