THOMAS LEADS YOUNG VALENCIA LATE STARTER THRIVES IN VOLLEYBALL.Byline: Heather Gripp Gripp talking raven, beloved pet of half-wit Barnaby Rudge. [Br. Lit.: Dickens Barnaby Rudge] See : Birds Staff Writer VALENCIA Valencia, region, Spain Valencia (välān`thēä), autonomous region (1990 pop. 3,902,429) and former kingdom, E Spain, on the Mediterranean. It now comprises the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia. - The only trouble that resulted from Rachel Rachel, in the Bible Rachel (rā`chəl), in the Bible, wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She is one of the four Jewish matriarchs. An alternate form is Rahel. Thomas' meeting with her teacher is that experienced by opponents who must try to stop her on 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. court. Three years after being summoned for an after-class talk that led to her taking up volleyball, Thomas (language) Thomas - A language compatible with the language Dylan(TM). Thomas is NOT Dylan(TM). The first public release of a translator to Scheme by Matt Birkholz, Jim Miller, and Ron Weiss, written at Digital Equipment Corporation's Cambridge Research Laboratory runs has become a key part of a Valencia High girls' volleyball team that is looking to repeat as Foothill League champion despite having nine first-year varsity players. Spending last season sidelined with an abdominal abdominal /ab·dom·i·nal/ (ab-dom´i-n'l) pertaining to the abdomen. ab·dom·i·nal adj. Of or relating to the abdomen. n. An abdominal muscle. injury only increased Thomas' value as she learned additional ways to contribute. ``She's a terrific blocker and great attacker,'' Valencia coach Ray Sanchez said of the senior outside and opposite hitter. ``But her leadership is one of the biggest things. She's a great leader. She's not especially vocal, but she's a leader by example. She really hustles. The girls relate to her, she brings the younger ones along. That's important on a team like this.'' It wasn't long ago that Thomas was the one trying to catch up, eagerly absorbing as much knowledge as she could about the sport. She grew up playing softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' , but never considered playing volleyball until she reached high school and had Sanchez as her math teacher. ``I got into it accidentally,'' Thomas said of her start in volleyball. ``I walked into class late and he said he wanted to see me after class. I thought I was getting into trouble and he said, `Do you play volleyball?' I said `No' and he said I should try it. He saw my height I guess and thought I'd be good at it.'' Listed at 5-foot-11, Thomas is the Vikings' second-tallest player. Her height has been utilized as a middle blocker in the past, but her hitting ability has her slated to be used primarily as a hitter this season. Thomas, 17, is glad others saw more of her potential than she did, otherwise she likely wouldn't have played beyond her freshman year. ``Personally, I thought I was awful,'' she said. ``I thought I couldn't do anything. Other people said I was doing good, so I stuck with it.'' Her previous experience with the sport consisted mainly of watching good friend and current teammate Sara Ulmer play. However volleyball has since become a family affair for Thomas, whose two younger sisters followed in her footsteps and are on Valencia's JV team this year. If they aren't playing volleyball in their backyard, they are often talking about it. Not being able to play last year was difficult for Thomas, who describes the experience as ``frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: .'' She missed her entire junior season - her first on varsity - after tearing tear·ing n. Epiphora. an abdominal muscle abdominal muscle Any of the muscles of the front and side walls of the abdominal cavity. Three flat layers—the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles—extend from each side of the spine between the lower ribs and the hipbone. during summer practice. Though she did not play, she attended practices and games, studying the way the Vikings played as well as how to be a leader. The knowledge Thomas gained is put to use now that she is back at full strength and one of only three seniors on the team. ``She's definitely one of the main contributors,'' Sanchez said, noting the lack of star power possessed by last year's team requires each player to step up if Valencia hopes to contend in a tough league. ``She's a very key player,'' Ulmer said. ``We're glad to have he back and healthy. Plus, she's a good leader by example.'' Heather Gripp, (818) 713-3607 heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com THOMAS FILE Name: Rachel Thomas Rachel Thomas (1995-?) is an 11 year old music prodigy. She plays the flute, clarinet, and trumpet in the North Carolina United Orchrestra (along with many accomplished adult players) is her main occupation. She has earned over 50 medals in music festivals nationwide. Team: Valencia volleyball Year: Senior Position: Outside/opposite hitter Quote: ``She was always the tall girl; that's what everyone knew her as. She didn't even have to try out, coach just saw how tall she was. ...It's not just her height anymore.''- Teammate Sara Ulmer on Thomas CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Valencia senior Rachel Thomas leads by example on a young team that has nine first-year players. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Box: THOMAS FILE (see text) |
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