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Volleyball capsules

By BRIAN LANDMAN, PETE YOUNG and ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 31, 2001

Florida State

2000: 21-11, 9-7 ACC (fourth).

COACH: Cecile Reynaud (618-314, 26th season).

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Norisha Campbell, Sr., MH (447 kills, .351 hitting percentage, 119 blocks); Jennifer Anderson, So., S (880 assists, 129 digs); Alex Sevillano, Jr., OH (303 kills, 272 digs, 24 service aces); Kristin Frye, Jr., OH (280 kills, 233 digs, 69 blocks, 36 service aces); Dawn Hough, So., MH (129 kills, 97 blocks).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Aisha Carr, Fr., OH (Dallas Skyline High, Dallas); Ashley Meyer, Fr., MH (John Curtis Christian School, Luling, La.); Kameelah Omar, Fr., DS (Guilford High, Rockford, Ill.).

NOTES: Reynaud's team rebounded from mediocrity in '99 and might have reached the NCAA Tournament had Anderson not been injured and sidelined for half the season. Reynaud's efforts didn't go unrewarded; she received ACC coach of the year honors. This year she has every starter back except OH Jennifer Werrick. ... Campbell, an All-ACC and All-Region pick, poised to finish in FSU's top 10 in kills and hitting percentage, earned valuable experience with the 2001 USA Women's National A2 Training Program. Anderson is healthy and a mature leader. Sevillano, the former Clearwater star, blossomed last season and along with Frye, sophomore hitter Erica Bunch (178 kills, 131 digs) and Hough, a former Durant standout, form an experienced, talented attack. ... Reynaud should get a quick gauge of her team's strength. FSU opens at the Pepperdine Tournament and meets the host, ranked No. 17 in the USA Today coaches' poll, on Saturday. It meets No. 18 Texas A&M on the road Sept. 7 and plays at No. 9 Florida on Sept. 11.

South Florida

2000: 28-6, 15-1 C-USA (conference tournament champion; NCAA Tournament, lost first round).

COACH: Nancy Mueller (43-24, third season).

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Michelle Collier, Sr., OH (760 kills); Maryann Mooney, Jr., OH; Kelly Mathiasmeier, Sr., OH/S; Jenny Scholle, So., OH; Jolene Patton, Jr., OH; Bonnye Glover, So., MB; Tally Payne, So., OH; Lindsay Guidish, So., DS; Faith Tarver, Jr., DS.

KEY NEWCOMERS: Rachel Jobes, Fr., MB (St. Michael, Minn.); Shameka Mitchell, Fr., MB (Lakeland Jenkins); Alessandra Domingos, Jr., S (Utah Valley St. JC).

NOTES: The Bulls took a huge step forward in Mueller's second season, improving from 15-18 in 1999 to 28-6 and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The C-USA tournament champions were ousted 15-11, 13-15, 15-13, 15-12 by Cal Poly in the first round of the Pacific Region. Collier, who returned from a devastating knee injury, was named conference player of the year, and Mueller was the C-USA coach of the year. The Bulls won't surprise anyone this year, but with Collier returning, anything less than another NCAA bid would be disappointing. ... Three key players -- Crissy Bush, Rachelle Paul and Melanie Mueller -- graduated. ... Domingos might be the most important newcomer. The Brazilian native and junior college transfer will replace standout setter Mueller.

Florida

2000: 29-5, 14-0 SEC (first in East, conference tournament champion; lost in Pacific Region semifinals).

COACH: Mary Wise (333-36, 11th season; 414-99, 15th season overall).

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Kris Bova, Jr., S (236 digs, 58 blocks); Aury Cruz, So, OH (282 digs, 62 blocks, 4.32 kpg); Niki Hartley, Sr., OH (351 digs, 66 blocks, 3.21 kpg), Benavia Jenkins, So., MB (181 blocks, 15 digs); Nicole McCray, Jr., MB (157 digs, 134 blocks; 3.36 kpg); Jacque Robinson, So., RS (92 digs, 112 blocks).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Michelle Chatman, OH, (Woodridge High, Woodridge, Ill.); Lauren Moscovic, S, (St. Mary's High, Stockton, Calif.); Taylor Williams, MB, (Gainesville High); Ellen Rehme, RH, (Cathedral High, Indianapolis, Ind.).

NOTES: The Gators return five starters who struggled to learn new positions last season but vow to be comfortable in their roles. ... Florida is ranked No. 9 in the USA Today coaches poll, meaning the Gators have been ranked a school-record 143 consecutive weeks. ... Florida needs 11 wins to reach the 500-win plateau. ... Two-thirds of the team's roster remained in Gainesville all summer to train, hoping to become a more cohesive group. ... The average height on the roster is 6 feet 1, and the team's average approach jump is 10 feet.

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