Tuesday, August 31, 1999

Stanford has all the tools
to win national crown

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

The epicenter of volleyball may be moving east, but the heart of the sport will always stay close to its roots. When you say "volleyball" you say California and Hawaii.

Only two schools outside of those states have ever won NCAA women's volleyball championships -- Texas in 1988 and Nebraska in 1995. If the Star-Bulletin's Top 25 poll is accurate, the 1999 champion will again come from California.

Stanford, which has won four titles in the 1990s and has the top-rated recruiting class in the country, is the choice to win it all at the NCAA National Tournament, Dec. 14-16, at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Cardinal return all six starters, including three-time all-American Kerri Walsh, as well as the probable Freshman of the Year, 6-1 outside hitter Logan Tom.

At No. 2 is Pacific, which is coming off two huge wins in the NACWAA Volleyball Classic. The Tigers stunned host Nebraska Friday in five sets, becoming the first team to defeat the Huskers at home since 1995, snapping a string of 65 straight victories. Senior all-American Elsa Stegemann had a NU Coliseum record 39 kills Saturday in UOP's five-match win over Florida.

Penn State, which was the preseason No. 1 team in the AVCA Coaches top 25, is No. 3. The Nittany Lions lost half their starting lineup from last year's national runner-up team but return possibly the best setter in the country in senior all-American Bonnie Bremner. Also back for Penn State is senior all-American middle Lauren Cacciamani, who had 29 kills Saturday night in the 3-1 victory over Nebraska.

Florida, which has made it to the final four five of the past six seasons, is No. 4. The Gators return two senior all-Americans in setter Jennifer Sanchez and opposite Jenny Manz. The pair played a huge role in Friday's upset of Penn State, helped by Michigan State transfer Jenny Whitehead, a 6-4 middle. The Gators have yet to win a set at the final four, going 0-15; that could change in December.

At No. 5 is Hawaii, which is hoping to become the first host team to win a national championship. The Wahine have Player of the Year candidate Heather Bown and a strong supporting class. But the question mark is at setter. Jennifer Carey is the best incoming freshman setter in the country but it might not be enough to get to the final four.

Defending champion Long Beach State is No. 6. The 49ers lost Player of the Year Misty May and all-American middle Benishe Dillard but The Beach returns plenty of firepower from the team that went 36-0. Added incentive? The 49ers' breakthrough year came in 1989, when they defeated the Wahine in the regional final then went on to win their first NCAA title at Blaisdell Arena.

UCLA, at No. 7, hasn't won a title since 1991 but the Bruins could be back in Honolulu in four months if the improvement they showed at the end of last season carries over. UCLA returns all six starters and 14 veterans, including Elisabeth Bachman, who spent the summer with the World University Games team. Also back is Pac-10 Freshman of the year, hitter Kristee Porter, a three-sport athlete at UCLA (volleyball, basketball and track).

Nebraska is already feeling the loss of three-time all-American setter Fiona Nepo. The Huskers lost twice last weekend at the NACWAA Classic, opening the season 0-2 for the first time in 19 years. Nebraska will be very good -- eventually -- but the Huskers find themselves in the same position as Hawaii, relying on a freshman setter to run a pretty experienced team.

Brigham Young will be the class of the new Mountain West Conference. The Cougars have all-American setter Anna-Lena Smith back, surrounded by a slew of returning talent and a Top 10 recruiting class.

Rounding out the Top 10 is Wisconsin, which has a new coach in Pete Waite after John Cook left to become the assistant at Nebraska. However, Cook left plenty behind, though, including two preseason all-Big Ten picks in senior all-American blocker Kelly Kennedy and sophomore blocker Sherisa Livingston. Kennedy, senior setter Lizzy Fitzgerald and junior hitter Jenny Maastrich all trained with the U.S. national team A-2 squad, gaining valuable international experience in the Colorado Cup.

Star-Bulletin Top 25 1. Stanford 2. Pacific 3. Penn State 4. Florida 5. Hawaii 6. Long Beach State 7. UCLA 8. Nebraska 9. Brigham Young 10. Wisconsin 11. Pepperdine 12. UC Santa Barbara 13. Arizona 14. San Diego 15. Arkansas 16. Texas A&M 17. Ohio State 18. Texas 19. UNLV 20. Loyola Marymount 21. Colorado 22. Illinois 23. Michigan State 24. Santa Clara 25. Minnesota

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