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	Vol.7, No 15, September 23, 1999
	Haneef blocks opponents' way By Elyse Medlin Daily Forty-Niner Tayyiba Haneef may look like a basketball player, but make no mistake about her trade. She is the tallest womenís volleyball player in 49er history. WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL Get used to seeing her name, because sheís creating quite a stir in womenís volleyball. "She's one of the better middle blockers in the country today," LBSU Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro said. At 6-foot-6, Haneef leads the team in solo blocks this season. She is a close second to teammate Cheryl Weaver in kills and hitting percentage.  "For her experience, she's very poised," said Assistant Coach Debbie Green-Vargas. "She has unlimited potential." Haneef was a state champion high jumper at Laguna Hills High School and a four-year MVP for her basketball team. She played on her high school volleyball team for only two years. "I didn't know anything [about volleyball] when I came in. I couldn't pass the ball," Haneef said. "They changed everything Ö my arm swing, my set, I can almost pass the ball now." She was heavily recruited by USC, Arizona and by the California Golden Bears. However, Haneef chose to become a 49er because she wanted to work with Gimmillaro. "Brian's one of the best developmental coaches that there is in the nation, in the world," Haneef said. "I've developed a lot, but I still have so much more to learn." Gimmillaro also landed a great student in Haneef. The speech communications major was named to the Big West Conference All-Academic Team in fall of1998 and this spring. "Sheís one of those complete-package people," Gimmillaro said. Haneef is also strong on volleyball court.  "There are a lot of tall players in the country," Assistant Coach Debbie Green-Vargas said. "She's not just tall, she's very athletic. She hits at a high point." Other teams have to rearrange their defense because of the angles that she presents. "I can see whatís open most of the time," Haneef said. ìAnd even if I see a block set up, Iím able to change my direction." Haneef attributes some of her skills in volleyball to her basketball experience in high school. "A lot of the techniques, like going up for lay-ups, is the same as hitting a kill," Haneef said.  Defensive strategies in basketball and volleyball are similar, she said.   "You have to be able to hold yourself up and its kind of the same in volleyball," Haneef said. She is working hard to improve, but realizes her own shortcomings.  In last week's loss against Hawaii, Haneef admits that some of her inexperience affected the outcome of the match. "There was a lot of opportunities where the ball was set tight and I should have been there," she said. "I wasnít getting my hand on the ball." However, there were other factors that contributed to the end of the third longest winning steak (42 games without a loss) in volleyball history.  "There were some moments where everything was going our way and other moments nothing was going our way," Haneef said. For example, late in the match against Hawaii.  "We had so many opportunities to come back and take over but we never took advantage of that," she said.		CFA angry over raise process Students welcomed to mixer New system makes e-mail easier Mentor program gives support, helps with pressures of life Toys don't kill Threats no joke WWF sues bunny Ol' Dirty Bastard does it again with new album 'Tootsie' and 'The Big Chill' make good rentals Injuries hamper 49ers Haneef blocks opponents' way LBSU soccer team tries for two this weekend Men's polo looks to rebound after tough week Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.