It was an unforgettable girls volleyball season at La Costa Canyon High.

The Mavericks could win more state championships in the future, but the first title is always the most special.

La Costa Canyon won the CIF San Diego Section and state Division I titles, and was crowned national champions by PrepVolleyball.com. Additionally, coach Pat McDougall was chosen as the national coach of the year by PrepVolleyball.com and MaxPreps.com.

"To win those things in California, the best volleyball state in the country, is an honor by itself," said McDougall, 59. "It's a great honor to be chosen for this. I think it may just be because I had the best team.

"I run into people I don't even know in the supermarket who comment on how well we did, or I get calls from old friends who maybe saw some highlights on TV."

La Costa Canyon finished 37-1 and won the prestigious Durango Tournament and the California Challenge during the regular season. They lost to Santa Margarita during the Redondo Power Classic, but avenged that loss by sweeping the Eagles at Santa Margarita in the CIF Southern California Regional final.

Having a season to remember comes with a price, though.

"Winning it all is a double-edged sword," McDougall said. "You want the next generation to know the heritage, but what's past is past. There are little girls now on club teams who aspire to play at LCC."

Sometimes, coaching teams as talented as this year's Mavs is the toughest and most frustrating assignment. Trying to fit all pieces into a cohesive unit for an entire season is not as easy as it sounds.

That wasn't the case for McDougall.

"What worked for us was the different skills all fit together into a good team," he said. "We didn't just have all outside hitters. We had a great setter, terrific outside hitters and everybody fit in with each other, even the girls on the bench waiting for their turn in the future.

"All I did this year was get the kids to relax so they could play their best ball. I let Kendall Polan run the offense and Nikki Chu run the defense. I let it be their team."

Of the six seniors this year, the toughest to replace will be Katie Fuller, a PrepVolleyball.com All-American who has signed with USC, and Lydia Rudnick, who is going to Princeton.

"Katie has been stellar the whole time," McDougall added. "When Lydia walked into the gym as a freshman I knew she could play. She improved every year and she earned her spot.

"Halfway through this season she got a smile on her face because she knew she could do anything. She took over once Natalie (Hagglund) hurt her back at midseason.

"Sometimes, Lydia would be above the block. The kids called her the Flying Nun because she got up so high. There were probably five matches we won down the stretch that we wouldn't have won without Lydia."

Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at (760) 739-6648 or tmonahan@nctimes.com.