TOKAY SETTER LEADING THE WAY
Accomplishments: Four years ago, Natalie Polhemus wanted a new challenge in her athletic life.
Today, the 5-foot-7 junior setter on the Tokay High volleyball team is reaping the benefits of the change. That has included plenty of hard work since last October.
In last week’s non-league matches, Tokay (8-7) knocked off Trans-Valley League power Ripon Christian and Franklin of Elk Grove, a Division I school. The Tigers went five games before losing a tough match to Manteca, a Valley Oak League squad that had a 72 record coming into its match against the Tigers.
“We have a lot of new players with a lot of experience,” Polhemus said. “Scott (Kyles, Tokay’s coach) has made our schedule tough this year that we’re getting so much experience. We’re getting used to the game now, it has brought us together as a team.”
In three non-league matches and the Davis Classic in Davis, Polhemus had 105 assists, 27 kills, 24 digs, seven aces and six blocked shots. For the season, she has 118 assists, 37 digs, 34 kills and 20 aces.
Tokay hosted Ripon in another non-league home match at The Jungle on Tuesday evening. After playing Bear Creek on Thursday, Tokay plays at Liberty Ranch in an all-Lodi area contest at the Hawks’ Nest next Monday. Liberty Ranch returns most of its players from last year’s squad that took third place in the Sierra Valley Conference, and won a share of the SVC title with El Dorado and Union Mine in 2015.
Six seniors from last year’s team graduated. That has left a
leadership void taken over by Polhemus and fellow fellow captains Nicole Segovia and Cianna Guidi. All of the 16 players on the Tigers’ roster
“Each player has so much talent,” Polhemus said. “I think all we need to do now is come together as a whole. We have a very good offensive team.”
Last year, Tokay jumped out to a 12-5 record, and finished with an 18-16 mark. But the Tigers finished TCAL action with a 3-7 record, with two wins against cross-town and league rival Lodi.
Polhemus began playing volleyball in eighth grade, but she was involved in sports before that.
“I used to be a swimmer for seven years,” Polhemus said. “I got tired of it, and wanted to do something athletic.”
That’s when she swam her last lap and went indoors to play volleyball, which has led to growth in the sport for Polhemus.
“I like that you have to be good at the sport,” Polhemus said. “I like tracing the ball instead of hitting it as hard as I can every time. You don’t have to be the strongest person out there, but you have to be the smartest.”
Polhemus has noticed her growth of playing volleyball in less than a year.
“Last year, I didn’t have that leadership that I have now,” explained Polhemus. “I think since I’ve taken on the role of setting, I think I’ve gained leadership and started to control the court.”
To prepare for this season, Polhemus played for the Delta Valley Volleyball Club program. That included playing in many weekend tournaments toward the end of last November until two months ago. Her club team competed in tournaments in Philadelphia, Pa. and Washington state.
“That was definitely bigger, more competitive than what I was use to,” Polhemus said.
Polhemus also went to volleyball clinics that included ones that colleges offered.
“The clinics taught me so much,” Polhemus said.
Volleyball runs in the Polhemus; Natalie’s sister, freshman Grace, is also playing on the Tokay varsity squad.
Contact reporter Mike Bush at mikeb@lodinews.com. Follow on Twitter: @MBushLodiSports.