PALO ALTO ?” In many ways Atlee Hubbard never left her posh Menlo Park suburb. So when the Hornets’ 6-foot junior outside hitter arrived for practice at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion on Wednesday night in preparation for Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament, the experience was nothing new.

“When I walked in it brought up a lot of memories,” said Hubbard, who grew up a short five-minute drive down Highway 101 from one of the most successful collegiate volleyball programs in NCAA history.

Those memories include watching the likes of Stanford All-Americans Logan Tom and Kristin Folkl and warming up with setter Lisa Sharpley, whom Hubbard said she “adored” as a star-struck 11-year-old at the Stanford volleyball camp.

“I’m glad I got to see that kind of volleyball growing up ?” it made me want to be a great player,” Hubbard said on the eve of the NCAA Tournament. “Every once in a while I’ll have an image in my head of Logan Tom (a United States Olympian) taking an approach and want to possess that same talent.”

On the same floor she saw her childhood heroes fly on Friday night, Hubbard soared against No. 15 Santa Clara. Hubbard notched the Hornets’ first kill of the night and recorded seven kills before committing an error. She hit .556 while digging out five potential Bronco points in the first game ?” which the Hornets won.

No matter the situation in the first game and for much of the second, Hubbard looked like she’d been there before ?” because in her mind she had.

“I was really excited; there was some adrenaline flowing,” Hubbard said in a press conference after the match. “But it was mainly momentum that we had in that first game.”

She went on to notch 13 kills and 14 digs while hitting .256 as the Hornets fizzled after a fast start, going on to lose 3-1.

“Stepping on the court with these teams, I know what they can do and what they’re capable of,” Hubbard said prior to tournament play. “It’s fun playing against great teams.

“Even knowing what we’re up against I’d rather play here than be shipped out.”

Hubbard prepped at Atherton’s Menlo-Atherton High where she led the Bears to multiple Central Coast Section playoff appearances and was the most valuable player of the Burlingame preseason tournament for three years in a row. For seven winters she played for City Beach Volleyball Club in Santa Clara ?” then an up-and-coming outfit and fertile recruiting ground for the Santa Clara program.

“It was a privilege playing (club and high school) in the Bay Area,” Hubbard said. “It’s one of the top areas in the country to learn the game.

“It really enabled me to strive to play at a high level.”

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John Parker can be reached at [email protected]