Alyson Jennings

Steve Virgen

The knee pads she wore took on special meaning in a rather ho-hum,

season-opening girls volleyball match against Huntington Beach Sept.

12.

During the morning on the day of the match, Newport Harbor High

senior Alyson Jennings tried her best to put closure to one of the

most emotional summers she had ever experienced. Then, she did what

one of her closest friends would want her to do. She played, and she

played well.

Andrea Collins, who was a teammate of a few Newport Harbor players

on an Orange County Volleyball Club team, died of cancer Sept. 4. Her

funeral was Sept. 8 and her ashes were spread across the ocean near

Laguna Beach during the morning of Sept. 12.

Collins was a star setter for Mater Dei and also helped lead the

Orange County club team to a girls 16s national title at the

Volleyball Festival in Davis. Jennings was on that team. This past

summer, Jennings and Collins were roommates and teammates on the 18s

team at the Volleyball Festival.

They talked about their dreams of playing for an NCAA Division I

college team. Collins talked about the new hair that started to grow

on her head. They strengthened a friendship and created more memories

which Jennings continues to cherish.

“Every time we played during club it seemed to be us two, her

setting and me putting it away,” Jennings said. “We always connected.

I’m glad I was able to say good-bye to her. I told her she was my

angel and I told her to watch out for me.”

Before Jennings led the Newport Harbor girls volleyball team to a

four-game win over Huntington Beach, Collins’ mother gave Jennings

the knee pads that belonged to her daughter.

Jennings went out and delivered 15 kills, 23 assists, five service

aces and five digs, guiding the visiting Sailors to the victory. All

the while, Jennings kept in mind her friend, who everyone called,

Andi.

“I was focused on the match,” Jennings said. “It’s been hard

because she was one of my really good friends.”

Jennings will continue to wear the knee pads in matches this

season. With each passing day, she will try to gain inspiration from

Collins instead of the pain that came when she lost her friend.

“Alyson is a great leader and you could tell it was hurting her

big time,” Newport Coach Dan Glenn said. “She had been dealing with

it for awhile. How can you offer words or explain when something like

that happens? It’s just a tough thing. I’m sure it will be pretty

emotional when we play Mater Dei next week (Wednesday at Mater Dei).”

This season figures to be a memorable one for Jennings, who is

playing in her final year before moving on to the University of

Texas. Jennings will play outside hitter and setter for the Sailors

this season, displaying her skill and versatility, and also

contributing in more facets than one.

Glenn said Jennings has responded to her new role well and through

her hard work she continues to display her immense potential.

“She can play any position,” Glenn said. “She’s a great beach

player and just a real good volleyball player. I think she’s going to

make an instant impact at Texas. She’s just starting in her sport.

Her best volleyball is definitely in front of her. She’s just going

to get better and better. I have a lot of confidence in her. She’s

just one of the hardest workers I have ever had.”

While her future in college is filled with great promise, Jennings

is eager to meet expectations this season. She wants her team to do

well and win as much as possible. For herself, she has simple goals.

“I just want to get better,” said Jennings, the Daily Pilot

Athlete of the Week. “Coach will get mad at me sometimes for the same

mistake I make. I want to perfect the little things. I just want to

get as good as I can.”

When she is setting for the Sailors, Jennings said she will do her

best to pattern her game after Collins. Collins’ competitive spirit

and the deft skill she had as a setter also motivates Jennings.

“She was a competitor,” Jennings said. “She was one of the best

setters I’ve seen. She could take a bad pass and still make a good

set. She had magical hands.”