Beach Magazine Dec 2015

a player in the South Bay.
She played soccer and was a star player
on her basketball team, but would often
attend the club volleyball practices of her
older brother Nathan, who subsequently
played for Redondo.
“Nathan’s coach Dale Smith got me
interested in volleyball by involving me in
his practices,” Rice said. “I was only 5-
foot- 5 in middle school and hadn’t really
thought about playing volleyball. My dad
wanted me to stick with basketball, but I
really liked volleyball because it is a noncontact
sport and truly a team sport. It
takes every player to win.”
“Megan was so good at basketball,” her
father Jeff said. “When you watch your
kid, since the age of five be the player all
the other kids would throw the ball to and
then see her shoot three-pointers as an
eight-year-old, it’s hard to make that transition.
But when she started playing volleyball,
it was obvious she would bring
that same level of athleticism to the new
game and I haven’t looked back at all.”
Rice was placed on the frosh/soph team
to give her playing time although she
could have battled for a spot on the JV
team.
“She needed to play 100 percent of the
time since she hadn't played much volleyball,”
Chaffins said. “I knew, she would be
on varsity the following year because of
her athleticism and competitiveness.”
During her first year at Redondo she
began a friendship with Iosia who,
although also a freshman, was an assistant
coach for her father Moe on the
Frosh/Soph team.
“I still learn from Norene all the time,”
Rice said. “Even though we’re the same
age, I have always looked up to her. I’m so
lucky to have a setter like her. She plays at
a collegiate level and is a giant reason why
we are where we are.”
“Megan has come a long way and has
worked very hard the last few years,” Iosia
said. “She’s been a rock for us and our goto
player this season. She can handle any
type of pressure and always has a positive
attitude on the court. When I get a little
down, I can look at her and know that,
hey, we got this.”
Rice feels her strength is her front row
play and playing intelligently. She credits
Chaffins and assistant coach Tiffany
Rodriguez for finding new ways for her to
score.
“Megan’s always had the ‘home run’
swing, but swinging for the fences isn't
always the right choice,” Chaffins
explained. “I have been so pleased with
her decision making and ability to score in
a variety of ways, not just with the fastball.
There are many of times when the
right play is to snap the ball in, hopefully
to an uncomfortable spot for our opponent
and give our defense a chance to extend
the point.”
Rice said last year’s five-set win over
Mater Dei to win the Southern California
Regional championship and upsetting
Torrey Pines – the top ranked team in the
state – on the road in the second round of
this year’s regional tournament as her
most memorable matches.
“The entire run to State title last year
was something I’ll never forget,” Rice said.
“That experience helped me become a better
player. Playing in front of the giant
crowd and having 32 kills at Torrey Pines
was also a huge match for me.”
She said her favorite moment came
when she killed the last point in
Redondo’s come-from-behind, 5-set victory
over rival Mira Costa to win the 2014
Bay League title.
Rice will take her talents to UC Santa
Barbara next fall but has another goal set
before she embarks on her college career.
“I really want to medal in the Junior
Olympics,” she said, who will play for the
Sunshine 18’s club team. “I’ve played for
Nike West for the last three years and we
made the Open Division at the Junior
Olympics each year. It’s been a great experience
playing against the best club teams
across the country.”
Wanting to stay in California, Rice
talked with coaches at a Loyola
Marymount and San Diego State but chose
UC Santa Barbara because of its beach setting
and its proximity to her Hermosa
Beach home.
“It’s far enough away from home but
close enough so my family can watch me
play,” Rice said. “I should be able to earn
a starting position as a freshman. Many
schools consider me too short at outside
hitter and I love the game so much, I just
want to play. I hope to help the team reach
the NCAA tournament.”
Along with Dale Smith, Rice credits
Tiffany Rodriguez as playing vital roles in
her volleyball career.
“Tiffany was my first coach at Hermosa
Valley,” Rice said. “She came to Redondo
to coach when I was a sophomore, so
we’ve been through a lot together.”
Yet it is the bond between Rice and
Chaffins that has produced yet another
player on the list of Sea Hawk greats.
“He holds the bar so high for me,” Rice
said. “I appreciate him working with me.
Other coaches might focus on players
needing more work but he gives me just as
much attention.”
Chaffins said Rice’s enthusiasm for the
success of her teammates along with her
leadership, traits are what make a champion.
“Megan always gives full effort on
every play, sacrificing her body every
practice,” Chaffins said. “It sets the tone of
a gym culture when your best athletes lay
it out in practice like Megan does.”
Megan Rice makes a block during Redondo’s 2014
Southern California Regional Championship win
against Mater Dei. Photo by Ray Vidal
They joke about it now, but every so often
Chaffins will ask Rice if she remembers how he
used to make her feel uncomfortable – usually in
front of the team when another player has to go
through the same treatment.
Rice says it made her better but admits it wasn’t
any fun.
“Credit should also go to her parents, Jeff and
Lisa, for allowing her to go through that process,”
Chaffins said. “I think many parents today are
quick to try to ‘fix’ their kid’s athletic/school
issues. They allowed Megan to go through the
process of personal growth.Young people have to
learn to advocate for themselves, go through the
learning process and figure out ways to be successful.
I knew Megan's competitiveness would help
her figure out what she needed to do so I would
get off her back." B
50 Easy Reader / Beach magazine • December 10, 2015