May gone; women's volleyball ranked fifth
By Yoko Ito-Peterson
Special to the Summer Forty-Niner
As the women's volleyball season opener
nears, fans may remember the moment when the Long Beach State womenís
volleyball team beat Penn State, 3-2, and captured the NCAA Championship
in January.
It was the first game in NCAA womenís
volleyball history held between two undefeated teams, both 35-0. The Beach
has captured three national titles in 1989, 1993 and 1998.
Three key players from the championship
team have since graduated, including award-winning setter Misty May. Can
this relatively new team re-establish and re-define the new roles in less
than a year?
Long Beach State head coach Brian Gimmillaro
is rather optimistic about the new team.
"It is our [the staff's] job to educate
the player to change the role. This is the opportunity for players and
staff to conquer the challenge," said Gimmillaro, who was given the AVCA
National Coach of the Year title last year for the first time in his career.
"We have learned that anything in volleyball,
anything about the world, nothing is impossible," Gimmillaro added.
May, who is considered a catalyst for last
year's triumph, captured the Honda-Broderick Cup as well as Collegiate
Women Athlete of the Year title.
May, who gained the more awards and titles
than any other collegiate volleyball player, is now playing with U.S. national
team in Colorado Springs, Colo. Whether she will qualify for the 2000 Olympic
Games is not yet known, said Steve Janisch, Long Beach State director of
media relations.
Either sophomore Keri Nishimoto or freshman
Brittany Hochevar will replace May, Gimmillaro said.
Gimmillaro, who will serve his 15th year
as a coach, pointed out that the new team has a great character. "[They
are] very good atheletes, responsible and determined to continue to develop,"
he said.
According to the recent 1999 AVCA/USA Today
Coaches Top 25 Pre-Season Poll, 49ers are ranked fifth.
The season begins Sept. 1 with the first
game against Kansas State at The Pyramid at 4 p.m. The NCAA Final Four
Tournament is in Honolulu Dec. 16 and concludes Dec. 18.
For ticket information, fans may call 562-985-4949.
The 49er Athletic's website address is: http://www.longbeachstate.com. |
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