Unfinished Business

This is the first of three articles looking at the unique stories of some of the seniors leading their teams into the playoffs and why this final run at a state title has special meaning for them. Houston Stratford’s Michelle Moriarty, the state’s top setter, has led her team to consecutive 5A state championship matches only to fall one game short of the big prize. She talks about her high school career, her role on the national youth team, why she selected Texas over defending national champion USC and why she’s not satisfied with two straight trips to the 5A state finals.

By Steven Thomson

Over the past four years, Stratford setter Michelle Moriarty has developed from a promising high school freshmen into one of the best high school volleyball players in the nation. She has led the Spartans to back-to-back 5A state finals and played with the U.S. youth national team the last two summers.

Moriarty's status as a top high school, club and national team member, along with an intensive recruiting battle that ended when she chose Texas over defending NCAA champion Southern California, has fueled a lot of talk and speculation. Message boards and other such exchanges have overflowed with Moriarty talk.

Never one to be concerned about her personal image, Moriarty has refrained from entering any of the discussions. She spoke out for the first time in a recent interview with Lone Star Volleyball.

"I actually think it is pretty funny listening to speculation," Moriarty said. "I don't mind being in the spotlight, but I definitely am not one to seek it out. I don't mind people talking about me. Most of the time, I take it for what it's worth."

Moriarty's focus has been on academics and her high school and club teams. She currently ranks No. 2 in her class and is taking dual high school/college credit courses during her senior year. Moriarty has also worked to bring credit to her Stratford teammates.

Stratford has won the last two Region III titles. The Spartans have fallen short of their ultimate goal, losing to Amarillo in the 2001 5A state championship match and to Austin Westlake last year.

"It's been a great accomplishment to make it to state the last two years, but it's not the best," Moriarty said. "We want to be the best in the state. We don't want to finish second anymore."

Last November proved to be especially disheartening. After upsetting nationally-ranked Clear Creek in the regional finals, Stratford suffered a setback when three starters became ill on the weekend of the state tournament. The weakened Spartans made it past Arlington Martin in the semifinals, but were no match for Westlake in the championship match.

No one made any excuses while the tournament was in progress. The Spartans gave due credit to Westlake while discounting their own play with a weakened lineup.

"It was frustrating, because we were a much better team than that," Moriarty said. "As a group effort, no one played well. It was frustrating for people to see that and not be able to show them how we really can play."

That frustration is one of the things that has driven Moriarty this season. She wants to return to San Marcos and show people how the real Stratford can play.

Stratford's team dynamics have changed greatly since last November. Last year's senior leaders have gone on to the college ranks, leaving Moriarty to guide a less experienced lineup.

From the beginning, the Spartans have shown they mean business, taking a 34-3 record into the postseason.

That has necessitated a personal change for Moriarty. Previously quiet and business like on the floor, Moriarty has changed into a vocal leader and a vibrant personality.

"Everyone knows that the seniors are normally the leaders," Moriarty said. "I was excited about it. I've had a lot of experience and don't mind helping my teammates. Plus, I'm surrounded by really good teammates. It's not like anyone here is horrible. Every single person is really good."

Moriarty learned a lot of about leadership qualities during her two summers working with the youth national team. As a setter, Moriarty was expected to set an example for some of the country's finest young players. Playing with the youth national team, particularly during their trip to the world championships in Poland last summer, left a lasting effect on Moriarty.

"(The national team) stresses hard work and dedication," Moriarty said. "Without that, you can't become the player you potentially can be. We practiced two or three times a day, for two or three hours each time. You had to put your best effort forward all the time. That has helped me so much. When you have players that good around you all the time for a month, it's impossible not to get better. Everyone plays just as hard as you do and the coaches are really good."

While at the youth national team training center in Lake Placid and at the world championships in Poland, Moriarty was exposed to the pressure and politics involved with competing on the international level. Moriarty was respected enough among her teammates to be elected as a team captain. Despite that, she saw little playing time.

"It was pretty frustrating," Moriarty said. "It's one of those things you have no control over. I've been told a lot to not worry about the things that I can't control. Since I couldn't control that, I kept working my hardest to get better."

Through the high school playoffs and participating in some top-level club and national team tournaments, Moriarty has been able to play against some of the best teams and players in the nation. Many have provided memorable moments that have stuck with her.

"Last year, in the regional tournament, we played against Clear Creek and Cinco Ranch," Moriarty said. "It was fun to match up against Clear Creek two years in a row because they were a really good team both years. Playing Cinco Ranch was fun since we lost to them early last year. We really wanted to play them again and beat them.

"When we were in the Pearland tournament, there were some girls who were really great players. We played Austin Westlake last year in a practice match and matched up well against them. All the Westlake girls are really good. There's not one particular girl I can pick out, because all of them are good and I respect them a lot."

Playing on several different teams and levels has exposed Moriarty to a variety of coaching styles. She has been able to contrast her high school coach, Becky Palermo, and Team Texas mentor Frankie Velez.

"Frankie is pretty relaxed most of the time," Moriarty said. "He's pretty goofy and jokes around with us. Coach Palermo is a little more serious. Frankie is pretty specific with the stuff that he tells us while he is coaching. Coach Palermo has a broader coaching style. She emphasizes that when we're out on the court, it's just us out there."

Moriarty began playing volleyball in the fifth grade. At that time, it was merely one activity in a busy athletic schedule that also included soccer, softball, swimming and basketball.

As she got older, Moriarty gradually dropped the other sports and immersed herself in volleyball. She played for the top teams at Houston Juniors until last summer, when the opportunity to play for Velez brought Moriarty to Team Texas.

That move created a lot of speculation and unleashed a wave of rancor and rumors on the local and state club circuit. Moriarty says there were no sinister reasons behind the switch. She simply wanted a more flexible schedule than most club teams offered. The multi-hour practices and weekly playing schedules no longer appealed to her.

"I wanted to take a little break and not have to practice as much," Moriarty said. "I just wanted a change. I've always wanted to play for Frankie. I knew he would be able to work with me specifically, because I'm around him a lot. I wanted to improve my setting and learn more about setting.

"It wasn't anything (personal). I wanted to relax. Our practices are still really tough and we work really hard. But we cut down on tournaments. It was a good change. I have been able to learn more."

One other factor also played a part. At the time, Moriarty was the center of a furious recruiting battle among some of the nation's top Division I college programs. She considered each offer carefully and made her requisite visits before finally choosing Texas.

"It got to be pretty stressful," Moriarty said. "I tried not to let it get to me too much. There were a lot of things to think about, like who needs a setter, who has a setter before me, who has a full scholarship for me, how close are they to home, do I get along with the girls on the team and do I get along with the coaches on the team.

"You have to think about all those things and then narrow it down. You have to consider everything about the school, like does it have a good academic program." Initially, Moriarty figured she would end up in California. The state traditionally produces the nation's top Division I volleyball powers.

Last year's two NCAA finalists, Southern California and Stanford, were on Moriarty's short list, as was Cal-Berkeley. As she thought things over, however, Moriarty began to lean more toward Texas. A lot of it had to do with how comfortable she felt with the players and Longhorn head coach Jeritt Elliott.

"As I got closer to making a decision, I begin thinking 'maybe I don't really want to go that far,'" Moriarty said. "Plus, things worked out really great with me going to Texas, the volleyball and education aspect of it."

Moriarty's college choice was a surprise for several reasons. Not only was Moriarty turning down the chance to play in California, but she was casting her lot with a program that had just signed a highly touted freshman setter, 6’2” Kingwood product Jenny Andrew. That ended up not playing a part in the college decision for Moriarty, who has a very friendly relationship with Andrew.

"When I talked to the Texas coaches, they told me that both of us were going to have to work for our spots," Moriarty said. "Whoever is better is going to play. I know that if I work hard and play better I'll get to play. If not, then we'll still be good because we're pushing each other to become better setters.

"I'm really good friends with Jenny. We have a lot of fun together. When I went up on my official visit, I stayed with her and her roommate. We both know that we want our team to win. We want to work hard together to make the team better."