Cothran’s return lifts Lions

Marissa Cothran is still finalizing preparation for a career as a

special education teacher. But the Newport Harbor High product, who

turned 24 Thursday, has already come out of retirement.

The latter refers to her volleyball career, which began with eight

seasons with the Newport Beach-based Orange County Volleyball Club

and continued at Newport Harbor High.

As a high school senior, Cothran captained the Sailors to the 1998

CIF State Division I championship.

She moved on to Golden West College, where she helped the Rustlers

win the 1999 state title.

But, deferring to a case of burnout, as well as a desire to travel

and “participate in the real world,” she gave up the sport, planning

to simply get on with life.

After experiencing travel and one year at Orange Coast College,

she enrolled at Vanguard University to pursue a Christian education.

But playing volleyball one night at an open gym, Cothran’s skills

caught the eye of some Vanguard players, who quickly brought her to

the attention of Coach Erikka Gulbranson.

After several practices, Cothran discovered a new-found passion

for the sport and elected to join the team.

Now in her third season, she is the setter, captain and

unquestioned leader for the Lions (15-2, 3-2 in the Golden State

Athletic Conference), ranked No. 20 in the NAIA.

An All-GSAC performer last season, she enters Tuesday’s conference

clash with visiting Point Loma Nazarene with 666 assists this season,

3,079 as a Lion. She is also second on the team in hitting percentage

(.393), as well as third in digs (153) and aces (16). She has 81

kills, 11 blocks and the universal respect of her teammates and

coaches.

“She is not the person you would necessarily pick to demonstrate

technique, but she’s so smart, she just makes amazing things happen,”

Vanguard Coach Erikka Gulbranson said. “It wasn’t long before we

couldn’t play without her and all the girls on the team love her.

They call her ‘Mom.’ She takes care of everyone and anything and I

don’t even have to ask.”

Cothran’s genial manner belies the passion with which she plays,

Gulbranson said.

“She’s the absolute competitor,” Gulbranson said. “She played with

two torn meniscus last year and you would never have known it. She’s

an amazingly tough kid who really wants to win.”

Cothran said the challenge of leading others is one of the things

that drew her back onto the court.

“[The sport] has given me a huge opportunity to grow as a leader,”

she said. “I’m the oldest player on the team and I’ve had to learn to

be more vocal to help people along,” she said. “It has been very

challenging for me.”

Cothran said she frequently calls on her experience as a

lower-level coach at Newport Harbor, a role she enjoyed for three

seasons.

Cothran, who received her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts last

spring, is now a graduate student at VU. She said she plans to help

Gulbranson as a graduate assistant next season.

“I want her in the program next year, and the year after that, and

the year after that,” Gulbranson said.