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Youthful spikers optimistic about next step

In his first year as head coach of the University of La Verne women's volleyball team, Don Flora replaces Jim Pascal, who retired after 25 years of coaching. Paschal won two national championships as the head coach. Flora's team has six returning players and seven new players. From left to right sophomore Kim Bell (#8), Assistant Coach Randi Winn, Flora, junior Isa Lose (#13), freshman Jessica DeHorta (#3), and freshman Andrea VanWilligan. Flora has been the assistant women's coach 1993-97 and was the head men's coach from 1994-1997. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian
In his first year as head coach of the University of La Verne women’s volleyball team, Don Flora replaces Jim Pascal, who retired after 25 years of coaching. Paschal won two national championships as the head coach. Flora’s team has six returning players and seven new players. From left to right sophomore Kim Bell (#8), Assistant Coach Randi Winn, Flora, junior Isa Lose (#13), freshman Jessica DeHorta (#3), and freshman Andrea VanWilligan. Flora has been the assistant women’s coach 1993-97 and was the head men’s coach from 1994-1997. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian

by Matt Durant
Staff Writer

The 1998 University of La Verne women’s volleyball team wants to take the next step — win the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship and compete on the national level.

“We need to compete at an intense level, and find athletes who have a passion for competing,” said head coach Don Flora, who tried to develop this by encouraging workouts in the summer.

The team advanced to the NCAA West Regional finals before losing to UC San Diego last season.

“We have to be in shape,” said outside hitter Lynsey Best, lone senior on the team. “We don’t have as much time for preparation as the other teams do.”

La Verne has already played in two tournaments, Whittier and Colorado College, which was played last weekend. On day one of that tournament, ULV defeated Howard Payne 15-1, 15-4 and 15-10.

The Leopards were led by sophomore outside hitter Amy Brummel, who had five service aces in the first match, while Best had a 12 kill, eight dig performance.

La Verne went on to take on the host team, Colorado College, and lost in five sets. On day two, La Verne lost to Franklin and Marshall, 12-15, 15-2, 15-13 and 15-9. Junior Sarah Henry and Brummel had 13 kills apiece in the Leopards’ losing effort.

La Verne bounced back to beat Howard Payne again in straight sets, 15-6, 15-9 and 15-9, to earn third place in the tournament. Best was the only Leopard to earn an all-tournament honor.

The role of leadership on this year’s team falls on the shoulders of Best and a balanced group of juniors.

“Lynsey leads by example, in action and in production,” Flora said. “We have six returning juniors, four who start, who need to step up and help Lynsey out with the leadership role.”

Flora said the team goals are to “win conference and compete highly in the national playoffs.” Best agrees with her coach and said, “We need to go a step further in the playoffs.”

La Verne has a few new faces to the team. Michelle Louie, a transfer from West Valley Junior College in northern California, and Andrea VanWilligan, a freshman from Upland, lead the new class of La Verne spikers. Jessica DeHorta, Adriana Contreras, Pamela Hunnicutt and Diane Williams round out the freshman class.

Flora sees his team as one of the top two teams in SCIAC along with Cal Lutheran. In the first two weeks, Flora feels the Leopards have “come a long way, and we have been jelling as a team, but we have a long way to go and a lot of room for improvement.”

“We are in the hardest region in the country. We have UCSD, Colorado College and Cal Lu,” Flora said, “and they have filled their gaps.”

Flora also knows that recruiting will be better next year.

“We are going to recruit athletes who can play volleyball,” he said, “and who can compete at a high level.”

Matt Durant
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