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Show /port/ B4 MONDAY'AUGUST 29*2005 Coach Sam Atoa starts the season with newer talent fortable in her new role. "Before we started, I was a little But it's the outside where the major concerned, and I still am," Atoa said holes are, and Atoa doesn't shy away in regard to the youth. "Especially from the fact that he's a little unsure when you lose some good experihow easy it's going to be to fill them. ence. It's more of a challenge to see He insists Cadmus is going to get whose going to step up andfillthe roles of those who have left." some playing time there as well. Many will get that opportunity. And "It's a whole new look for us. Carlyn, who's only really ever played it's first going to come at the hands in the middle, we've moved her to of the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas adthe outside. It's just a matter of how vanced to the second round of the quickly she can make the change. NCAA Tournament in 2004, and they And Ann (Olsen) who played defen- along with Montana State will make sively for us last year, will also be the trip to Orem to compete in the swinains there." Throw in freshman Utah Valley/Brigham Young ChalCamie Manwill, and it should be in- lenge on Sept. 1. teresting to see just how things work "To play a team of that caliber that out in finding a replacement for Wal- has been doing well, better and betlauer. ter every year, it's going to be a chalBut it's Larissa Laycock, who will lenge for us to give those guys a run," perhaps have the biggest shoes to fill Atoa said. "But we always have hope. on that right side where Borghetti If we're doing what we're supposed made such a good living crushing to be doing, we'll be in position to balls into enemy territory. According compete. That's all I ask." to Atoa, Laycock had a great spring Koelliker was equally excited. and is beginning to feel more com- "The first match of the season. I'm From VOLLEYBALL »B8 Chad Clark/NetXNews Entering his seventh year as the head coachof the Utah Valley State women's volleyball program, Sam Atoa is using his summer practices to build camaraderie among his un-proven yet telented squad. pumped- I'm ready." Also on the schedule at home this year is the University of Utah, who like Kansas, qualified for last year's tournament. The Ute's swept the Wolverines in their match last year up in Salt Lake City, but this time the defending co-Mountain West Conference champions make the trip to Orem. Also scheduled to make the visit are Idaho State, Utah State and Weber State to go along with six of the D-I Independents. UVSC will travel to face Boise State, Wyoming and BYU, among others. "This is the best schedule we've had since we made the jump," Atoa said. "We're excited to have such a good home schedule that is spread throughout the whole season." Though it may take this young group some time to find themselves, Atoa doesn't want any comparisons drawn. "It's unfair to compare one team to another. As long as they improve individually, it helps us become a better team." Feel the difference. SK33ST Brigham's Landing • Provo • 377-3040 Chad Clark/NetXNews Interim coach Justin Wagar builds up his teams confidence. Making no excuses From WAGAR - B8 °W0% O all last year's ski & snowboard clothing last year's skis & snowboards Men's and Women's Snowboard Packages Lomar snowboard • Lomar heat-moldable boots • LamorMX-5 bindings SKI & SPORTS UNIVERSITY MALL, OREM • 225-3000 GREAT SELECTION • LOW PRICES visit us online at www.netxnews.net we gave up 36 goals In 19 games and we were ahead in a good majority of the games we played. It was in the last five to ten minutes that teams would come back and score on us." "This year's team will have the confidence and leadership when it comes to those last few minutes." Wagar said. "When we deserve to win ball games because we've fought hard for 80 minutes, we'll have the leadership to guide us through." "Our defense should be improved from last year," said senior captain Carolyn Theurer. "Ashley Christofferson is the anchor of it." Theurer, the first Wolverine to complete the four-year program, will be looked upon to continue her scoring dominance this year. "My goal is to help my teammates score more this year," Theurer said. "And our main goal as a team is to win 12 games. We've never won more than ten games in a season, but with the work ethic that Justin has given us, I think we could win more than that." Junior midfielders Rebecca Petersen and Courtney AsayRobbins will flank Theruer. Both Petersen and AsayRobbins played with each other on a club team three years ago after graduating from high school. "Becca and Courtney are winners," said Wager, who was a former top assistant to Smart. "We have a lot of confidence in their ability to score goals." Wager is a former soccer standout at BYU-Hawaii, who as a freshman sweeper anchored a defense that recorded six shutouts in their ten wins that season. In 2002 after moving to Utah, he was quickly invited to join the UVSC coaching staff. "When fans come to the games they can expect to see a quick paced game," he said. "I like to think of it as the Sacramento Kings the past couple years. We'll be a fast transition team; moving the ball quickly and scoring every chance we get." "This year, one of our goals is to get our fans involved in our program and becoming part of our'team." They plan to do two things in particular. One is to welcome fans into the "family" - or should I say, welcome them into the "living room." "For the 100th fan through the gates, we're gonna bring a couch down to thefieldand let them watch the game from there," Wagar said. "We want to give them a good experience. We want our games to be a family atmosphere," The second pitch is when UVSC scores two goals and wins. If that" happens, the team will be serving ice cream cones to every fan in attendance. "We want to have personal relationships with our fans," Wagar said. "We want to be able to talk to those people who come to support us/* The next chance to lend that support is Saturday, Sep. 10 against Cal Baptist. Send story ideas to smfggs86@H |