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It was not long after the North Coast Section Boys’ Volleyball Division I championship game when I had a chance to talk with Foothill coach Dusty Collins.
Before I could make a comment, Collins looked at me and said, “There’s a reason he was the MVP.”
Collins was referencing Amador Valley all-world player Nate Clinton. If there was to be any doubt about the best player in the entire North Coast Section, Clinton put it all to rest when he led the Dons to their first NCS title with the 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 35-20 win over Collin’s Foothill side.
The Dons season ended with a loss in the first round of the CIF Northern California tournament last week — but be sure Clinton’s legacy is cast in stone.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Stanford-bound Clinton is built like an edge-rusher and attacks the volleyball like one chasing down the quarterback. He was the EBAL MVP and has left his stamp on the league.
How did he get started in the sport?
Clinton was a typical youth in Pleasanton, playing a variety of youth sports when he was growing up. At the age of 12 he and a group of friends turned towards volleyball.
They joined the “East Bay” volleyball club where Clinton played for a couple of years.
When he turned 14, he moved to the Bay to Bay club located in Silicon Valley. That’s also when his approach to the sport changed.
“It was then I decided to take it more seriously,” said Clinton. “I knew I wanted to play at a higher level.”
When Clinton was thinking of a higher level it meant bigger tournaments. Being in eighth grade at the time, college didn’t enter the equation.
“At that point I didn’t ever think I would play in college,” said Clinton said. “I didn’t have the confidence that I could get there.”
Two years of hard work took Clinton to his sophomore year of high school and playing in college became a realistic possibility.
He had a meeting with Bay to Bay Recruiting Direction Arielle Houlihan about his college possibilities.
“She told me she thought I could play D-I,” said Clinton. “She helped with contacting colleges and sending out letters. That summer between my sophomore and junior year started ramping up.”
Clinton didn’t know where he might end up, but he knew where he wanted to go.
“Stanford from day one was my top option and I had reached out to them,” said Clinton. “They didn’t reach back initially but one day in my junior year I got an e-mail from Stanford. It went pretty quick from there.”
Clinton will join former Amador teammate Luke McFall who just finished his freshman season for the Cardinal.
While he must be an elite volleyball player to get to Stanford, Clinton had to be an even better student.
“Academics was one of my main factors in picking a college,” said Clinton. “It is why I wanted Stanford all along.”
Balancing almost year-round volleyball training along with the academic side wasn’t easy, but being a disciplined athlete helped.
“It was difficult at times,” said Clinton. “Most of my club season takes place over the weekend, so I had time during the week to get my school work done. I was actually more motivated to do my school work when the season was taking place.”
Does being a D-I college athlete and a good enough student to get into Stanford leave any down time to unwind and be a normal high school student?
“I’ve always made sure I have some time with my friends,” said Clinton. “I am happy with the time I have been able to spend with what I’ve been able to do.”
This past season I had a pretty small sample size of seeing Clinton first hand, but in what I saw, he stands as one of the best I have seen at the high school level.
There are players that are amazing hitters, with others an elite blocker, or defensive player. Then there are those great setters that feed the hitters.
Clinton looks well versed in all parts of the game, but make no mistake about it, he feeds on hitting, punishing the ball like former Foothill star Evan Patak.
Patak went on to star at U.C. Santa Barbara, then play for the United States National team. Patak, along with Clinton and perhaps a pair of other former EBAL players, attack their hits with such ferocity that I fear for the other team if they were take one off the face.
“My attack is pretty hard wired,” said Clinton. “I try to stay calm, but I am always confident.”
It was on full display against Foothill in the NCS finals. When the Dons needed the big hit, it almost always came from Clinton whether he was in the back or front row.
I was curious as to when Clinton makes up his mind where he is going with the kill.
“There are only a few plays when I decide early,” said Clinton. “On almost every single swing I make up my mind in the middle of the swing based on the blocking.”
But there has to be sometimes, especially for a power player, that you are just going to go power on power and let the chips fall where they may.
“Oh, there are definitely times when I do that,” said Clinton with a laugh. “Sometimes you just have to rely on your ability and hope for the best.”
