Athlete is big winner on 'The Price is Right'

Cal State Long Beach volleyball player Stephanie Streeks wins big, both on and off the court.

Streeks won more than $37,000 in prizes at a game show and won the her first collegiate volleyball game against New Mexico State.

It began with Streeks' parents came out from Gering, Neb., Sept. 23, for a surprise visit to see their daughter. Later that night Streeks, a freshman outside hitter for the defending national champions, played in her first collegiate volleyball game, against New Mexico State. Streeks manuevered two kills in the third game to help the 49ers win the match.

On Sept. 24, Streeks and her parents went for a walk around Venice Beach, when an employee from CBS studios happened to be giving away tickets for new "Th e Price is Right" game show, which airs on NBC in the evenings.

"We got tickets for (that) Sunday," Streeks said.

Streeks explained that she and her parents went to the studio for an interview and were informed that they would watch three tapings of show with new host Doug Davidson.

"I was the very last person to be picked for the last taping,"Streeks said. "I had no idea that I would be called up," she said.

Streeks' mother, LeAnn shared her surprise.

"It was exciting to see how it all happen,"she said. "It was a neat experience."

In the first game of Tic-Tac-Toe, Streeks won a home gym, exercise equipment and a stationery bike.

Finally in Showcase Showdown, Streeks had to guess the price on a boat, skis and equipment and a 1995 Buick station wagon.

"My parents told me (to bid) $35,000," Streeks said.

That day, Streeks' winnings totaled $37,752.

The winnings will not affect Streeks' scholarship, Streeks said. Her scho larship would only have been jeopardized had the contest been one in which volleyball skills are being used.

Streeks' big win has earned her celebrity status back home with all the coverage she has had in the Press-Telegram and her hometown newspa per.

She will receive her prizes within 90 days of the taping of the show and estimates that she will pay about $7,500 in state and federal taxes.

Streeks plans on selling the boat to pay for taxes. She will trade the $19,000 station wagon f or something else, but she hasn't decided what it will be.