Katherine Workman Talent. Vision. Anticipation. Versatility. Athleticism.

Katherine Workman isn’t just a great high school volleyball player.

The La Reina junior is a rare athlete who possesses a nearly complete catalog of skills and intangibles.

Don Hyatt has coached volleyball for 32 years. He helped start the men’s volleyball program at Cal Lutheran University, and he’s won 15 of a possible 16 league titles with La Reina.

This season, the Regents are gunning for league crown No. 16 under Hyatt’s direction.

Hyatt has been around the game a long time. He gets giddy talking about Workman.

“She’s at a different level,” Hyatt said. “She has it all in one package. For one kid to have this many gifts—it’s scary.”

Workman, who turned 17 earlier this month, is already considered the greatest outside hitter in school history. She’s also one of La Reina’s preeminent passers of all time. If she played up the middle, she’d be one of the best middle blockers.

POUND IT DOWN—La Reina junior Katherine Workman, center, hammers home a kill during Tuesday night’s match against Villanova Prep. The Regents won and are now 9-0 in the Tri-Valley League. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers She eclipsed 1,000 career kills earlier this year and could break the school record in the statistic later this season. Jennifer Ryan owns the career mark of 1,282 kills, the coach said.

The junior leads the team in kills (322) and kill percentage (54.7), and she’s second in digs (272) and blocks (18).

Workman’s court vision is uncanny. She is the Michelangelo of volleyball, and the court is her canvas.

Of course, she’s still a high school student—Workman walked around barefoot after Monday’s practice because she left her sandals at home.

“She’s reading the court and seeing what’s happening before it happens,” Hyatt said. “I wish I could get other kids to see she sees.”

Workman is about as modest as superstars get.

Not once during her conversation with the Thousand Oaks Acorn did she talk about personal goals or breaking records.

Her focus is on the Regents.

It’s about winning another Tri- Valley League title and contending for a CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA championship.

“We really need to stay focused in practices and games and not mentally tune out,” the 6-foot outside hitter said.

“We hope to do really well (in the postseason). The chemistry is really great on this team.”

Despite the graduation of several standouts from the 2009 squad, Workman said La Reina has adjusted.

“There’s a completely new dynamic,” she said. “It’s working out well.”

Veterans Sarah Hardy at middle blocker/opposite, setter Kristin Wendel and outside hitter/ opposite Sara Anselmo are back in the fold, helping the Regents jump out to a 22-2 overall record, 9-0 in the TVL.

Annalisa Chesser, who is 6-foot-3, and 6-foot-4 Laura Leap are towering middle blockers. Libero Christina Zins has been a stalwart defender, while Jami Fido, Mary Clyne and Alexa Poulton round out a stacked 10-player varsity roster.

Workman has worked on her passing for serve-receive while adding new shots to her already dangerous arsenal.

With the postseason approaching, Workman said the Regents need to ramp up their game.

“We need to pick up momentum into the playoffs,” she said. “We need to play hard and play more aggressively. We need to be more dynamic.”

A natural at volleyball, Workman actually comes from a tennis family.

She starting whacking a tennis ball at age 3, and she also played softball and soccer as a youngster.

The Regents’ star first picked up volleyball in seventh grade.

Workman’s sister Elizabeth, a 2009 La Reina graduate, is a sophomore tennis standout at Boston College. Her brother Hank, 16, plays tennis at Chaminade in West Hills.

Her mother, Frances, played college tennis at UC Santa Barbara and Colorado. Her dad, Henry, played football at UC Berkeley and Long Beach City College.

Workman carries a 4.3 gradepoint average and takes honors courses in English, Spanish, biology and pre-calculus.

The Regent dominates her sport. But it’s not as much fun unless there’s a challenge involved.

“I love the pace of the game,” Workman said. “Each point swings the momentum. In soccer, there’s continuous action, but it wasn’t point-point-point. I really enjoy volleyball. I love close games, especially. I love the adrenaline.”

For all her gifts, Workman always works at getting better.

“I want to improve my overall skills,” she said. “I want to be a consistent, all-around player.”

Consider it done.