Megan Penalfor has jumped into her first year as starting setter for the Nipomo High School girls’ volleyball team with impressive speed and accuracy. This is her third season of varsity play.
Thus far, the senior has racked up 14 aces serving and 98 kills with a total of 233 sets.
“She is an incredible player,” coach David Cassidy said. “She is very athletic and very fast.”
Cassidy, in his third year as coach, said Penalfor’s hard work and club volleyball experience over the summer have helped her become a versatile member of the team.
“She is accurate with her sets and is a fantastic server,” Cassidy said.
For Penalfor, also a first year captain, her goals this year are to keep her hitters involved and to keep their stats high.
“I want to set a good example for the younger players so when I am gone they will know how to run a team,” she said.
The setter said the Titans’ toughest competition this season will come from Templeton, and to be successful, the team will need to improve serving accuracy and passing.
Penalfor, who also does track, is in her seventh year as a volleyball player.
“My favorite part is the team bonding and watching each other improve,” she said.
The senior added that the toughest part of volleyball is keeping her head up and fighting through the losses. Beyond the numbers, Cassidy said Penalfor is a quiet leader who has the respect of all the players.
In light of her senior season, Penalfor said she will have fond memories as a Titan.
“I definitely learned teamwork and staying positive,” she said. “I also learned that in life you have to work together to get things done.”
She said she’s considering continuing volleyball at the junior college level while she pursues a career in nursing. The young setter, who shared that her mother has always been her biggest inspiration, is always looking forward to the next point in a game.
“I’ve been able to play with my two best friends … [we shared] school and competitive memories,” she said. “Volleyball has helped me grow as a person.”
This article appears in Oct 10-17, 2013.