| Show Stingers Battle Comets Southern California is generally generally generally gen gen- acknowledged as the hotbed of volleyball in hi the United States but a quick glance at the respective rosters rosters rosters ros ros- of the Salt Lake Stingers and Denver Comets would indicate that the State of Utah is not far bel behind nd The two teams square off Saturday Saturday Saturday Satur Satur- day night at in the Salt Palace as the curtain goes up upon upon upon on the 1980 International Volleyball Association sea sea- son No less than five players involved in Saturday nights night's contest spent their college days in Utah Included in the cast of native sons and daughters daugh daugh- are venerable Comets l hit hit- t- t ter blocker Jon Stanley setter setter setter set set- ter Dave Brown and Stingers passer-defender passer J Joni oni Rogers of Brigham Young University and opposing aces Jerrie McGahan of Denver and the Stingers' Stingers Sandy Lynn both of Utah State Only the quintets quintet's McGahan whom had already played professional volleyball before enrolling at did not play volleyball at a Utah School She did however become the starting center for the UT AG women's basketball basketball basketball bas bas- team and led the club in scoring and rebounding She is the only remaining female charter member of the Comets and has been in the IV IVA A since 1976 Of the group the 6 pound Stanley is the undisputed undisputed undisputed veteran as he enters his l s sixth pro season on Saturday night Once a starting forward for BYUs BYU's basketball team Stanley learned to play volleyball volleyball volleyball vol vol- in 1964 and quickly established himself as one of the greatest hitter blockers ever developed in the United States He led the LA Stars to the first IV IVA A title in 1975 and is the coach in league history For the first fust time in his pro career Stanley begins a season in the sole capacity of player as Miles Pabst takes over the Denver head coaching reins at Stanley's Stanleys Stanleys Stanley's Stanleys Stanley's Stan Stan- leys ley's request this season In the Salt Lake back- back court J Joni oni Rogers and Sandy Lynn will vie for the right to remain as a Stinger reserve passer defender in 1980 The inability of Olympic team refugee Laurel Brassey to return to Salt Lake City in time for the game from the Peoples People's Republic of Cl China na where she is on assignment as asa asa asa a volleyball commentator for TV ABC-TV has prolonged the Rogers Lynn duel Rogers an season off-season resident resident resident resi resi- dent of Phoenix Arizona parlayed an appearance at the Stingers local tryout camp last year into a time part-time pro volleyball starting assignment in Salt Lake She holds a BS in Physical Education from BYU and taught school for forone forone forone one year in Logan Recent Utah State graduate graduate graduate grad grad- Sandy Lynn was drafted by the Stingers in the round of this years year's IVA IV A draft in February She captained the 1978 championship championship champ champ- p team and is a former member of the US U.S. National Team Lynn turned down the opportunity to play for the Albuquerque Lasers in 1979 in hopes of playing in Utah tl this s season Rookie Denver setter Dave Brown of BYU was a 2nd round draft choice in ary Brown replaces Luis I Hernandez as the Comets quarterback after serving as setter and captain of coach Carl McGown's Cougars Brown is 7 5 5 pounds All five will be inaction in inaction inaction action at the Salt Palace on Saturday night as the second season of pro volleyball in Utah kicks off Good seats remain available at the Salt Palace Box Office starting at just Additional information information information mation may be obtained by contacting the Stingers office at |
