They're polar opposites, these two pals.

Fire and ice, Butch and Sundance, McCain and Obama.

Now say hello to Pon and McGuire.

Molly Pon and Chloe McGuire are senior co-captains for the Davis High School volleyball team. They feed off each other as if they were currents of energy. But heavens, are they ever different.

"Oh yeah, big time," McGuire said.

Pon is feisty, driven. Her fingers dig into wooden bleachers during timeouts. Her game face would make anyone's family dog seek cover.

And Pon, soft-spoken and shy otherwise, denies none of it. She's wired this way, and it's her skills that led a committee of national college coaches to rate her No. 44 on the 2008 Senior Aces Top 100 players on prepvolleyball.com. It is her sheer will that has allowed Pon to gut out a painful rotator cuff injury this season – she ices regularly and has two hours of physical therapy a week – as she had to abandon her dominating role as an outside hitter. She moved to setter as she refused to sit out the season, though doctors suggested she ponder it in an effort to fully heal.

No chance. Pon soldiers on, though not being allowed to swing at the net is the same as telling a Pro Bowl linebacker he can roam the field but not hit anyone.

"She's had such a rough road, and I know it's hard on her, but she's an incredible competitor,'' Davis coach Leigh Whitmire said. "She's so talented, you'd never know she wasn't a setter. She thrives on any challenge."

Pon is bound for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on scholarship, to study political science. She wants to become a civil attorney.

McGuire, meanwhile, is the smiles and guffaws to Pon's glare and stare. Or, as Whitmire points out, "Molly is intense, and Chloe is peace, love, happiness – let's all be friends."

McGuire will be honored tonight at halftime of the Davis-Elk Grove football game televised on Comcast SportsNet California for a sportsmanship/athletic/community award. She plans to attend a Division III college on the East Coast to continue her academic and volleyball pursuits, either Vassar in New York or New York University. McGuire will study anthropology, specifically human bones and remains.

"I know, I'm weird, huh?" McGuire cracked.

Together, Pon and McGuire make for as good a duo as you'll find in the Sac-Joaquin Section volleyball playoffs, which begin Nov. 11.

"They're both among the top players I've ever coached," said Whitmire, in her 10th season.

The girls met as sixth graders and then became teammates for the first time for an under-12 volleyball team coached by Whitmire.

"Oh, we were God awful," McGuire said. "We were two incredibly awkward tall girls, no meat on our bones."

Pon laughed at the memory, adding, "totally awkward. We never would have guessed we'd turn out to be pretty good."

McGuire guards against volleyball burnout, recalling how friends flamed out because of the year-round grind. She looks forward to competing in college but admits she doesn't necessarily live for the sport.

Pon does. The idea of resting her shoulder after the prep season? Egads, no. She is eager to start the club season, and college.

"I love to compete,'' Pon said. "I like a challenge and the accomplishments. And I don't worry about burnout. And I won't take time off after this season because I have to keep getting better."

Pon said she learned a lot about herself this fall when she switched positions and accepted the new role.

"It's been frustrating, but it's been good," she said. "I have so much appreciation for setters and what they do. I don't get to end a play like I used to, but I learned a lot of mental lessons, and it's been a humbling experience."

McGuire said she admires her friend's resolve.

"I totally feel for her because she's a great outside hitter, and it's such a different position at setter," McGuire said. "It's your senior year. It's supposed to be the best time. She's stuck it out, and she's played great. I totally respect her. Love that girl."

Call The Bee's Joe Davidson, (916) 321-1280.