Building blocks

Steve Virgen

CRAWFORD HALL -- The UC Irvine women’s volleyball team went

through growing pains last year. And, this year, the Anteaters are

looking to show their maturity.

If they have not matured they will definitely grow up fast with an

abrupt welcome, as they take on the NCAA Division I women’s

volleyball elite.

Four USA Today/AVCA Top 25 teams are on UCI’s schedule this

season, including fifth-ranked Long Beach State, the Big West

Conference powerhouse which went undefeated until its NCAA

championship loss to Stanford. The University of Pacific (ranked

12th), and UC Santa Barbara (20th) will also be included in Big West

action and No. 24 Santa Clara in nonconference play. Other scheduled

opponents that have made the poll are San Diego (30th), San Jose

State (32nd), Utah State (36th) and Cal Poly (44th).

“The conference is very tough,” said UC Irvine Coach Charlie

Brande, who enters his third season with the women’s volleyball team.

“We will be very competitive. They taken themselves to the point that

they can compete with any team. Now whether we can beat a team will

be determined by how we deal with certain situations in the games.”

Brande also said the Anteaters should be much improved because of

their tireless work during the off-season.

Irvine features just two seniors, including team captain Chanda

McLeod, who is supported by the cast of sophomore setter Ashlie Hain,

sophomore outside hitter Kelly Wing, sophomore Brenda Waterman and

6-foot-3 sophomore middle blocker Sami Cash. Senior Rebecca Larsen

will also be a key factor. The 6-1 middle blocker recorded 117 kills

and 94 digs.

Last year, the Anteaters finished 4-23, 2-16 in the Big West.

McLeod, who earned Big West All-Conference first team laurels,

amassed 364 kills, 276 digs and 31 service aces. All were team highs.

Hain, who shared time with Jamie Pilbeam at setter, finished with a

team-high 952 assists as a freshman. Wing earned Big West

All-Freshman Team honors, as she was second on the squad with 301

kills and 216 digs. Cash contributed 152 kills on the season and

Waterman displayed her versatility with 209 digs, 83 kills and 23

aces.

With the addition of the libero position to women’s volleyball,

Irvine plans to improve its ball-control game, Brande said. Waterman,

also a team captain, will play libero, the defender who is also

depended on for passing.

McLeod will move from the right outside hitting spot to the left.

“It’s extremely unique for a left-hander to be playing on the left

hand side,” Brande said of McLeod. “Her athleticism is outstanding

and it allows her to be very good at whatever she does.”

Brande will also move Dana Kurzbard, the intimidating 6-5

sophomore, from middle blocker to the right outside hitting slot.

Brande said Kurzbard has had an impressive off-season, which should

result in success this year.

The incoming class features balance from seven freshmen.

Among UCI’s freshmen include Christine Woller, a 6-1 outside

hitter from Newport Harbor High. Keegan Featherstone, Terbie Taylor,

Jennifer Moser, Sarah Teslevich, Amanda Vasquez and Lindsey Hess are

also rookies for Irvine.

Featherstone has been the head of the class thus far. The 5-8

freshman setter from Mira Costa High should create a solid

combination with Hain.

Brande, who had served as head coach for the UC Irvine men’s and

women’s volleyball programs, decided to devote full time to the

Anteater women’s volleyball team during the off-season. He rebuilt

Irvine’s men’s volleyball team to one of the nation’s best and he’s

planning to do the same for the UCI women.

Brande had coached the men’s program for the past six seasons and

had been head coach for both teams during the last two years. His

six-year record with the men’s program was 64-91 and he led the Anteaters to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation post-season

tournament in 1999 and 2001, the school’s first appearances in

history. Brande was named MPSF Coach of the Year in 1999, when he

guided UCI to a school-record 14 victories. His Anteater teams have

been nationally ranked three of the past four seasons, including a

high of seventh in 2001. UC Irvine hired UCLA assistant John Speraw

to be the Anteaters’ men’s head coach.

The Anteaters open their season with the UC Irvine Invitational

(Aug. 30-31). UCI will face the University of New Orleans Aug. 30 at

7:30 p.m, and James Madison University the next day at 1:30 p.m.,

followed by a duel with Santa Clara at 7:30 p.m.

Irvine begins its Big West Conference schedule with a match at

Idaho Sept. 18.