Ali Vallespin was a year behind her teammates when she left the Einstein High School cheerleading team for the girls volleyball team during her sophomore year two seasons ago.

In a sport many high school players learn from scratch when they join a team in ninth grade – organized middle school and youth volleyball teams aren't as common as they are in other sports – Vallespin had to quickly pick up rules and proper mechanics.

So Titans' varsity coach Emily Hallam and junior varsity coach James Chan decided to place Vallespin on the JV squad. She needed time to develop; time to get up to speed. Or so the theory went.

"About four or five days into it, we were like, 'Eh, bad idea,'" Hallam remembered. "We pulled her up [to varsity]. She was ready for it."

Two years after her first foray into the sport, Vallespin is now winding down her final girls volleyball season. She has emerged as one of Einstein's most prominent performers and leaders, much of it thanks to her rapid improvement since her introduction to the organized game.

"I see the team a lot differently than I did my sophomore year," Vallespin said. "When we would lose games and the seniors and juniors would be really upset I'd be like, 'I don't get it. We just lost.' It wasn't a big deal. Now it actually means a lot more to me. I just see the game in a more competitive manner than I did."

With two regular season matches remaining, including Wednesday's Senior Night meeting with Wootton, Vallespin has a hitting percentage of 91 and a serve percentage of 88.

Perhaps the Titans' most consistent server, Vallepsin put together a run of 11 consecutive points won on serves and has missed only eight this season.

"Physically, she was able to handle it: the speed, the intensity," Hallam said. "She can do whatever skill we need her to do."

Vallespin's older brother and cousins played on Einstein's co-ed team, for which she served as a manager during the spring of her freshman year. She showed interest, and they encouraged her to make the leap.

Her progression, as much as her skills, earned the respect of coaches and teammates.

Hallam spoke glowingly about Vallespin's willingness to take on the challenge of learning the sport. It was a period that included some missteps.

"It wasn't so frustrating. But it moved really quick because everyone was so much more experienced than I was. I was sort of down there," Vallespin said. "But I feel like I progressed a lot."

But Vallespin grew more comfortable in the program as time went on.

"The coaches are very easy to get along with and it just made it so much easier," Vallespin said. "They're young. So it's easy to relate to them and I really felt fine asking questions."

Vallespin has also contributed off the court. She created the sketch for her team's "Dig Pink" t-shirts, and hopes to use her creative skills in the art program at UMBC after graduatio.. The Titans wore the shirts earlier this month during a match to raise money for breast cancer research.

Vallespin said she'll also try to keep playing competitive volleyball at UMBC. It would be the continuation of a journey that started just two years ago, when she came to Hallam with no playing experience and a lot to learn after giving up cheerleading.

Hallam, for one, is happy Vallespin made the switch.

"I have a soft spot for cheerleaders, because I appreciate choreography and that skill set," Hallam said. "That being said, I'm glad we were able to steal her."

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