Laura Clark

Laura Clark’s athletic story is defined by dominance, versatility, and determination. Beginning at Antioch Junior High, she played volleyball as an eighth and ninth grader. In 1975, she entered Antioch High School and immediately made an impact by competing in three varsity sports, which she continued through all three years at AHS.

Her senior season in 1978 brought even more recognition. Laura was named Antioch’s Female Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year and became the first female athlete from Antioch to ever earn a full-ride athletic scholarship. St. Mary’s College signed Laura to a Letter of Intent, a landmark moment because it was the first year St. Mary’s awarded women’s athletic scholarships. She was one of four women receiving full scholarships through two-sport awards, later shifting fully to volleyball and earning Most Valuable Player honors twice at St. Mary’s (1978–79 and 1980–81).

In volleyball at Antioch, Laura served as Most Valuable Player and team captain as a junior and a senior. Her impact included standout performances such as a 9-for-9 spiking effort against Pittsburg and a near-perfect scoring showing versus Concord (13 points out of 13). She consistently led in points and side-outs by spikes, was a strong and reliable server, earned all-star recognition at the Antioch/Clayton Valley Invitational, and helped guide Antioch to a Diablo Valley Athletic League co-championship with a 14–2 league record.

Laura’s athletic excellence extended to basketball and softball.  In basketball, during her senior campaign, she produced leadership-level stats—leading in points, assists, and free throws, and tying for the most steals. She also set a scoring highlight by dropping 36 points against College Park, placing her among the top scorers in the Diablo Valley League. Coaches and teammates consistently described her as an “impact player,” always driving the game forward with grit, skill, and ambition.