University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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1) W. Coker Lady Volleyball Is Back After a six year lapse, the Lady Gator volleyball team came back into the competitive ring. In their first season since 1978, the squad broke even with a 16-16 overall record and a strong in the Southeastern Conference Championships. The team was revived so that Florida would have a better shot at winning the SEC women ' s trophy. The trophy was awarded annually to the winningest women ' s program in the conference. Originally, the volleyball program was discontinued due to lack of funds and a lack of SEC teams to play against. During the lapse Florida implemented a Lady Gator softball program which was laid to rest to bring volleyball back. The team was coached by volleyball Olympian Marilyn McReavy. Along with her Olympic experience, McReavy took an obscure Kentucky team to a fifth place national showing and led three other teams to national titles during her coaching career. Although Florida had a first season to be proud of, becoming a nationally ranked team is still foremost on the team ' s wish list. — Tina Gonsalves 1) The Lady Gator volleyball team was back and better than ever after a six year lapse in play. (Opposite page). 1) Senior Machelle Holman attempts to spike the ball and chaulk up another win for the Lady Gators. (Opposite page). 2) First row: Wendy Stevenson, Wendy Johnson, Lyra Vance, Robin June, Beth Blythe, Vicki Anderson, Ass ' t Trainer Kim Crandall. Second row: Head Coach Marilyn McReavy, Machelle Holman, Mary Ellen Silsby, Angela Cooper, Jerelene Cummings, Asst Coach Tom Cas- well. Not pictured: Kim Brown. (Opposite page). 3) Academic All-American Kim Brown was recruited by over 40 schools before deciding to attend Florida. 116 Volleyball

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11 Sports Information 2) K. Rotberg On any given morning, most people in the SW area of Gainesville saw a petite brunette running among the area ' s shade trees. For those who wondered who she was, her name is Beth Farmer. Farmer, who ran more than 13 miles a day, began running in high school to stay in shape for basketball. I very good. But in my senior year, I quit basketball and started running full time. I devoted all my time to it. I guess to be a long distance runner you have to have a lot of time and patience. But the results of hard work really pay said Farmer. Farmer ' s efforts paid off with an invitation to the 1984 Olympic Trials. Although the Florida cross country and track runner knows one day her competition days will be over, Farmer insists, I ' ll never stop running. Women ' s Cross Country 115

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Volleyball 117 W. Coker Although Lyra Vance was one of the Lady Gators most gutsy players, volleyball was not the only thing for which she was known. The first-year freshman was also noticed for her unique looks. Vance sported a hairdo that was cut into a tail with the sides shaved into rows. My haircut is an expression of my desire to be Vance said. I do not want to be just another face in the crowd. Her relatively short height for a volleyball player, five feet and eight inches, was also a topic of discussion among fans. I ' ve never considered myself as being short. Sure I ' ve looked over the net and have seen girls who were towering over me, but I never once got intimidated by them, Vance said. — Lyra Vance Freshman