Henry bumps CPP for return to ULV
Campus Times
November 6, 1998
Junior Sarah Henry is one of La Verne's veteran volleyball players.
She has been playing volleyball since high school and has participated in
events such as the Junior Olympics. Henry is a middle blocker and has a
total of 45 assisted blocks. Upon her graduation, Henry hopes to be an elementary
school teacher.
After leaving the University of La Verne last spring to pursue a career
in graphic designs at Cal Poly Pomona, Leopards volleyball star junior Sarah
Henry has returned to complete her new major and final sporting years.
"I think it [Henry's return] is important in the consistency of
the program, and it's a very important factor in keeping our recruits,"
said head coach Don Flora.
Henry, a middle blocker, changed her major to diversified and her mind
to La Verne when she found out that Cal Poly Pomona valued sports before
education.
"Here my priorities are school, volleyball, and then social life,
but there [Cal Poly Pomona] it's volleyball then school," said Henry.
"I like our conference. I think it is not too serious, but it's good."
The 5-foot-11-inch Henry, who graduated from nearby Claremont High School,
found a home at ULV to continue her success.
"I think everyone wanted her to come back, because we knew that
the middle blocker spot was not one of our strong positions," said
team captain senior Lynsey Best.
Even though Henry feels this year she has fallen short of her previous
years of glory, her team is currently in a battle for second place in SCIAC.
"Personally, I feel that I am not doing as well as I did last year,
but I think that's because there has been some big changes on the team and
a new coaching staff," said Henry.
This year's team has drastically changed from last year's SCIAC championship
form.
This is due to the many new players who had to fill the roles of the
departed ones, and the coaching staff change from Athletic Director Jim
Paschal to then-assistant coach Flora over the off-season.
Half of the current team is comprised of new faces, including assistant
coach Randi Winn.
Winning is not as easy as it was in last year's chemistry-laden team
for Henry, but success is something that she has experienced since her days
on the black top of El Robles Middle School.
"I want us to finish in second place in SCIAC, because I know we
can't finish in first because Cal Lu is," said Henry. "I think
if we win the rest of our conference games, we could come in second and,
hopefully, make it to the playoffs."
In order to capture a second place finish in conference, La Verne must
defeat its remaining SCIAC game -- tonight against Whittier College in the
Supertents.
If the Leopards are going to accomplish this goal, it will be through
their prodigal middle blocker Henry, who leads the conference in assist
blocks (45) and is second in solo blocks (36) and attacks (514 -- with 196
kills -- third in conference).
"I think I add to the offense as one of the stronger hitters, and
defensively, I block a lot of balls," said Henry.
Do not take Henry wrong, for she in no way feels arrogant about her
role or success.
"She is a better defensive player behind the block this year than
she has ever been, and that is a tribute to her taking the training that
we are doing and utilizing it," said Flora.
In fact, Henry knows that she must improve for her team to become more
successful.
"I've been working on my defense, and I think I am a little bit
better at defense this year than I was last year," said Henry. "I
am just diving after the ball, going after more balls and wanting the ball
more."
"I think she is getting better in all facets of the game,"
said Flora. "She is our key component in our offense."
All is not as easy as it sounds though. Henry has learned to "load-up"
on classes during the off-season instead of during the season to keep on
top of her game.
"It's hard to balance all the time you put into volleyball, school
and work," said Henry.
Unfortunately, the 20-year-old does not want to continue her volleyball
career after college but does plan to make the most of her new diversified
major as an elementary school teacher.
Fortunately, for Henry, she can still watch her favorite professional
volleyball player, Mike Whitmarsh.
Henry's previous experience came when she played competitively in high
school and in the junior olympic club.
In high school, her team won the league title when she was a sophomore
on an all-senior varsity squad.
In fact, her greatest volleyball moment came during that sophomore year,
when the team won the Diamond Bar Tournament.
"She came in and made an impact ever since her freshman year,"
said Best.
Henry still admits her best season came last year, when she won All-Whittier
Tournament, First-Team All-SCIAC, First-Team All-Region and Campus Times
Athlete of the Fall semester awards.
"[Volleyball] has taught me to be a team player, to work with others
and be patient with the people you are with," said Henry.
Henry has decided to finish her schooling and volleyball career at the
University of La Verne, planning to graduate after a possible fifth year.
