DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710290136

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   88 lines

DEEP CREEK PAIR IS A SMASH HIT EACH IS THE SCHOOL'S TOP PLAYER AND FLOOR LEADER AS HORNET BOYS, GIRLS HEAD FOR POSTSEASON.

THEY PLAY ON the same volleyball courts but never at the same time.

He's a three-time all-Southeastern District first-teamer; so is she.

One's a former All-Tidewater pick; the other is almost certain to be this year.

Deep Creek senior hitters Heather Niedermeier and Matt Turner - homecoming queen and escort, respectively - would make for a wonderful 1-2 punch if only they were on the same team.

``Matt has been their leader all year,'' Deep Creek athletic director Benjamin Polk said. ``(Heather's) not only a good player, but a good role model.''

The pair of Hornets have led their respective teams to postseason play while each garnering district player-of-the-year consideration.

``Heather's a smart player,'' Indian River girls coach Linda Rice said. ``She can read her (opposing) teams. She's able to see where the team is going to hit it,'' before the serve.

A second-team All-Tidewater performer last season, Niedermeier leads the squad in hits (102), kills (70), blocks (46) and digs (40) and helped the team to a No. 4 seed in the district tournament with a 7-7 record.

Niedermeier, 5-foot-10, also is the floor general. Play after play, she instructs her teammates on their positioning and offers advice when someone makes a miscue.

``Instead of being bossy, you have to let them know you're giving constructive criticism,'' Niedermeier said.

And first-year Deep Creek girls coach Angela Scopel has made it clear that Niedermeier has the ``captain'' title for a reason.

``I tell the girls she's the floor coach and I am the only one who can override that,'' Scopel said.

Niedermeier's knowledge, intensity and love for the sport have not come overnight.

She has played volleyball since the seventh grade and was a member of the Junior Olympic Coastal Virginia Shark Attack team that advanced to the national tournament in June. Niedermeier, who also plays softball, even spends time teaching the sport to her 12-year-old twin brothers.

``She's willing to put in the extra time to be a very good volleyball player,'' Nansemond River coach Nancy Richey said. ``You just can't play from August to November. She plays in clubs, camps and clinics. That's what it takes.''

Turner, in just his third year of playing volleyball, is not on the court year-round like Niedermeier. But he does want to take his game to the next level.

``He has all the physical tools and he's a competitor,'' said Deep Creek boys coach Richard Cox, who also coaches Turner in track. ``Those tools can take you a long way in this sport.''

The Hornets enjoyed their best regular-season record in the district's brief history going 12-2 (12-5 overall) and earning the second seed for the Southeastern tournament. Quite an accomplishment for a team with 13 new players and a new coach.

``Matt was a lot of help,'' Cox said of the 6-foot-2 Turner. ``It was frustrating for him because it was like he was an assistant coach trying to help the other kids.''

Turner was caught in the middle at season's start. He was familiar with Cox and wasn't intimidated or bothered by the new coach's straightforwardness or assertiveness. However, many of Turner's teammates were at odds with Cox.

``The players were nervous about the new coach because it was his first year and they didn't think he knew what he was doing,'' Turner said.

Cox, who had to make some disciplinarian actions, showed what he could do from the sidelines and Turner handled his business on the court. Turner led the team with 134 kills, including seven when Deep Creek knocked off Western Branch in the Bruins' only district defeat.

``I'm real proud of how our team pulled together and it's because Coach Cox has put a lot of effort into us,'' Turner said.

Niedermeier lists Campbell University among her many college choices. Turner has always liked North Carolina-Chapel Hill, but the Tar Heels don't have a men's volleyball program.

Regardless of their choices, both have months before they make their college decisions. But in the meanwhile, they'll continue making contributions to Deep Creek athletics, crossing each other's path on the way. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER

Deep Creek's Heather Neidemeier celebrates with a teammate during a

recent match against Nansemond River. Niedermeier leads the squad in

hits (102), kills (70), blocks (46) and digs (40).

Matt Turner led the Hornets with 134 kills, including seven when

they knocked off Western Branch in the Bruins' only district defeat. KEYWORDS: HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

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