LICENSE TO KILL SAUGUS' MEGAN THORPE HOPES TO HELP LEAD VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO A LEAGUE TITLE.Byline: IVAN OROZCO O·roz·co , José Clemente 1883-1949. Mexican painter noted for his frescoes dealing with political and social themes. Noun 1. Staff Writer SAUGUS -- With wide-open eyes, Megan Thorpe Thorpe , James Francis Known as "Jim." 1888-1953. American athlete. An outstanding collegiate football player, he later played professional football and baseball. stares at the opponents on the other side of the volleyball volleyball, outdoor or indoor ball and net game played on a level court. An upright net, 3 ft (or 1 m) high, the top of which stands 8 ft (2.43 m) from the ground for men, 7 ft 4 1/8 in (2. net. The Saugus High outside hitter looks for the spot where she will smack the ball for a kill. At 5-foot-8, the Centurions' senior doesn't seem intimidating in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. . But what she lacks in size she makes up with the power behind her every shot and smacked ball. ``Megan is not the biggest, not the strongest,'' said Zach Ambrose, the Centurions' second-year coach. ``She's pretty quick, but she's got that ultra competitiveness that really helps her achieve just as well as any other taller volleyball player. ``A lot of girls have the ability, but there's very few that have the passion.'' That passion has translated into Thorpe placing the ball where she wants, prompting defenses to try to keep the ball away from her. But the Centurions have been able to utilize Thorpe and her passion and translate it into wins. Behind Thorpe's 129 kills this season, Saugus has won 14 straight matches leading into tonight's match against Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and Saturday's Royal tournament, where Ambrose's girls will take on some of the best teams in the region. The Centurions' only loss came in the season opener against Buena. ``By far it is our biggest push,'' Ambrose said about this weekend's tournament. ``It will prepare us for Valencia.'' Thorpe and teammates have been working to improve their game and be in top shape for the Oct. 4 Foothill League showdown with the Vikings. ``Winning league is definitely one of the biggest things for me,'' Thorpe said. ``Because Saugus was nothing, and now this team is a winner. Zach has brought us through every level. My goal is to win league.'' Thorpe's other goal is to be recruited by a four-year university. She has interest in the University of San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , where she would major in journalism or liberal studies. But for now, Thorpe will focus on her senior season with hopes of repeating the results of her sophomore season with Ambrose as the junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. coach. That season, Ambrose led the Centurions to a league title by beating Valencia. Most of the girls from that team are now on varsity and have the same objective as Thorpe: beat the Vikings, winners of four straight Foothill League championships. This might be the year for the Centurions behind Thorpe and Stephanie Shardlow. The 5-foot-10, senior setter setter: see sporting dog. setter Any of three breeds derived from a medieval hunting dog that would set (lie down) when it found birds so that it and the birds could be covered with a net. Setters have long hair on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. is responsible for many of Thorpe's kills. Shardlow has 307 assists this season and has her sights set on breaking her own record of 739. ``Very intense,'' Ambrose said to describe Shardlow. ``She wasn't intense when she first started. If it's not Megan, it's her making everyone step up.'' Shardlow, who struggled with bad wrists and an ankle injury earlier in her high school career, and Thorpe create one of the area's dangerous attacks. ``There's nothing stopping her when she's gonna gon·na Informal Contraction of going to: We're gonna win today. get a kill,'' Shardlow said of Thorpe. ``She has the eyes to look for the blockers and she puts it down every time we get it (the ball) to her. I can put the ball up there and she'll hit it the hardest she can and there's no doubt about it.'' ivan.orozco(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Megan Thorpe, outside hitter for Saugus High School Saugus High School may refer to:
Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News |
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