The motivational seed was planted as soon as the final point was scored in the 2012 CIF-SS Division 3A final.
At that moment, the Sage Hill girls volleyball team was runners-up, having lost a five-set match to Academy League rival St. Margaret’s.
“You could see it (the motivation) in the offseason,” Sage Hill coach Dan Thomassen said. “It was clear that they were working their hardest, and when we got into the season they were ready to go.”
The Lightning put forth a remarkable season. They claimed the CIF-SS Division 3A title and made a run to the Division III CIF State Southern California Regional final.
For guiding Sage Hill back to the top, Thomassen has been selected the Register’s Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year.
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“One of our goals was to make a deep run and at least get to the finals in CIF,” Thomassen said.
“Certainly, sweeping every team in CIF, including the final and making our deepest run ever (in state) was unexpected.
“For as much buildup as our girls had for this season, they put pressure on themselves to have a great year and to perform, and to live up that was really gratifying.”
This year’s schedule included victories over Laguna Beach and Santa Margarita, and Sage Hill was voted into the county top10 this season, for the first time in its history.
“When I first started, no one had really heard of Sage Hill, outside of the Newport-(Costa) Mesa area,” Thomassen said. “Now, volleyball has helped put the school on the map.”
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
