Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 15, 1993 TAG: 9309140161
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
A freshman who probably would have started this fall, Terrie Zubert, has been shelved with a back injury. One setter is a freshman, the other a sophomore who hardly played the position last year.
Last year's Metro Conference rookie of the year, middle blocker Jennifer Schmidt, has been bothered by a succession of minor injuries.
It figures that the Hokies' coach, Stephanie Hawbecker, would have a really good sob story for this year's team.
"I have complete confidence," Tech's third-year coach said, "that by the end of the year we'll probably be the best we've ever been."
Huh?
"Our athletic ability is much better," she said, "and we're much deeper."
That didn't show up against Virginia in Charlottesville Sept. 8, when the Hokies were buried in four sets. Tech's other two losses (against five victories) are to Georgia and Duke, ranked fifth and sixth in the region, respectively, at the end of last year.
But after losing to Virginia, Tech swept its four-team tournament Sept. 10-11, coming from behind in two of the three matches to win in five sets.
Hawbecker, 59-26 in two-plus years at Tech, sometimes is quizzed about her determination to schedule ranked teams early in the season, the same strategy she used last year when the Hokies finished 26-11 (23-7 in the regular season). She believes playing top teams leads to improvement, win or lose.
"[The players] understand it'd be great to beat those teams, but it would be an upset," Hawbecker said. "We don't talk about winning and losing. We talk about playing well. They have a real firm grip on that. No one worries about that around here except people outside the program."
Hawbecker said this year's team goals are to finish in the top two in the Metro, to be ranked 10th or better in the South region (the Hokies were 14th last year) and to get another post-season bid.
To do that, Tech needs strong performances from outside hitter Heather Berglund, the team's only senior; right side hitter Amanda Yelsh; middle blocker Jenni McFadden; outside hitter Jennifer Arbuckle; and Schmidt. If freshman Laura Hanner and sophomore Hilary Love play well at setter, Tech's more-balanced offense should click.
Meanwhile, Tech tries to navigate its stiff schedule.
"We're experienced enough to handle it," Hawbecker said.
\ SOCCER STUFF: Tech's women's soccer team won its first three games, beating Liberty, College of Charleston and Georgia Southern. Freshman forward Tisha Truman scored five goals in the three games and was named to the all-tournament team at the Campbell/BB&T Tournament along with sophomore Cindy Zier and freshman Brooke Fuller.
Tech's men's team split two games in the George Mason Tournament, but Jason Entlich and goalkeeper Brian Bulger were the offensive and defensive, respectively, MVPs of the tournament. Brian Reaves also made all-tournament.
\ ETC.: Former University of Northern Iowa leading scorer Jill Jameson has joined Virginia Tech's women's basketball staff as a graduate assistant coach. Jameson, a North Vernon, Ind. native, graduated in May. Her duties will include running Tech's summer camp. Jameson replaces Shellie Greenman. Greenman, a Blacksburg High School and Emory & Henry graduate, landed a full-time assistant position at Western Carolina . . . The Hokies' new cross-country track is completed and Tech's runners will have a home course. However, Tech checked in with a strong road performance Sept. 11 as freshman Mike Cox of Princeton, W.Va. won the UNC Wilmington Seahawk Invitational meet, setting a meet record of 24 minutes, 58 seconds.
\ UPCOMING IN BLACKSBURG: Men's soccer - Vanderbilt, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 25; Georgia Southern, 4 p.m. Sept. 27. Women's soccer - Detroit-Mercy, 3 p.m. Sept. 18; UNC Asheville, 4 p.m. Sept. 21. Cross country (men's and women's) - Virginia Tech Invitational, Sept. 18.
Scott Blanchard is a Roanoke Times & World-News sportswriter.
by CNB