Women’s volleyball: Lions looking to regroup

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - The best thing about the 2000 volleyball season for

Vanguard University’s women’s program is that it’s over.

The Lions have entered the 2001 campaign with a new sense of life,

after picking themselves off the mat following last year’s 3-20 season

and ninth-place finish in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

So far, the early-season results have shown a much stronger pulse

pumping for the Lions. Out of six contests, VU has already forced three

five-game matches, one more than all of last year (23 matches).

Leading the Lions’ revival is first-year coach Erikka Gulbranson.

Although Gulbranson has no NCAA head coaching experience, she has been

around some top-quality programs as an assistant for Cal State

Bakersfield, University of Idaho, University of Utah and, most recently,

USC.

The Lions have 10 returning players from last year, so experience

should be on their side. Included in those returners are VU’s top two

offensive weapons, seniors Megan Godfrey and Carly Birkhauser.

Godfrey led the Lions with 336 kills and 216 digs, while Birkhauser

(131 kills, 123 digs) battled shoulder injuries last year, but is healthy

and ready to make 2000 a distant memory.

The passing duties will be shared this year with sophomore Jennifer

Johnson and freshman Lacey Roberts. Johnson ranked in the top 10 among

GSAC setters with 6.3 assists per game.

Another “familiar face” will be senior Becki Huddle, who starred for

the Lions’ basketball team for four seasons.

The Lions will have plenty of opportunity to compete against some of

the toughest teams in the NAIA. Four of the country’s top 20 teams

compete in the GSAC, including second-ranked Point Loma Nazarene and

seventh-ranked Azusa Pacific.

In addition to the top teams, the Lions will also have to adjust to

“rally scoring”, which will be introduced to the NAIA this season.

Teams will play each game to 30 points (win by two) with points

awarded on each play. In the past, points were awarded only on a team’s

serve. Like traditional scoring, first team to win three games, wins the

match.

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

1 Megan Godfrey OH 5-10 Sr.

2 Valerie Kubisak RS 5-11 So.

3 Jeslin Olson MB 6-2 Sr.

4 Carly Birkhauser OH 5-10 Sr.

5 Jennifer Johnson S 5-10 So.

6 Sonrisa Peace OH 5-7 Fr.

7 Lindsay Kaiser OH 5-10 So.

8 Melody Strauss DS 5-7 So.

9 Debby Baeder DS 5-8 So.

10 Becki Huddle OH 5-5 Sr.

11 Michelle Tucker MB 6-2 So.

12 Lacey Roberts S 5-6 Fr.

13 Crissy Davis OH 5-8 So.

16 Livia Peace OH 5-8 Fr.

Coach - Erikka Gulbranson