Zbt &uiltortrian
10
1992 Guilford College Volleyball
Can the Quakers' New Edition repeat in the ODAC?
Butch Maler
There's a new gang in town.
Guilford College's ODAC cham
pion volleyball team looks vastly dif
ferent during practice sessions this fall.
So what can you expect from a team
that went 31 -4 last season, yet returns
with the absence of five seniors?
"One of my first goals for them is to
have fun," said Guilford's associate
head volleyball coach Chuck
McCracken.
And fun is what they probably will
have, with first-team all-ODAC middle
blocker Brenda Davis returning. Davis,
a junior co-captain, set Guilford single
season records in kills (404), hit per
centage (.355) and blocks (74).
"Brenda Davis has had a terrific
first two years. We're counting on her
again," said McCracken.
But forget about the Quakers being
a one-woman team.
"We're strong all the way down,"
said sophomore co-captain Trudy
Buckingham, an outside hitter.
"Everyone's such good friends—
there's not one leader. We're all to
gether. I feel really confident, com
fortable this year. Already we have
good team chemistry.
"Everyone's hitting really well."
With a handful of key players ab
sent, one might wonder who "every
one" is.
"We'll be counting on some folks
from last year to move up a level or
two," said McCracken.
Large in part, that means Davis and
Buckingham. Junior hitter Trish
Allman is included as well.
'Trish Allman is another junior who
will get significant playing time," said
McCracken.
"She's someone with an opportu
nity to step to a new level of responsi
bility and performance."
Sophomore Susan Raney finds her
self in the setter position normally
occupied by her sister Alison, a 1992
graduate.
But she's not alone there. Freshman
Ann Gaillard and sophomore Molly
Seabrook assist as well.
"It's almost nice to have too many
players for the positions," Raney said.
1992 Guilford College Volleyball Roster
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17033. No experience is necessary, but dedication and desire
are preferred.
"We're still working on plays, but
there's a great attitude, everybody's
working and nobody has a problem
with anyone."
A welcome addition to Guilford's
new edition is senior transfer Shannon
Virtue from Greensboro College.
"She brings well-rounded skills,
experience to the program,"
McCracken said.
The 5' 8" hitter plays bigger than her
size, with an explosive leap.
"Shannon's working in well," Raney
said.
"We were all curious to see how that
was gonna work, but she's doing fine."
The Quakers bring back several sec
ond-year spikers including Arlene
James, Barbara Schmitz, Christine
Schroeder and sophomore walk-on
Sam Towles.
"With this year's sophomores, we
had a really strong class in number,
quality and skills last year," said
McCracken.
Besides Gaillard, Guilford rookies
include middle blocker Sara Johnson
and hitter Alissa Pioli.
"All three freshman have good skills.
I expect to see them get a good bit of
playing time," said McCracken.
McCracken looks forward to the
coming season with the blend of play
ers he has.
"I'm real excited about it We have
a lot of skilled players, returning and
new. There's a good work ethic in
practice. We have good depth skill
wise at all positions. For that reason,
one of our stronger players may start
on the bench, because of the way the
substitution process works."
Individual players are allowed to
enter the game three times, with each
team allowed 12 substitutions during a
match.
"In fact, you'll probably see several
'starting' line-up changes from match
to match, giving as many people play
ing time as appropriate.
"With all-day tournaments, you need
more than six to seven players to main
tain strength and stamina for the tour
nament playoffs."
In 1991, Guilford could count on
their five veterans and some of the
underclassmen. Now?
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Junior co-captain Brenda Davis pounds
the ball past a blocker during practice. rhoto b,john Ben
"Last year there were several se
niors. A couple of unknown factors
will determine how far we will go [this
year]."
One of the unknowns is ho w quickly
the Quakers will gain serious game
McCracken under pressure?
No, just having fun
Botch Mater
fli You can Chuck any notions of
j there being a rough transition this
: year with Guilford volleyball. |
; "Sincerveworkedwiththeteam
| have s season without
i change. This is my hope for the
| players," ssid Chuck McCracken.
As taut
, tskesan bar responsibilities s act- i
ing athletic director* McCracken
has stepped in tc "help out" on an
interim basis withtheOuiiford vol
leyball team as associate heed
coach.
"There are so many things to say
about Cbscfe~4w'i so sincere,
cures about everybody* is cond
erete of us, works hard. He puts so
much into it," said Quaker volley
brflco^aptainThidyßuckktghaqt.
The director ol the YMCA
• branch located on campus,
McCrackm has been given special
• V •
experience, being fairly young.
McCracken answers that they may
already have it.
"A lot of the players come from
strong high-school programs or off
season club programs, so they have
permission to work with the team this
intensely in 1992. Before this year, he
would help at practice and attend most
of the matches.
McCracken played varsity volley
ball at Barlham College in Indiana-—a
school very much like Guflford-r-for
four years during the early 'Bos, match
:j:
: • fIHRP '"
Photo by John Bell
mg tip against events Olympians
playing for or coaching Division 1
school* such as Ball St and Ohio St.
The OSU head coach during
playing day* Was J>Ottg
► Beat who fed the 1984 U.S. squad to *
September 10, 1992
some experience having played sev
eral games in pressure situations."
The other factor? Injuries.
"Right now, we don't have anyone
hurt," said McCracken as he knocked
his fist on his head
"It's important we have players
healthy so they can practice well and
be there come game time.
In the Quakers' Old Dominion Ath
letic Conference, Eastern Mennonite
is always strong. Roanoke, Lynchburg
and Bridgewater are usually scrappy.
Outside of the conference, there is
uncertainty. With teams like Wash
ington & Lee and Greensboro College,
you never know what will happen.
Then there's Mary Washington.
During the Greensboro tournament
last year, Mary Washington surprised
Guilford, effectively keeping the Quak
ers out of the National Tournament.
"We can't take anyone lightly. If
we're well-focused and take it one
point at a time, the wins will take care
of themselves."
That doesn't mean it will be easy.
Guilford teams of the past have been
scrappy, big-hearted—not out of any
game—often rallying to come back
from huge deficits to win tight, ulcer
inducing matches.
"I hope there are not as many close
ones as last year—that's easier on the
ol' coach.
But seriously...
"This'll be a fun team to watch, with
its husde and physical ability. If we do
the things we know how to do well and
don't beat ourselves, we'll be tough on
our opponents this year."
gold medal.
McCracken has had success in
his own right as a sideline wizard,
He coaches Junior Olympic teams,
hi* 16-and-under boys just finish
ing J lth in the country, the girls
placing 3rd in the state. |
So far at Guilford, McGracken't
coaching style has been successful,
if measured by his players* attitude
towards him.
"He makes practice fun so when
S3O come* around, we go, "That*
it? Tune flies when you're having
fun* aaid Buckingham. \
"But we do miss Coach Currte."
And that's understandable, since
Cunrie had been the only coach the
ilipperclassmen had known up unt3s|
thi* season. -
Bui McCracken's net worried
about winning my popularity con
tests*
Tmhtting alot of ftjuftMSlMfe
ing fcfbtod to the season," he said.
\ fin ready to get stifled, play
some malcompetijtion, see what we
do well, what we need to work on."
tjusi challenge them he the
betttheyCanbe.*