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Hudson-CJ about '981 V'BALL continuedfrom page IB G The sophomore from Coto de Caza, cl Calif., will be looked upon for solid de- N fense and tough serving. 01 "Sara was instrumental in several matches last year coming off the bench," C Hudson-Christopher said. "We expect pi her to continue to do that for us this is year." Y Nordgaard returns as Edlund's backup for one final year as she learns both is the position and offense. Bailey was s< redshirted in 1997 with hopes of her hi maturing on the court. ir "Kami has certainly developed into the type of player we thought she fr would," Hudson-Christopher said. "She s; grew physically and emotionally ir throughout her freshman year. We will le look to Kami to provide stability in sev- s< eral positions." Ji With only seven players returning, C four of which are sophomores, bringing tl in experience is a key for Hudson unnstopner. renter uanixa I ayior ana tc Jennifer "J.B." Brose. Both are trans- C fers who will be looked upon to fill the c( puddle blocker spots left by Heather ir Larkin (graduation) and Dee Dee Fortman (transfer). A "The way that they adjust to new d< surroundings and the things they are tl comfortable with will be a key to how tl successful we are early," Hudson- te Christopher said. Brose is a middle blocker from pi Cabrillo Junior College in Aptos, Calif., p< who helped lead her high school team si to the California Division II state title C in 1992 and 1993. s( "J.B. is a nice player who'll add stability where we'll miss our seniors," ci Hudson-Christopher said. "Shell come tl in and add stability right away, She's u a complete player." fr Taylor is a 5-foot-ll middle block- fr er from New Mexico State, who played fc with Moore at New Mexico State. "CUft'd nr? n4-Ulni<? ?tU/\ -?-??mm -I ? one o an atmeie wiiu jumps aiiu u. moves extremely well," Hudson-Christo- fr pher said. "We're thrilled to have her. p] Shell add a lot of dynamics to and help h. stabilize our middle position." Hudson-Christopher said she needs a< both Taylor and Brose to step in and adjust quickly. t? / 's' . u w ? fe 9 iristopher )olleyball Along with the two transfers, the amecocks also signed three others, inuding a member of the Yugoslavian ational Team and a "Fab 50" player it of Michigan. Milica Perovic committed to South arolina without even visiting the camiis. She is a 6-foot-l outside hitter who currently the youngest player on the ugoslavian National Team. "She is a extraordinary person that a talented volleyball player," Hudm-Christopher said. "She has a very igh level of playing experience and will npact our program immediately." Cally Plummer, a 6-foot left-hander mr* L n um \_/iieuuygan, iviicii., cumes iruiii uie ime club team as Edlund. She is a tember of the "Fab 50" team as reused by Volleyball Magazine and was glected as an Ail-American at the tinior National Tournament. Hudsonhristopher is extremely excited at the lought of her immediate impact. "She's a great athlete and competi)T with a positive attitude," Hudsonhristopher said. "She is a tremendous >mpetitor and will certainly make her lark very quickly." Elizabeth Price, out of Hammond cademy in Columbia, will add to the epth of the defense. She comes from le Gamecock Juniors Club Program, le same program Robarge and Quarirman come from. "I'm happy to see Elizabeth join our rogram. She is athletic, has a great grsonality, good court demeanor and re fits well with the team," Hudsonhristopher said. "She's going to be a )lid addition to our squad." Hudson-Christopher landed two renits late in the signing period to bring le total of new faces on the 1998 squad p to seven. Andy Filbeck, a transfer om George Mason and Nia Mackie om Cypress, Calif., will look to battle >r playing time. "Andy comes from a strong club out i California and is a talented transfer om George Mason," Hudson-Christoher said. "She's a mature athlete who as set high standards for herself. "Nia is a very good athlete who'll id size and athleticism to our roster." With so many new players on the (am, the leadership of the returning r J 0 1 A * 7s o isESFF ^HINGELSEYOUH %, $ all smiles season players is crucial, said Hudson-Christopher. "Ashley and Crystal proved their ability as leaders this spring. They are now understanding the importance of helping to keep the team in tune with what are the overall expectations of this program." The Gamecocks face a tough schedule in 1998, but Hudson-Christopher said she feels it will prepare her team for the NCAA Tournament. "We have a tough schedule at the beginning. We wanted to get challenged early and that's whaf s going to happen to us when we go to Oklahoma," Hudson-Christopher said. "I feel good about the schedule." Carolina will host 15 matches this season, including contests with Clemson and 1997 Final Four participant Florida. And if all goes according to HudsonChristopher's plan, the Gamecocks will be smiling when the 1998 NCAA Tournament bracket is announced on Simday, Nov. 29. SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Volleyball coach Kim HudsonChristopher said her squad should be very good by the time the NCAA Tournament rolls around in November. R s s INEY ft a m mgm mmm MATE INGOD r?% ??% ?* ? % # KUKI I Y \ ATERNITY IAVETOTHINKABOUT ? USC's Shah sports editor BRYAN JOHNSTON South Carolina track and field coach Uday Shah has helped propel the Gamecock pole vaulters into the national spotlight, all while breaking new ground in the coaching world. Of Indian descent, Shah is one of few, if any, Indians in the collegiate coaching ranks. It's a fact he holds very sacred. "Being involved in athletics gives me great pleasure and excitement because of various interactions with peo" cu.i ;j H... pic, oiian oaiu. "It is a valuable learning experience, and I would like to share this experience with others in the Indian community in the United States as well as India. SHAH "Our goal is to increase participation of Indians in sports at all levels in and age groups to Olympics." Shah, who is on the U.S. Association of Track and Field Women's Pole Vault Development Committee, is in his third year as an assistant coach with the track and field program. His primary responsibility is developing the pole vaulters and assisting with the sprinters and jumpers. Shah also helps in the training of the cross country team. Last year, Shah helped freshman Kylene Nixon capture the Southeastern Conference Women's Outdoor Pole Vault Championship in the inaugural competition. With her sixthplace performance at the NCAA meet, the Poway, Calif., native earned AilAmerican honors. Sept. 5 BALL STATE 12 GEORGIA * 19 MARSHALL % 26 MISS. ST. * Oct. 3 at Mississippi * 10 at Kentucky * 17 ARKANSAS * # fHS ^Br ,^^HB ' : III Era I B a * jT ^ taHJI ' proud of Ind She had the fifth-highest jump overall in college this past year and was 11th at the U.S. Nationals. Nixon said Coach Shah is very instrumental in ' her quick success. "Coach Shah took me in and helped me adjust, both in and out of track," Nixon said. "He's an incredible coach. He helped me get-a lot faster and stronger and worked on my technique. He broke down my vault and put a ton Blfl* & ot hours m tor me through the whole year. He was always in the weight room making sure I was doing the things I was supposed to do and didn't let me slack off one bit." Shah also helped Patrick Tvarkunas, another USC pole vaulter, to new heights this year. Tvarkunas set a school record in the indoor vault, finished fourth at the SEC Indoor Meet and was an NCAA qualifier. As a freshman, Tvarkunas qualified for the USATF Junior National Championships and was the South Pornlino Qlofn Pnln Vaiilt Hmrnlnn. vaiuixua utatv/ A uit T auit ment Champion. Freshman Becky Studebaker was a scorer at the SEC meet and an NCAA qualifier in the pole vault. Shah, 24, came to South Carolina in 1997 after graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1996. He worked as an undergraduate assistant coach with the men's and women's track and field/cross country program from 1993 to 1996. During his career at North Carolina, the program won 11 Atlantic Coast Conference titles and achieved its highest ever finish at the NCAA Track and Field Championships?men fourth, women fifth. In 1994, the Tar Heel women won the ACC cross" country title and in 1996, the women were 12th at the NCAA 7 p.m. 24 at 6 p.m. ESPN2 31 TE 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. 21 at 2P"m- * SEC Game 7 p.m. % Parents' Weekend # Homecoming 1p.m. All times are tentative ai ian descent Cross Country Championships, the school's highest finish ever. He also worked with the baseball, women's tennis and Softball teams at UNC to help develop speed development and conditioning program. In 1993 he assisted in coaching the Eastside High School boys' and girls' track and field teams in Taylors S.C. Shah coached his second NIKE Summer Development team last summer. The team competed successfully against the world-class competition throughout Europe. The team included many past and present All-Americans, USA and World Championship team members. "Being a coach allows me to pass on valuable lessons of life to others so they can gain strength, both physically, mentally and spiritually," Shah said. "I hope that everyone can participate in athletics in some fashion or another because of its dramatic and positive impact on society and life." Shah received a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education from North Carolina in 1996 and is pursuing a Master's degree in Physical Education. Shah graduated from Eastside High School in Taylors, S.C., in 1992. There, he lettered track four times and football. He was voted the MVP sprinter in 1992 and his team won the county championship in both 1988 and 1992. He received the Sirrine and Fluor Daniel Scholarships. Shah has both the USATF Level I and II coaching certificates and is working toward his Level III certificate. The son of Jagdish and Janak Shah, he is single and resides in Columbia. Vanderbilt * 7 p.m. NNESSEE * 1 p.m. Florida * 1 p.m. Clemson 1 p.m. id subject to change " HPS ? Forest Drtvs Super M H| ^Wal-Mart 2 Shandon 3aplist /V -> Dhurch / \ c \