Athlete of the Week: Terra Nova's Ali Vidali

Nonetheless, senior outside hitter Ali Vidali has been a force to be reckoned with. As one of the best offensive players in the league, most opponents build a defensive strategy around her; and she still finds a way to produce double-digit kills.

“She’s a great player,” Sequoia head coach Dustyn Woropay said. “If you’re looking for offense, she’s up there with the top-tier players in the league.”

Last Thursday in a key victory over Sequoia, it was Vidali’s defense that took center stage. The Tigers fell behind 2-0 in the match before manufacturing a remarkable comeback by seizing the momentum brought on by Sequoia’s 15 service errors.

Terra Nova went on to win 22-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-12 behind Vidali’s 18 digs and a match-high 16 kills. It was her second consecutive double-double, as last Tuesday in a five-set loss to Burlingame she totaled 19 kills and 52 digs.

Because of her all-around dominance and stellar defensive presence, Vidali has been named the San Mateo Daily Journal Athlete of the Week.

An opposing coach in the high school ranks, Woropay coaches at the same Encore club for which Vidali plays. So, he is accustomed to the buzz created when she steps onto the court.

For Terra Nova first-year head coach Tacks Feliciano, however, his first impression of Vidali was preceded by her reputation as a volleyball standout.

“I was really impressed when I first saw her,” Feliciano said. “When she walked into the gym, it was like — oh, THIS is Ali.”

Feliciano — a club coach with the S.F. Tremors — soon reviewed videos of Terra Nova’s star player and was quickly impressed with her talent as a legitimate six-rotation player.

“She was hitting lines, she was hitting everything everywhere, she was digging,” Feliciano said. “She’s a very athletic, solid player.”

Having coached Vidali for nearly an entire season now, Feliciano has diagnosed the senior’s swing as somewhat unorthodox.

“For some reason, it works for her,” Feliciano said. “She jumps so high … but it’s the swing that doesn’t go high enough. If she can get her arm as high as she can, she can get over any block.”

Sequoia effectively blocked Vidali last week, but with a player of her caliber, “effectively blocked” is a relative term. The Cherokees posted 20 blocks in the match, including eight from senior setter Angela Hudelson and five from junior middle Kara Herbert.

Sequoia’s consistently keying on the outside came at a cost though, as the Terra Nova middles benefitted. Three other Tigers’ attackers accounted for a combined 30 kills. Freshman Krystal Hin totaled 14 kills while junior Maria Koloamatangi had nine and senior Anna Listmann had seven.

“Offensively we sold the farm to limit [Vidali],” Woropay said. “She’s going get her 15-20 kills a match. It’s just a matter of holding her under 30.”

It was Vidali’s back-row play which defined the match though.

“That was the best defensive play I’ve seen from her,” Woropay said.

Terra Nova’s record may be below the .500 mark in league. However, with a 15-10 overall record — and being one of the only Division III teams in PAL Bay Division — the possibility of Vidali ending her varsity career with another Terra Nova postseason run is looking good.