Segovia preps for overseas challenge

Tokay senior middle blocker will play in Australia with California team

Nicole Segovia is ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

On Tuesday, the 5-foot-10 senior middle blocker/middle hitter on the Tokay High volleyball player will be one of 12 California high school senior volleyball players going to Australia through Down Under Sports, an organization that has conducted many overseas games in seven sports since 1989. The group are members of this summer’s California Pacific Conference volleyball team that will be playing a series of matches in the country known as the “land down under” the southern hemisphere.

“I think that it’s cool they (Down Under Sports) pick people from smaller towns,” said Segovia, who will be a three-year starter when the season starts on Aug. 28. “I’m happy for this opportunity. A girl from Lodi going to Australia, you know?”

Segovia will fly out from the Sacramento International Airport on Tuesday to Los Angeles, where she will meet her 11 teammates. Then the group will fly to Sydney, Australia to complete their estimated 15-hour journey. There’s a 10-hour time difference between California and Australia, as the team and coaches are expected to arrive on Thursday, Australia time. Segovia is projected to leave Australia on July 21, but because of the time difference, she is scheduled to return to California on July 20.

“I’ve been talking to all of the girls on Facebook,” said Segovia, who noted that the team can be found under DUS volleyball July 2017 on the social media website. “I know my teammates’ names, but I haven’t met them (in person). That’s the only communications I’ve had as of now. But I’m sure I’ll get their phone numbers when I get there (Los Angeles).”

As each hour and day passes grows closer toward leaving the United States for the other side of the globe, Segovia can feel the excitement climbing to another level within her.

“I’m excited,” Segovia said. “It’s very humbling ... somebody from the (city) of Lodi, and nobody knows where Lodi is at. I’m excited ... to represent my Tokay family, my family. The excitement is finally being built. I’ve never really been away from home, all by myself, for (about 10 days). I think it’s going to go by pretty quick.”

After arriving in Australia, Segovia and the CPC team will step onto the court in less than 24 hours. That starts with a scrimmage with an Australian high school volleyball team, followed by a two-day

indoor volleyball tournament. Toward the end of their journey, CPC will also play in a beach volleyball tournament. The volleyball team will have a chance to compete for a team championship title at both tournaments.

“I’m going to be playing volleyball all day,” Segovia said. “Meeting all of these new people.”

In between tournaments, the squad will hold practices. Plus, have time to become tourists in the country.

Segovia and each player had to raise $5,000 each for the cost of the trip. That includes round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations and food. Segovia said many family, friends and teammates, plus Tokay coach Scott Kyles and Dana Black, who coaches Segovia’s competitive volleyball team in Club Prime out of Sacramento, donated moneys toward her trip.

“A bunch of people who were really supportive,” Segovia said.

Kyles, who promoted Segovia to the varsity team as a sophomore in 2015, feels she will benefit from playing on the other side of the globe.

“She s going to bring that experience back,” Kyles said. “She’s going to be playing in a different type of venue, so she’e going to bring that and leadership.”

Kyles has already spotted Segovia’s growth in club volleyball matches and Tokay’s summer workouts in recent weeks to last summer at this time.

“She has another year of experience, plus maturity and the leadership that she’s learned from last year to this year,” Kyles said.”

One of the Segovia’s strengths is the attitude she brings to the court and life, Skyles pointed out.

“She has a great work ethic great attitude,” said Kyles of Segovia. “She has the sprit for the game that I really like. She’s a great team player she wants the team to be successful. She’s in it for the team, and that’s what a coach looks for in a player.”

Cianna Guidi, another senior who led Tokay in kills last season with 211, spoke highly of Segovia.

“She’s very cheerful, and is a great aspect to the team,” Guidi said. “She’s always in a good mood, and is great to be round on the court. She’s great to have on the team, and really is a leader.”

Segovia said all of her teammates, all of whom have been going through summer workouts at the Lodi Academy High gym in recent weeks — the gym floor at The Jungle on the Tokay campus is being resurfaced this summer — have been very supportive of her playing against the best prep volleyball players in the planet.

“All of my teammates are super supportive,” Segovia said. “They want me to do my best.”

Kyles credits Segovia’s thoughtfulness toward him and her Tokay teammates. Segovia said she plans to bring back a T-shirt for each player from one of the tournaments.

“They are my family,” Segovia said. “They are my friends on and off the court.”

Prior to the start of preparing for the high school volleyball season in the SacJoaquin Section, which starts Monday, Aug. 7, Segovia had been playing competitive volleyball for Club Prime.

“My high school and club teams have pushed me to the limits throughout the whole season, which has helped me grow as a player,” Segovia said. “I wouldn’t have been able to exceed to the level that I’m at now if it wasn’t for them pushing me.”

Segovia plans to play college volleyball after she graduates from Tokay High next spring. One college she’s considering is Delta College in Stockton.

“For me, I need a four-year scholarship, but it’s not going to be that simple because of the costs,” Segovia said. “But if I was offered a scholarship, I would take it in a heartbeat. When I think of my career, realistically, I could see myself being perfectly happy playing for a JC and pursue what I actually want to do with my life after two years.”

Last fall, Segovia led Tokay with 33 blocked shots out of 44 attempts. She was second behind Guidi in kills at 84. Segovia also had 30 digs.