University of Arizona - Desert Yearbook (Tucson, AZ)

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72 VOLLEYBALL Number 4 Trina Smith though known for her aggressive style of play takes it easy here as she sets the ball up so a fellow- teammate can take the kill. Photo by BRICE SAMUEL

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•• : ilfV •±K •If •• . t Outstanding Spike Cats Pass, set, kill is not as easy as it looks, but the 1989 Arizona Womens Volleyball team had those three skills perfected this year. They started the season ranked 10th in the nation, up from the postseason ranking of 16th last year Assistant coach Corey Morsishita attributed the improvement on, Our spring season we beat some of the best teams in the nation, including Texas who won the NCAA championship last year We also had an incredible recruiting class this year That recruiting class helped Arizona get its best start of the season in The team did lose three seniors due to graduation in 1988 but that factor did not keep them from playing to their potential. The coaches accredited the Spikecats success this year to the strength and preformance of key players. Junior outside hitters Caylin Combs and Terry Lauchner provided Arizo- na with the offensive attack. Sophomore middle blocker Kristi Colson and senior middle blocker Kelly Waage constituted the ROOF or the defense of the team. Rounding out the starters were senior defensive specialist Lindsay Hahn and senior All Northwest Region setter Mary Linton. The Spikecats will lose three starting seniors to graduation, but the team is not worried about next year due to the fact that strong, upcoming players will replace the graduating seniors. Two of the freshman recruits who have already seen much playing time are freshman middle blocker Trina Smith and freshman setter Heather McCormack, both have shown great potential for the up coming years. The 1989 Women ' s Volleyball team ' s goals are to see further action in post season play, hopefully acquir- ing a birth in the NCAA Final Four. With the potential and talent of this years squad, the possi- bility of grabbing a position in the Final Four can be attributed to more than just luck. • Brice Samuel OUTSTANDING SPIKE CATS 71

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V 1 ' Sophomore middle blocker Kristi Colson attempts to block Colorado ♦ a States rapid spike. BRICE SAMUEL •if •• . SboNj Freshman Extraordinaire 18 year old Trina Smith, out of May- wood, 111., has proved to be the year ' s startling new star as she rapidly worked at becoming one of the most valuable assets of the Spike Cats volleyball team. As Trina Smith was being recruited in high school, it was almost certain that it would be for her basketball skills rather than volleyball. But, once coach Joe Get- zin saw her, he knew volleyball was her sport. He commented, Once 1 saw her I knew she could play here (UA). The 5-foot-ll Smith moved into the UA starting lineup early in the season as middle blocker. By mid-season, she was already second on the team in both blocking and assists. Another of Smith ' s biggest assets is her speed. Her spiking ability is a devastating threat to most of her opponents. Smith, who was fourth on the team with over 105 kills by midseason, was working on eventually facilitating a move to outside hitting. Getzin commented, Her hitting is be- coming much more explosive and with more experience she can become one of the best blockers in the league. Outside of her tremendous athletic skills, Trina Smith was also charac- terized as one of the most inspirational players on the team. Getzins final com- ment about Smith was, She has an unbelievable personality. You can not help coming away from talking to her ith a good feeling. • Suzi Shoemaker TRINA SMITH 73