All-out effort wins in indoor volleyball

MICHAEL VILLANI

When I met with Newport Harbor’s Dan Glenn and UC Irvine’s Charlie

Brande to find out everything I could about volleyball in, oh, an

hour or so, they were very accommodating. They told me how new rules,

rally scoring and the use of a libero -- an extra player who

specializes in digging and passing and rotates in on defense -- sped

up the matches and made them more entertaining. They also said on the

Olympic level you’re going to see some “pretty exciting volleyball.”

What an understatement! I am seeing indoor volleyball at its

finest and most furious. Bullet-like serves from the guys, some close

to 100 miles an hour, and spikes that look like the speed of light.

You don’t want to be looking the wrong way, or a shot to the head

could separate it from your shoulders.

I’ve just returned from calling our women’s match against Cuba.

What a contest. Libero Stacy Sykora’s digs and sets, and Logan Tom’s

crushing kills had the big Cuban ladies befuddled and confused. We

took them in three sets. It wasn’t even close.

Through the tunnel on the way to the locker, I implored Logan to

keep this up, because Brazil was next, and they were going to be

tough. Good thing I told her, because I’m sure she didn’t know this.

I had no idea how exhilarating this sport was until now.

A sidelight here, an observation if you will: It’s sad what

terrorism has done to this “great” nation of ours. The Cubans were in

the stadium in full force -- about 7,000 of them -- singing, waving

their flag and chanting fight songs of their country. There were less

than 2,000 Americans there, interspersed throughout the venue and

vocal nonetheless, but their enthusiasm paled in comparison. I have

no solution, and I’m not making a political statement here, merely an

observation. It’s just sad.

When you know virtually nothing about a subject, you naturally

seek out people who do. The day after I heard from the Athens Olympic

Committee that my duties had been changed from announcing water polo

to volleyball, I was in Hi-Time Cellars in Costa Mesa. I’ve known the

Hanson family for many years -- as a matter of fact, my check-cashing

card has a low two-digit number. As I was walking down the aisles, it

occurred to me Vicki Hanson Brown had two girls who played at Newport

Harbor, Beth and Brenda. Brenda went on to play for Charlie Brande on

a full ride to UCI. Vicki happened to be in the store at the time. I

asked her if she knew anyone I could talk to, and it was her

suggestion to see Dan and Charlie that has brought me full circle.

It’s back to the Peace and Friendship Stadium this afternoon to

call the start of the qualifying matches. It’s hard to stay impartial

while you’re courtside, and the American guys and girls are on a

four- or five-point run, and they’re yelling and whooping it up after

each bone-jarring spike. I literally have to sit on my hands to keep

from extending my fisted arms upward with a shout of: “Yeah, let’s do

it again!”

The stuffy FIVB officials, who are always concerned about the

proper protocol, would certainly frown on their English announcer

showing favoritism, let alone any exuberant emotion at all.

That’s all well and good in the venue, but here in my hotel room,

I can stand on my balcony overlooking the Athens Harbor and shout

with unbridled enthusiasm for the U.S. men’s and women’s volleyball

teams in hopes they both bring home the gold, as I report “From the

Games.”