Online Forty Niner: v8n1: Set and readyfor competition

"Think about it," Gimmillaro said recently in his office at The Pyramid. "Somebody's hitting the ball at you as hard as they can and you're not swinging at it? That's crazy! You have to try and control it without a racket or anything? I've never seen a sport like this, it's insane."

He might call volleyball insane in a friendly conversation, but for the past 15 years Gimmillaro has been at the helm of a serious program that has amassed an outstanding overall record of 425-97, a win percentage of .814, and three NCAA titles.

Long Beach State is a perennial contender each year among the more than 300 universities nationwide with Division I women's volleyball programs. The 2000 season is no different--evident in the results of three polls conducted during the off-season.

A pre-season poll by Volleyball Magazine ranked Gimmillaro's squad No. 2 in the nation behind UCLA. Another, the USA Today/AVCA coaches poll, ranked them No. 4.

Finally, Long Beach was picked as the best team in the Big West Conference by a pre-season coaches poll.

Women's Volleyball

But as the feint sound of players laughing and balls bouncing seeped through the windows of his office overlooking the polished courts below, Gimmillaro seemed relaxed despite the high expectations.

"The goal is to be the national champs," he said. "It's a very difficult task, but that's the goal. If we fall short, we fall short."

This year's squad is very different from the one that went 31-4 and reached their third straight NCAA Final Four last season. Gone with the graduating class of 2000 are scoring-threats Anja Grabovac, Veronica Walls and Brandy Barratt.

Only three of six starters return to a squad made up of two seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen.

Notable returnees include all-American junior Cheryl Weaver (4.54 kills, 2.57 digs), all-Big West junior Tayyiba Haneef (3.39 kills, 1.22 blocks) and second team all-BWC junior Keri Nishimoto (14.58 assists, 2.49 digs).

However, Gimmillaro was quick to point out that it is not just high-profile players that are crucial to the program's success.

"There are always role players that are critically important but don't show up in the box score," he said, referring to defensive specialists senior Melissa Ohta and sophomore Tracy Bulquerin. "I like their work attitude … they're a tremendous benefit to the team and don't get a lot of publicity."

With less than a week remaining before the beginning of the season, Gimmillaro said the team is a little banged up and not exactly where he wants it to be.

"If we're healthy, it can be a very, very good team," Gimmillaro said. "We're not good enough at this point to be the best team, but we could be if we were healthy enough to put in the necessary training time."

The Long Beach State women's volleyball team opens the 2000 season at home Friday against Saint Mary's in The Pyramid at 7:30 p.m.

2000 Women's Volleyball Roster

No. Player Pos. Ht. Yr.

8
13
16
6
3
10
20
9
21
26
11
24
27
1

Tracy Bulquerin
Sarah Connor
Tayyiba Haneef
Brittany Hochevar
Mariah Marquis
Keri Nishimoto
Melissa Ohta
Lindsay Phillips
Ashanti Taylor
Elisha Thomas
April Varner
Chantae Weathers
Cheryl Weaver
Kelsey Young
DS
OH
MB
S
OH
S
DS
OH
OH
MB
OH
OH
MB
OH 5-3
6-0
6-6
6-1
5-10
5-7
5-6
6-0
6-0
6-2
5-11
6-2
6-2
6-1
SO
SO
JR
SO
SR
JR
SR
SO
JR
SO
FR
JR
JR
FR

Head Coach: Brian Gimmillaro (Long Beach State, 1970)/16th year at LBSU
Assistant Coach: Debbie Green-Vargas (Long Beach State, 1992)/15th year at LBSU
Assistant Coach: Joy McKienzie (Long Beach State, 1996)/2nd year at LBSU
Volunteer Assistant Coach: J.P. Calderon (Long Beach State, 1999)/2nd year at LBSU

2000 Women's Volleyball Schedule

Date Opponent Time

SEPTEMBER

1
2
4
4
7
8
9
15
16
22
23
27
30 Saint Mary's (CA)
U.S.Naval Academy
American
Georgetown
Temple
Oral Roberts
Brigham Young
@New Mexico State
@Nevada
*UC Santa Barbara
*Cal Poly
*UC Irvine
*Pacific 7:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.

OCTOBER

5
7
9
12
14
19
21
25
28 *Utah State
* Boise State
American
*Idaho
Stanford
*Cal Poly
*UC Santa Barbara
*CS Fullerton
*Pacific 7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.

NOVEMBER

2
4
9
17
18
24
25
*Boise State
*Utah State
*Idaho
*CS Fullerton
*UC Irvine
#Oregon State
#Hawai'i
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.

All home games are listed in bold and will be played in The Pyramid
@ Long Beach State Tournament
# LBSU Thanksgiving Tournament
* Big West Conference Match
All Times Listed Are Pacific

Photo courtesy of Sports Information

Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro

Photo courtesy of Sports Information

All-Big West junior Tayyiba Haneef

Photo courtesy of Sports Information

Sophomore Brittany Hochevar