The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 14, 1998, Page Page 7B, Image 21
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?
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u
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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
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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.
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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 * #
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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
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