Bump, set, spike.
That’s how it typically goes in volleyball.
When Monique Tobbagi is on the floor, however, the scenario is a little different.
It’s more like: Bump, set, hide.
At times, opposing players probably wish they could sneak under the hardwood floor to avoid a fierce blow from the lethal right arm of the junior outside hitter. As one of the most aggressive attackers in the Pacific-10 Conference, Tobbagi has been known to intimidate a few opponents by bouncing balls off their foreheads.
“It’s great to see Monique ricochet those balls off peoples’ bodies,” Oregon head coach Carl Ferreira said. “I don’t mind a little arcade pin ball action. It stimulates Mo and the rest of us.
“She can definitely bring the heat.”
The 20-year-old from San Jose, Calif., has revealed signs of a pure killing machine at times this season. In a five-game match against California earlier this year, Tobbagi tallied a career-high 27 kills, 15 digs and four blocks. Mo, as her teammates call her, has recorded a double-double in seven matches this season, and nearly had another in the Ducks’ first Pac-10 win of the season at Oregon State last Friday.
“When I’m going up to the net, I’m just looking to terminate a rally or get us a point,” said Tobbagi, who is sixth in the Pac-10 with 3.89 kills per game. “But whatever happens, we don’t want the ball back.”
All this recent success comes after Tobbagi sat out much of the 1999 campaign with a leg injury.
“That was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever gone through,” she said. “I hated not being able to contribute.”
Tobbagi also sat out much of spring training earlier this year, and Ferreira said he considered having her redshirt this season because the injury was still hampering her.
But, almost magically, the injury disappeared. However, in a preseason tournament match in Texas, Tobbagi suffered another set-back. After diving for a loose ball, Tobbagi slid into a row of advertisements and suffered a concussion in the second match of the season. She missed three matches as a result of the concussion.
“While it was unfortunate that she had a concussion, I think it knocked some sense into her to forget about her leg,” Ferreira said. “So it was kind of good that she got her head banged up.”
Tobbagi said her aggressive style began in high school, where she led Archbishop Mitty High to the California state championship match, (which she calls “a touchy subject” because her team came out on the wrong end).
“It used to be a lot easier,” Tobbagi said of her attacks. “I don’t ever remember getting blocked in high school.”
When she came in as a fresh face to the Oregon volleyball program in 1998, Tobbagi quickly learned she had to make some changes to adjust to the Pac-10 level. She was third on the team in kills her first year, but hit just .133 from the floor.
It was evident in her freshman season, though, that Tobbagi was going to be a key component of the Ducks future.
“Monique is the future of our program,” former head coach Cathy Nelson said two years ago. “She is one of the best freshmen in the conference. I think she will be a leader for us next year, both on and off the court.”
Her inconsistencies were apparent during her first two years as a Duck, but Tobbagi has shown that she can make significant improvements.
“I used to just hit the ball as hard as I could, and I made a lot of mistakes that way,” she said. “I used to dwell a lot on my mistakes. One of the biggest things Carl has taught me is that I can’t dwell.”
Now Tobbagi is a more intelligent volleyball player who knows when to go all out.
“She’s really elevated her tactical side of the game,” Ferreira said. “Against Oregon State, the great thing was that when the opportunities weren’t there, she didn’t beat herself by making any unforced errors. But when the opportunity was there, she was very explosive.”
Ferreira said he has even seen the development throughout this year. On the season, Tobbagi’s attack percentage is a modest .207, but in the last five matches, she has averaged a .304 clip.
“It’s like the difference between a thrower and a pitcher,” Ferreira said. “[Hall of Fame major league baseball pitcher] Nolan Ryan was a thrower early on in his career. Then he became a better overall pitcher. The same thing applies to Monique. She understands what it means to be a tactical hitter now.”
Not only does Tobbagi bring the heat to her opponents, but she brings an enthusiasm to the Ducks as one of the team leaders.
“I’m more of a lead-by-example type of person,” she said. “I’m not a big cheerer, and I don’t yell a lot. I’m just trying to put the ball away and help motivate everyone else.”
Ferreira described Tobbagi as one of the “dominant leaders” on the team.
“She does not have a bad day,” he said. “She is the offensive stimulant that carries this team. She is a special talent… and has the potential to be one of the best outside hitters in the conference.”
Personal motivation is not a problem for Tobbagi, who is only looking to get even better and lead her young team to much greater heights.
“I like to see myself up there with the Logan Thoms [Stanford] and Kristee Porters [UCLA],” she said. “I know I can compete up to their level. I have the potential to do that. Next year, I want to be an All-American. I know I have it in me. I just have to continue to work hard.”