Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Moore, Plummer lead young USC volleyball team into 1999 By Todd Money Sports Editor USC volleyball fans have a lot to look for ward to in 1999, according to head coach Kim Hudson-Christopher. Despite the loss of all-stars Ashley Edlund and Cindy Robarge, Hudson-Christopher is optimistic, although she admits the pair will be missed. “Cindy and Ashley were instrumental in the success we’ve had over the past few years,” she said. “They were both contribu tors physically on the team.” In recruiting, she said, “You just try to add new people who are going to bring about a different type of mix and personalities to the team that are also going to mesh and con tinue to make the team better.” Edlund was team captain last year and the team’s setter for four years, while Robarge, who recently signed a contract with a team in France, also was a pivotal component. With Edlund and Robarge gone, the youth factor could certainly be big for the Gamecocks, who suddenly are a young team. Four freshmen fill the 13-player ros ter, and just one senior. Hudson-Christopher calls this fact one of the team’s potential weaknesses. “We will be very new to each other at the beginning of the season,” she said. Hudson-Christopher said the newcomers are all “athletic, very bright students,” how ever. “They seem to already be a little bit ahead of the game,” she said. “We’re looking for our freshman class to add a lot of depth and strength to our team,” she said. Of those four, Julie Neiser, Samantha Alban and Bernadette Dwyer will take over the middle positions. Neiser has the potential to be an outstand ing athlete, Hudson-Christopher said. Neiser is a former AAU All-American and was named Athlete of the Year in 1996 while playing in Kentucky. Alban, who Hudson-Christopher calls “probably one of the most aggressive and heaviest hitters in the gym,” was chosen all state in volleyball three times at high school in Michigan. Dwyer was her city’s MVP and also Player of the Year in volleyball. Hudson Christopher said she will especially add to the passing aspect of the team. The other freshman, Megan Hosp, will push Kami Nordgarrd for the vacated set ter’s spot, a position Hudson-Christopher said she feels very secure about. Nordgarrd essentially “took ownership of the team during the spring,” Hudson Christopher said. The coach also called her the team’s best blocker and said she has the ability to play several positions. “She’s been a big plus for us because of her capabilities to do many things,” she said. “Now we’re asking her to just focus on run ning the team, being the setter.” Also crucial will be the return of senior Crystal Moore from an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament. The team’s strengths, Hudson-Christopher -said, are its enthusiasm and work ethic. She said that the players had worked hard throughout spring and summer and that Neiser had even arrived on campus early to work with the team’s facilities. Keeping with tradition, much of USC’s suc cess will depend on getting past a tough schedule. This season’s agenda includes pre season tournaments at Florida State and Georgia Tech, and both of those will include some of the nation’s top teams. When they get past those, there’s always the regular SEC schedule to deal with. “There’s a need to be stronger in the Eastern Division, with Georgia and Florida and Tennessee,” Hudson-Christopher said. “Our goals are to be in the top two in the conference and make it to the Sweet 16 [of the NCAA’s]. That’s something we’ve never done.” 1999 USC Volleyball Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Year Hometown (High School) I Crystal Moore OH 5-10 Sr. Tuscon, Ariz. (Flowing Wells) 3 Julie Neiser MB 6-2 Fr. Villa Hills, Ky. (Notre Dame Academy) 4 Liz Price DS 5-9 So. Columbia (Hammond) 5 Danika Taylor MB 6-1 Sr. » Albuquerque, N.M. (Hope) 8 Mandy Quarterman OH 6^0 Jr. Gilbert (Gilbert) 10 Milica Perovic OH 6-1 So. Belgrade, Yugo. (Second Economic) II Samantha Alban MB 6-0 Fr. Portage, Mich. (Portage Central) 12 Bernadette Dwyer MB 6-3 Fr. Tuscon, Ariz. (Salpointe Central) 13 Nia Mackie MB 6-1 So. Cypress, Calif. (Cypress) 14 Megan Hosp S 5-9 Fr. Pasadena, Calif (Flintridge Sacred Heart) 15 Kami Nordgaard S 6-0 Jr. Dawson, Minn. (Dawson) 17 Cally Plummer RS 5-11 So. Cheboygan, Mich. (Inland Lakes) 26 Sara Heri DS 5-5 Jr. Coto De Caza, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic) 1999 Volleyball Schedule 9/1 N.C AST 7 p.m. 9/3-4 "T Florida St. Tourn. ^ TBA' 9/10-11 Georgia Tech Tourn TBA 9/15 »Clemson / p.m. 9/17-7 Michigan 7 p.m. 9/18 UConn noon UVA^i 4 p.m. 9/24 Kentucky ‘,7 p.m. 9/26 * _ Tennessee 2 pan. 10/1 • Arkansas 7 p.m. 10/3 • LSU 2 jJImT 10/8 Ole Miss 7 p.m. 10/10 Mississippi St. 2 p.m. 10/15 • Florid^ 7 p.m. 10/24 9 Alabama 2 p.m. 10/31 Florida 2 p.m. 11/4 • Georgia 7 pan. 11/6 Georgia 7 p.m. 11/12 « Tennessee 7 p.m. 11/14 9 Kentucky 2 pan. 11/20-23 SEC Tournament TBA The Plummer File I PERSONAL — Born Cally Sue Plummer on April 18, 1980 in Grand Rapids, Michigan ... majoring in Physical Education ... parents are Sue and Doug Plummer ... has two sisters: Mary Ellen and Lindsey 1998 — All-SEC first team ... only SEC freshman on the first team ... first USC female freshman to be named to an SEC first team ... only second athlete in school history to be named first team All-SEC (Kip Bouknight, Tu RHP, 1998) ... finished the year with a { 1 team-leadins? kills, second in hittine L * (.260), third in digs (230) and third in total blocks (81) ... set USC single- V season aces record. . HIGH SCHOOL — Attended t1 Inland Lakes in Indian River, ^ Mich. ... lettered in volleyball and basketball four times ana softball W three times ... female athlete of the year two times ... All Conference in volleyball four years and three years in basketball P ’ ... volleyball district champions her freshman and senior years ... won the 4 volleyball conference title all four years ^ ... athletic All-State all four years ... Honor Society member ... named All k American at 1998 Junior Nationals ... club team was fifth at the 1997 Junior Nationals. K l i i s ^9e Tn<® Your Internet source for comprehensive Gamecock football recruiting coverage since 1997. » Extensive news coverage » Powerful database & site searches -V soon SPORTS TE iknECREAnoni n i * 4 Special to The Gamecock Crystal Moore will be one of the keys to the 1999 USC volleyball team. i AN HISTORIC RESIDENCE Efficiency $435 One Bedroom $495 Two Bedroom $530 Rents include all utilities and cable TV. All rates quoted are month to month (Leases available, prices subject to change) Located across from the University of South Carolina Horseshoe and the State Capitol, Cornell Arms offers the premier location for downtown living (803) 799-1442 1230 PENDLETON STREET COLUMBIA, SC 29201 ■■ ■ wr 111 1 1 "