Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 2, 1994 TAG: 9402020056
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Pseja, the record-setting freshman goalkeeper for the Highlanders, confirmed that she has been granted her release from the university and will follow former Radford coach Don Staley by transferring to Alabama.
"Radford's not too happy about that," said Pseja, who visited Alabama last weekend. She called Staley on Monday night to let him know she's coming.
Apparently, Radford had no qualms about letting Pseja transfer. The school just didn't want to see her go to Alabama.
Athletic officials wanted to head off any possible exodus of players from a team that posted a best-ever 15-3-2 record in 1993. The school also stressed that when Pseja came to Radford, she was committing to the school, not to the coach.
Staley, who could not be reached for comment, took the Alabama job in December after eight years of coaching both the men's and women's soccer teams at Radford.
"Coach Staley isn't the only reason I'm going to Alabama," said Pseja, a native of River Vale, N.J. "They treated me first-class down there [when she visited Alabama]."
Three other Radford players - Morgan Fukunaga, Cindy Blevins and Amanda Lance - have been granted their releases and may transfer.
Radford was not obligated to release Pseja - or any of the players. However, under rules passed at last month's NCAA Convention, Pseja could have appealed Radford's denial of her request and could have eventually won her release.
Instead of going through a long appeal process, Radford relented and granted her permission to visit Alabama.
"After some discussion and deliberation, a release was granted," said Radford athletic director Chuck Taylor. "It grants her the opportunity to talk with individuals at Alabama.
"She's obviously doing what she believes is in her best interests. We want our student-athletes to be happy in their pursuit of an education and athletic endeavors. If Radford is not fulfilling that need, a release will be granted. We intend to honor her request for a release."
Pseja was a first-team all-Big South Conference selection last fall after leading the league with a 0.59 goals-against average. Pseja, who also plays softball, posted 11 shutouts for a team that allowed just 12 goals in 20 matches.
"I'm sorry to be leaving the university and the people I've met," Pseja said, "but I'm not sorry to leave the athletic department."
As many as 10 people will be interviewing this week for the vacant soccer jobs. It is almost a certainty that Radford will hire two people, one to head each program.
The new coaches could be named within a couple of weeks.
\ HOME SWEET DOME: The women's basketball team, off to one of its worst starts ever in Big South play at 5-4, is suffering from homesickness when it leaves the friendly confines of the Dedmon Center.
Heading into Tuesday's game against Virginia Tech, the Highlanders were 7-8 overall - 6-0 at home, 1-8 in away games. They were shooting 48 percent at home, 37 percent on the road. In league games, they're 5-0 at home, 0-4 on the road.
Senior center Samantha Gilbert is in a shooting slump. She didn't have a field goal during weekend losses at Maryland-Baltimore County and Towson State.
Wytheville native Eve Kendall appears fully recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery. Kendall, a freshman post player, was 6-for-9 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line in scoring a career-high 14 points at Towson State.
\ BASEBALL ALUMNI: Some of the top high school baseball programs in Virginia feature Radford grads on staff. Just check out three teams that played for state championships in all three classifications last year.
Hugh Hallinan is a pitching coach at First Colonial, which won the Group AAA championship. Jimmy Nave joined the staff at Group AA champ Virginia this season, and Larry Wood coached Glenvar to the Group A title game.
Hallinan and Nave both pitched at Radford, but Wood went to school before the Highlanders fielded a baseball club.
Several other former Radford baseball players are head coaching in the high school ranks: Ricky Saunders at Hopewell, Darrin Matthews at Fort Chiswell, and Paul Bishop at Pound.
Those high school connections appear to be paying off. Last fall, Radford head coach Scott Gines signed pitchers Jason Anderson of Glenvar and J.W. Salyers of Pound.
Sophomore right-hander Jay Hensley, predicted to be the Highlanders' No. 2 man in the rotation, has been suspended for "violating program guidelines," according to Gines. Hensley, who was ranked as the 58th-best pitching prospect in the nation by one publication when he was a high school senior, had an inauspicious debut for Radford last year when he went 3-3 with a 7.71 earned run average.
Sophomore third baseman Rob McCandless, who shored up a Radford trouble spot with his play at the hot corner last year, will miss the 1994 season after tearing up a knee in a racquetball game.
With McCandless out, the infield will be new except for senior Denny Van Pelt at first base. Redshirt freshman Aaron Pasko should take over at third, freshman Kelly Dampeer is expected to start at shortstop, and sophomore transfer Joe Raccuia will play at second base.
\ IN RADFORD: Men's basketball, Feb. 9, Winthrop, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 12, UNC-Asheville, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 14, UNC-Greensboro, 7:30 p.m.; Women's basketball, Feb. 8, Davidson, 7 p.m.; Lacrosse, Feb. 12, Davis & Elkins (scrimmage), 1 p.m.
by CNB