THE MESA TRIBUNE | OCTOBER 17, 2021
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Mountain View volleyball continues climb towards state title BY DREW SCHOTT Tribune Contributing Writer
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here is one topic that Clark Fleming and his team discuss constantly. The drive for a state title is the goal for every program and Fleming — the head coach of the girls volleyball team at Mountain View High School — sees his players determined to reach this point. During the offseason, team members kept their skills intact by attending college volleyball camps and competing in travel tournaments. Coming off a loss in the state semifinals to Perry High School, Mountain View is on the rise in its fourth year under Fleming, a former volleyball player at Mesa High School. Off to an 8-2 start, the Toros, who currently rank first in their region, have an end goal in mind. And they know the tactics that can help them raise a championship trophy. “When we just all click, then it works the best,” senior outside hitter Aaliyah Austin said. “We have a lot of talent on our team, but we haven’t all played together because we lost a lot of our starters from last year. So we’ve just been working on trying to gel and connect, but the times that we have, it’s just been a lot of fun to play and from what I’ve heard, a lot of fun to watch.” Fleming says watching a new roster find ways to win is “a fun puzzle to put together every single season.” This season, various Mountain View players are stepping into increased roles or performing at new positions. Ahead of its match against Westwood, the squad will be missing five starters. Briley Decker, the reigning Region Player of the Year and a four-year setter on Varsity, has been out since the start of the season with an ankle injury Yet Mountain View has a crucial asset on its roster, according to Fleming: players who have spent a long time around volleyball. “It’s nice to be able to have people, even though they’re not on the court right now, they help the kids who are newer to our systems and to this experience and to our mentality,” Fleming said. “They help them
Austin echoed Tukuafu’s well as Queen Creek, who defeated them sentiments and added that in the season opener — Mountain View is Fleming encourages the team readying for its opportunity to prove itself “when we need to be lifted in the postseason. up,” while also “giving us the Austin is excited to see what the end of honest truth when we need the season brings, especially if the team to hear that.” She remembers continues to grow and play consistent volthat when he took the helm of leyball. Tukuafu said “our head’s always the Mountain View program, on state.” Fleming spoke about estabMeanwhile, if the Toros play the “best lishing team culture and the volleyball we’re capable of playing,” Flemtype of team the Toros wanted ing believes his squad will be hard to beat. to be and how their play would “(You) never know what happens in the reinforce that. playoffs,” Fleming said. “Those are always The impact of this message fun, emotional matches, so I’m hoping we is starting to show. play good volleyball at the right time and “It’s the culture and the girls we find ourselves in a good spot there at that are on the team,” Tukuafu the end of the playoffs.” ■ said in regards to how Mountain View’s 2021 squad is different from past years. “A lot of us have known each other since we were super young or have played for each other.” The Toros’ vicMountain View senior outside hitter Aaliyah Austin said tories have come when she and her team clicks, everything comes together against opponents for a team that made the 6A semifinals last season. such as Mesa, Pin(Dave Minton/Tribune Staff) nacle High School a lot from the sidelines. It’ll be pretty in- and Red Mountain High School. teresting once we can get healthy and get Yet what stands out to Flemall of our players back.” ing is one of his team’s losses. As the Toros continue their charge to- In the eight seasons that he wards the state tournament, Fleming has been at Mountain View as does not want his team to be focused on a coach on both the Boys and how it is better than other opponents. In- Girls teams, Fleming has never stead, he emphasizes the importance of beaten Corona del Sol High the present and that every night Moun- School. tain View takes the court, it plays the best On Sept. 9, the squads volleyball it can. matched up in Tempe and CoJunior setter Olivia Tukuafu is familiar rona del Sol walked out with with Fleming’s coaching style. Not only has a 3-1 victory. Despite the loss, she spent three years with the Toros, but Fleming was impressed with she worked with her current head coach his squad’s mental resilience when she played club. Tukuafu credited and competitiveness in every Junior setter Olivia Tukuafu said the culture of this year’s Fleming with teaching his team the funda- set. While the Toros are not set team sets it apart from year’s past. Many players are familiar with one another and have played together since a mentals of volleyball, as well as the impor- to face Corona del Sol for the young age. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff) tance of close bonds on the court. rest of the regular season — as
