Four Rocklin High School volleyball players were trying to set the ball through a basketball hoop when head coach Dave Muscarella approached and asked what they day’s handshake would be. When he found they didn’t have one, he showed them one of his own.

It’s the kind of rapport Muscarella has with his players that allows him to recognize talent like sophomore Megan McBroome. McBroome was moved up from the junior varsity squad to fill in for the Thunders’ starting setter, who was ill.

“She will always play harder every play just to keep the ball alive,” said Muscarella, “When we moved her up from JV last season to varsity, our intensity picked up.  Everyone’s trying to keep up with her.”

Having spent the summer playing volleyball before her freshman year at Rocklin, it should have come as no surprise that McBroome would have been selected by Muscarella to move up to varsity. Still, it wasn’t something she expected.

“I was surprised on being moved up,” said McBroome. “He saw potential in me and just kept me up here ever since.”

An “A” student, McBroome has hopes of playing volleyball at the University of Nevada Reno, one day. It’s the school where her parents met. If things don’t work out there, she plans to attend Cal Poly and study optometry.

At a young age, McBroome developed a love for volleyball and has been playing it the past six years. She said the support she receives from her parents and teammates keeps her going day-in and day-out.

“My parents have pushed me to keep at it, to plan around volleyball and school,” said McBroome. “My teammates and coaches have challenged me and supported me.”

McBroome credits her early success at the varsity level to her teammates. She said the Thunder has good hitters motivating her to continue playing well. When she played in the offseason before the start of this year, she knew coming in what to expect from Rocklin’s system.

Although playing varsity meant earlier workout times, she said the intensity felt the same as when she played junior varsity. Between her freshman and sophomore year, she has attended around 20 volleyball clinics.

“She’s a very hard worker,” said senior and third-year varsity player Jolie Meade, “which is a very good quality of a setter. Whenever something bad happens, she’s just positive.”

Megan Richwine, who is in her fourth year playing varsity, praised McBroome’s willingness to work hard.

“She’s grown so much since last year,” said Richwine, “She’s very bright and never gets down on herself.”

McBroome’s goal is to have Rocklin win another Sierra Foothill League title and do well enough in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs to make it into regionals. Every day, she tries to get a little bit better.

McBroome has played in 45 sets this season and is averaging 8.8 assists per set. In 226 service attempts, she has a 94.5 percent success rate.

Meanwhile, McBroome continues to practice hard. She works to make her teammates better by hitting from different angles and communicating better on ball location. She is developing as a leader to help improve her squad and her school.

Source:  http://www.placerherald.com/article/don%E2%80%99t-underestimate-rocklin%E2%80%99s-youth