by Greg MacDonald
Sports Editor
When he began coaching the team in the fall, he wanted his players to stay focused on the sport. He wanted them to play as a team both on and off the court. And most importantly, he wanted his team to finish with success.
University of La Verne men’s volleyball head coach Jack Coberly liked the idea of winning, but understood that a team must first be just that — a team — before success.
However, the 1997-98 season has been a welcomed surprise for coach Coberly, as his troops have responded for him.
In his mission statement for his team, coach Coberly wanted the Leopards to practice the three Ds: defense, discipline and defiance. Coach Coberly also developed a set of guidelines (i.e. being on time for practice), so ULV would act as one unit rather than individuals.
The ULV team did gel as one and earned itself a spot in the Division III playoffs. But making the playoffs is not the only positive thing coach Coberly looks for in his players.
“We measure success a lot of different ways. One [way] is for us to not get blown out,” he said “It’s a challenge for these bigger schools not to play their second squads against us. Our goal was to beat any Division I second-team squad.”
Beating second-team squads of Division I schools is not the only thing La Verne has been doing.
The Leopards have found success in many of the opponents they have played — including Division I first-team units. In fact, in a match against San Diego State earlier in the year, the Leopards defeated the first- and second-team squads of the Aztecs, who complained of the crowd noise, in the Supertents.
“No team comes into our house and leaves without a bloody nose or something,” coach Coberly said.
The Leopards will not have the home court advantage in the playoffs, but coach Coberly is confident his team will play well.
“We are trying to gear up. Right now, the elements of our game are pretty good,” he said. “I think we need to develop our timing between the setter and the hitter a little better. We have to apply ourselves, step up and play our own game. Whether this team can do it or not, I don’t know.”
