Anteaters primed for NCAA bid

Barry Faulkner

At the instant of the televised NCAA Tournament pairings announcement

last season, UC Irvine women’s volleyball players watched their 19-11

season flash before their eyes. And, through the prism of

disappointment that came with being denied the program’s first

postseason bid in more than a decade, the lingering point of focus

from that day remains missed opportunities.

For, despite a huge turnaround from a 4-21 season in 2001 -- that

included a landmark victory over perennial Big West Conference

powerhouse University of the Pacific and the program’s first winning

conference campaign (10-8) in 19 Big West seasons -- a couple of

suspect early season losses helped dilute the Anteaters’ case for

postseason inclusion.

“We had a shot to get into the tournament last year,” Coach

Charlie Brande said. “But we lost a couple matches along the way we

should have won that would have gotten us in for sure. It was a big

disappointment.”

With renewed determination, valuable experience, and the

confidence that came from missing a school single-season victory

record by two last fall, the Anteaters would be disappointed with

anything but a trip to the postseason in 2003.

“Barring injury, we have a chance to have the best season in

school history,” said Brande, who enters his fourth year alongside

associate head coach Laura Alford.

Senior libero Brenda Waterman, a fourth-year starter and team

captain out of Newport Harbor High, is among several marquee

returners who have already turned up the intensity in preparation for

the season-opening UCI Tournament, Saturday and Sunday.

“I’ve had a few local high school coaches in to watch us practice

and they have all commented on how business-like our girls are,”

Brande said. “And that’s not because of anything I’ve done.”

Former catalyst Chanda McLeod, as well as Rebecca Larsen, who led

the nation with a .430 hitting percentage last fall, have graduated.

But everyone else returns.

Ashlie Hain, a 5-foot-10 junior, enters her third season as a

starter, after finishing in the top 30 nationally in setting last

season.

“She led the conference in assists and was second in assists per

game,” Brande said. “The offense we run is all based on her decision

making and reading the defense. As a team, we had the 10th-best

hitting percentage in the nation last year. And she has really

progressed as a player, with her serving and digging.”

Kelly Wing, a 5-11 junior outside hitter, was a first-team All-Big

West performer a year ago, when she led the conference in kills.

“[Wing] has improved, not only in her hitting, but her digging,

passing and serving,” Brande said.

Sami Cash, a 6-3 junior middle blocker, started every game last

season and Brande expects much more production from her this fall.

“A light bulb clicked on for her during the offseason and she has

become a much better offensive player.”

Dana Kurzbard, a 6-5 junior, was among the top 30 nationally in

hitting percentage last season and has recovered nicely from

offseason shoulder surgery.

“[Kurzbard] is 100% now, but we’re bringing her along slowly,”

Brande said. “I feel like a pitching coach counting pitches, because

we let her hit 50 one day, then none the next. She’ll probably play

every other match in early season tournaments.”

Brande said Claire Allen, a 6-0 freshman out of Corona del Mar

High, will fill in for Kurzbard early.

Terbrie Taylor, a 6-2 sophomore outside hitter, Amanda Vasquez, a

6-1 sophomore middle blocker, Keegan Featherstone, a 5-8 sophomore

setter, as well as Trisha White, a 5-11 freshman middle out of Clear

Lake, are also expected to contribute.

In addition to improved play on the floor, Brande said Anteater

fans should enjoy more comfortable accommodations at newly named

Crawford Court, formerly Crawford Hall.

“They’ve had the same hard wooden bleachers in there since I was

playing basketball here in 1965,” Brande said. But they’ve redone it

and added seatbacks that are a lot more comfortable.” Brande said the

renovation cut the seating capacity from 1,250 to 850 and the

facility will now be used exclusively for volleyball.

The Anteaters were picked fourth in the preseason Big West

coaches’ poll, behind UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State and UOP,

respectively.

UCI plays Hofstra Saturday at 11 a.m. then meets Rice at 7 p.m.

Saturday. The Anteaters play West Virginia, featuring former Corona

del Mar High standout Dmitra Havriluk, Sunday at noon, then finish

the tournament Sunday at 7 p.m. against Cal.