Multnomah University - Ambassador Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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na M55 n,,l-1-',,.,,... boll Becky Tbomax does ll set-up for slJdfOI1 Littleton The Multnomah girl's volleyball team began the season with a young team, young coaches, and struggles. They finished the season as a continually maturing unit with an already winning season becoming even more so. Calling tryouts in November as the season rolled around and finding yourself with but three returning players would dis- concert even the steadfastest of successful coaches. Multnomah, however, had the youngest MSB volleyball coach ever in Richard Smouse, a senior from San Jose, California. It could have been expected that Smouse would choke in the face of such cir- cumstancesg but he didn't. He quickly chose 12 girls as his team and Ken Johnstone, a - -A 3 llf f ' junior from San Diego, California, as his ffl , rg assistant coach. He then gritted his teeth, S Q W 4' V' , A smiled through them, and went to work. gl , I ,. 8 1 - V ' Terrj7'An:ler.von lzits the ball over the nel. I. ,, ,-95. ,gp . 'pi X X Tim Snyder Volleyball Coach Richard 517101158 giver irzxtrlzclions during time-out ,.... . . w. . fly. ,, VT? , N . Z- 1. CD .5 i- Volleyball team members prepare for a game.

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The 12 girls selected by Smouse were: Seniors Sharon Littleton, also captain of the team, and Sue Dennis. Juniors Sarah Bolyard, Terry Anderson, Cherie Halverson and Terri Williams. Freshman Wanda Waffle Randall, Connie Lee, Karen Hohman, Joyce Anderson, Kathy Pember- ton, and Becky Thomas. Disarray marked the team's early season efforts. Most of the girls had participated in little or no previous interscholastic com- petition, but had developed an interest in volleyball through P.E. classes or church leagues. We really spun our wheels for a while, coach Smouse commented. The girls had for the most part, very little experience and consequently we didn't play well together as a team. We didn't position ourselves to cover the whole floor on defense, we didn't talk on the court, individuals hadn't developed their particular specialties such as setting, hitting, or playing backcourt. The team returned from Christmas break with just one game behind them and the crucial league season all still to be played. Although progress came mingled with oc- casional setbacks, the team began to gel through the leadership of the two coaches on the sidelines and Littleton's cool on the court. The quiet spark of backcourt ace Wanda Randall contributed to firing the team up and stirring enthusiasm. With enthusiasm came hustle and with hustle came success. Connie Lee :els the ball. Captain Sharon Littleton said, I felt the team really start to come around about the fourth game. The situation came down to a matter of deciding as a team to give all we had to win, from that point on We steadily improved. Ken Johnstone said, Several individuals began to really put out and that got us going as a team. Wanda could be half dead and a person would never know it because she'd be out there diving for balls, playing her heart out but would never say she was hur- ting. I think the other girls saw it and were inspired. We began to come out of our shells and play as a team then. Even outsiders noticed the change. Both coaches fondly recall one of the leagues head referees comment to them. He could scarcely believe that he was actually watching the same team at the end of the season that had been on the floor at the beginning of the year. The season ended with Multnomah tally- ing an 8-5 record overall, and a 5-3 record in league play. They tied for second with Columbia Christian College while Northwest Christian from Eugene took the league's top spot. Smouse summed the season up. Overall, we had fun. We ex- perienced some frustration, but we grew and had fun. I'd say this season definitely ended up a success. by Keith Vandegrift Terry Anderson goes upf r b k Sara -aff M! ,--e- -vi . IJ Bolyard receives the serve. , :Q , A a UJ 3 4 Q. CD '1