Gold Rush: Switching Gears
9/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 23, 2003
By Jay Reddick
Many college athletes express regret at the end of their senior season: they're sorry to see it end, they're not ready to move on to a life without organized sports.
Well, Trina Maso de Moya did something about it, and as a result, the volleyball star just finished her rookie year with the Philadelphia Charge of the Women's United Soccer Association.
A little less than two years ago, Maso de Moya drove her last spike for the Wake Forest volleyball team. As a three-time All-ACC selection, her athletic gifts were unquestioned, but her playing days were over ... except that Maso de Moya had a plan.
The Florida resident had intended to go to graduate school, and she knew about an NCAA rule allowing a player to use his or her fifth year of athletic eligibility to play a different sport.
"My dad put the idea in my head at the beginning of my college years," Maso de Moya said. "I always wanted to play. I knew I wanted to play close to home so my dad could watch me. My old club coach (Brian Dooley) was at Florida Atlantic, so I called him and got the ball rolling."
This wasn't a lark for Maso de Moya. She led the nation in scoring as a prepster in two consecutive seasons, playing for the No. 1 high school soccer team in the nation. She had kept up her skills in pickup games on her trips home.
But going from pickup games, to collegiate competition and eventually to the pros is inconceivable, right? Not for Maso de Moya.
"I knew I could still play," Maso de Moya said. "The biggest adjustment was playing so much outside in the Florida heat. Two-a-day practices and games in that weather, I thought, were going to be insane. But it wasn't as bad as I thought."
Maso de Moya led the Atlantic Sun Conference in scoring during her one year there, then contacted every coach in the WUSA looking for a tryout. Thanks in part to an endorsement from his friend Dooley, Charge coach Mark Krikorian took a chance.
"I came in for a tryout at the end of February and got to stay," Maso de Moya said. "It's always helpful to know somebody."
Maso de Moya played in nine games for the Charge this past season, including one start. She collected one assist but started many more offensive attacks. Her height (6 feet) allowed her to win most balls in the air.
"I play forward, because they need my air presence in front," Maso de Moya said. "It's up to me to head the ball to the attackers' feet or to hold the ball and let the attack develop."
Her numbers were not gaudy, but she was happy with her season.
"Everybody else here played college ball, played on national teams and had ridiculous stats," Maso de Moya said. "I came in with high expectations for myself, but not for getting a starting job or scoring goals, just for learning. I've done that - I've learned a lot, but I know I have a lot to learn."
Maso de Moya had been invited back to the Charge for next season, but on Sept. 15, WUSA organizers decided to disband the league. It's not known what opportunities will present themselves to Maso de Moya, but she'd like to keep her job title of professional athlete.
"I've been getting used to looking at this as my job," Maso de Moya said. "Before, when I was in college, it was like a job, but now it's how I make my living, how I pay for food and gas. That makes it a little different, but it feels good."