Tobbagi
continued from page 7 A
loose ball, Tobbagi slid into a row of
advertisements and suffered a con
cussion in the second match of the
season. She missed three matches
as a result of the concussion.
“While it was unfortunate that
she had a concussion, I think it
knocked some sense into her to for
get about her leg,” Ferreira said. “So
it was kind of good that she got her
head banged up.”
Tobbagi said her aggressive style
began in high school, where she led
Archbishop Mitty High to the Cali
fornia state championship match,
(which she calls “a touchy subject”
because her team came out on the
wrong end).
“It used to be a lot easier,” Tobba
gi said of her attacks. "I don’t ever
remember getting blocked in high
school.”
When she came in as a fresh face
to the Oregon volleyball program in
1998, Tobbagi quickly learned she
had to make some changes to adjust
to the Pac-10 level. She was third
on the team in kills her first year,
but hit just .133 from the floor.
{ { / used to just hit the
ball as hard as I could,
and I made a lot of mis
takes that way... Next
year, I want to be an All
American. I know I have it
in me. I just have to contin
ue to work hard.
Monique Tobbagi
junior outside hitter
It was evident in her freshman
season, though, that Tobbagi was
going to be a key component of the
Ducks future.
“Monique is the future of our
program," former head coach Cathy
Nelson said two years ago. “She is
one of the best freshmen in the con
ference. I think she will be a leader
for us next year, both on and off the
court.”
Her inconsistencies were appar
ent during her first two years as a
Duck, but Tobbagi has shown that
she can make significant improve
ments.
“I used to just hit the ball as hard
as I could, and I made a lot of mis
takes that way,” she said. “I used to
dwell a lot on my mistakes. One of
the biggest things Carl has taught
me is that I can’t dwell.”
Now Tobbagi is a more intelli
gent volleyball player who knows
when to go all out.
“She’s really elevated her tactical
side of the game,” Ferreira said.
“Against Oregon State, the great
thing was that when the opportuni
ties weren’t there, she didn’t beat
herself by making any unforced er
rors. But when the opportunity was
there, she was very explosive.”
Ferreira said he has even seen the
development throughout this year.
On the season, Tobbagi’s attack per
centage is a modest .207, but in the
last five matches, she has averaged
a .304 clip.
“It’s like the difference between a
thrower and a pitcher,” Ferreira
said. “[Hall of Fame major league
baseball pitcher] Nolan Ryan was a
thrower early on in his career. Then
he became a better overall pitcher.
The same thing applies to
Monique. She understands what it
means to be a tactical hitter now.”
Not only does Tobbagi bring the
heat to her opponents, but she
brings an enthusiasm to the Ducks
as one of the team leaders.
“I’m more of a lead-by-example
type of person,” she said. “I’m not a
big cheerer, and I don’t yell a lot.
I’m just trying to put the ball away
and help motivate everyone else.”
Ferreira described Tobbagi as one
of the “dominant leaders” on the
team.
“She does not have a bad day,”
he said. “She is the offensive stimu
lant that carries this team. She is a
special talent... and has the poten
tial to be one of the best outside hit
ters in the conference.”
Personal motivation is not a
problem for Tobbagi, who is omy
looking to get even better and lead
her young team to much greater
heights.
“I like to see myself up there with
the Logan Thoms [Stanford] and
Kristee Porters [UCLA],” she said.
“I know I can compete up to their
level. I have the potential to do that.
Next year, I want to be an All
American. I know I have it in me. I
just have to continue to work hard.”
Monique Tobbagi
Year: Junior
Position: Outside hitter
Hometown: San Jose, California
2000: After sustaining a concussion in the second match of the season, Tobbagi has come back to
lead the team in kills and is second in digs. Her 27 kills versus California are a career-high. She has
seven double-doublesand a total of 16 service aces. In Oregon’s first Pac-10 win of the season at Ore
gon State, the 6-foot Tobbagi tallied 17 kills, nine digs and posted a .368 attack percentage.
1999: Despite a leg injury that limited her playing time, Tobbagi led the team in kills average (3.68)
and digs average (2.81). She also led the team with 27 service aces, averaging 0.47 per match. Had 13
matches in which she recorded 10-plus kills and seven matches with 10-plus digs. Surpassed her previous career-high in digs
with 24 in the first match of the season against Boston College. Had seven double-doubles, including a 20-kill, 15-dig per
formance against Washington. In her next to last match of the season, talliedl 5 kills, 19 digs and one service ace against Cali
fornia. Was named the squad's most valuable player.
Pacific-10 Conference Volleyball Standings
use 10-1 Pac-10 16-1 overall
Arizona 10-1 17-2
UCLA 9-2 14-5
Arizona State 6-5 14-7
Oregon State 5-5 15-7
Stanford 5-6 11-8
California 4-7 9-9
Washington State 3-8 12-8
OREGON 1-9 9-10
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