TACKLING PROBLEM HEAD ON WITH ELIGIBILITY AT STAKE, CANYON'S LARSEN DOESN'T SIT TIGHT.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer CANYON COUNTRY - Haley Larsen cringed as her name was called before the Canyon High girls' 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. team's first match of the season. She felt even worse when her name stopped being called. Larsen wanted so badly to be a part of the Cowboys' volleyball team. The desire was great enough that she attended classes at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. so she could be eligible to rejoin re·join 1 v. re·joined, re·join·ing, re·joins v.tr. To say in reply, especially in sharp response to a reply. v.intr. To reply. the team sooner than if she took the easier route of waiting to become academically eligible through her high school grades. The decision benefited Larsen and the Cowboys, who received enough of a boost to emerge as a playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. contender. ``She really went all out for this thing because she wanted to play volleyball,'' Canyon coach Dave Gutierrez said. ``To devote that much says a lot about her and how dedicated she is to the team. ``I was frankly surprised. We were expecting not to have her until grades came out.'' Without Larsen, the young Cowboys were struggling to contend in the difficult Foothill League. Her return meant the addition of one of the league's top athletes. In her first match, the junior outside hitter received a team-high 50 sets and made only four errors. The sidelines Sidelines Hypothetical position referring to noninvolvement in a stock; merely watching. were the last place Larsen wanted to begin her first varsity season. Usually a good student, Larsen became ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. when she did not pass chemistry in the spring. The class she needed wasn't available through high school summer school, so Larsen enrolled at COC See chip on chip. . When she missed more than a week of the condensed con·dense v. con·densed, con·dens·ing, con·dens·es v.tr. 1. To reduce the volume or compass of. 2. To make more concise; abridge or shorten. 3. Physics a. session, she was unable to earn a satisfactory grade during the summer. The instructor told her to come back for the fall, where this time Larsen passed. Passing an assessment test and getting proper paperwork completed also were required before Larsen could return to the court. ``She definitely went through a lot,'' Gutierrez said. As she was tutored by teammates and left practices early, heading directly to COC every Tuesday and Thursday during the fall, Larsen knew she had another option. If she had been willing to wait until Oct. 17, her high school classes could have been enough to make her eligible. ``Of course, there were those thoughts in my head,'' Larsen said. ``I was going through so much and I could have just waited and been able to play when grades came out. ... But I love the sport so much. It's not my thing to give up.'' Larsen, 16, made her passion for volleyball evident as a sophomore. The former basketball player decided she wanted to ``excel in one sport instead of be mediocre me·di·o·cre adj. Moderate to inferior in quality; ordinary. See Synonyms at average. [French médiocre, from Latin mediocris : medius, middle; see medhyo- in two'' and chose volleyball as the sport on which she would focus. Having the sport taken away from her made Larsen crave volleyball and being part of a team even more. She was allowed to practice with the team during the summer, but once the season began, she was relegated to scorekeeping duties. Larsen said she was embarrassed when her name was mistakenly announced before the first game, but by the time she returned to the lineup, opponents were aware enough of her ineligibility INELIGIBILITY. The incapacity to be lawfully elected. 2. This incapacity arises from various, causes, and a person may be incapable of being elected to one office who may, be elected to another; the incapacity may also be perpetual or temporary. that they thought her playing was a mistake. ``It felt so good to be out there on the court,'' Larsen said. ``It was awesome. Even though we lost, I was so happy. ``When I couldn't play, my friends would make fun of me all the time. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Canyon High outside hitter Haley Larsen (7) was ineligible but attended classes at COC so she could rejoin her team sooner. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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