Sunday, August 25, 1996
This weekend’s tournament boasts trio of top teamsBy Grace
Wen
Summer Bruin Senior Staff
"It’s really exciting to play a respectable team like UCLA."
"It’s fun to compete with UCLA." "I enjoy playing UCLA." The
sentiments of three different volleyball coaches seem to be one in
the same  they are all looking forward to playing the
Bruins.
And with good reason. Ranked sixth in the nation by a USA Today
pre-season poll, the UCLA women’s volleyball team will travel to
Honolulu this weekend to take on Louisville, Hawaii, and Michigan
in the Hawaiian Airlines Classic.
Opponents know that when they step on the court against UCLA,
they will always be given a run for their money.
UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski believes teams should be
psyched to play against UCLA.
"We work hard to get the best players here and we train them
hard. We know people get up to play us. We like that challenge,"
Banachowski said.
The Bruins will definitely be challenged during the four-day
pre-season tournament. UCLA will battle two teams ranked at
opposite ends of the top-25 and a third team that has roots in
Westwood.
On Friday, UCLA will play No.25 University of Louisville. The
Cardinals return five starters from a team that went 29-6 and
finished with a perfect 12-0 record in conference play last year.
New head coach Leonid Yelin says that his team is looking forward
to playing UCLA.
"We are very excited," Yelin said. "It’s exciting to play with
respectable teams like UCLA and Hawaii. It’s a very prestigious
tournament."
Although playing teams such as the Bruins and Rainbows may seem
like a tough way to break into his new job, Yelin says that his
focus will be on getting his team to play the same way they
practice.
After Friday’s match, UCLA will get one day off to prepare for
Michigan and Hawaii.
Despite the fact that UCLA and Michigan will have met only once
in the schools’ history prior to this Sunday’s match-up, Wolverine
head coach Greg Giovanazzi and his assistants Irene Renteria and
Mora Kanim are no strangers to Westwood. All three are UCLA
graduates and former Bruin volleyball players. In addition,
Giovanazzi and Irene Renteria both served as assistants to
Banachowski.
"We’re kind of a UCLA East," Giovanazzi said. "We run a similar
offense. It’s a mirror of teams. Andy (Banachowski) and I share
similar coaching philosophies. It’s fun to compete with UCLA,
There’s a long history of friendship and competitiveness."
Banachowski agreed. "We’re pretty similar," he said. "He’s
coached here for a number of years under myself and under Al
Scates. He’s got a lot of the same thoughts that we do.
"Last year they (Michigan) played us a little bit better than we
expected them to be so I’m sure he’ll have his troops fired up to
play us. It’ll be fun to be able to play against them, former
players and coaches, and see who’s gotten their style down to work
the best."
Perhaps the most opposing styles of play will be witnessed on
Monday when UCLA takes the court against top-ranked Hawaii. Last
season, the Rainbows used scrappy defense and good ball control
skills to earn a 31-1 record with an 18-0 performance in the Big
West conference.
"It will be an interesting matchup because we have different
styles. We’re smaller but we’re quicker. UCLA is more athletic than
us. They’re more of a power team," Hawaii head coach Dave Shoji
said. "It’s always a battle. We’re two of the best programs in the
country. We have always had a good rivalry."
A good rivalry, indeed. Currently, Hawaii leads the series 26-25
and looks to defeat the Bruins for the second straight season.
Playing at home will give the ‘Bows the advantage because Hawaii
boasts the NCAA attendance records in both total attendance and per
game average.
Playing in front of the Hawaii crowd is a challenge that
Banachowski doesn’t shy away from. If anything, he regards it as a
good thing.
"It’s great to play over in Hawaii," Banachowski said. "Their
fans are so good. They’re so vocal and it gets so noisy. You want
to get all that stuff out of the way early on to find out what the
team is made of and what you need to do."
For the Bruins, the preseason focus will be on getting together
and creating a lineup, who have just two seniors  middle
blocker Kim Krull and setter Kelly Flannigan  who are
returning starters.
"We want to give everybody an opportunity to play some and try
and establish a lineup and get some consistency in what we’re doing
on the court," Banachowski said.
"The first games really tell you what you need to do and what
you’ve overlooked in the preseason as far as preparation goes. It’s
tough opening in this Hawaii tournament, playing such tough
competition but it answers some questions for us early on."
Players and coaches alike are excited about the Hawaiian
Airlines Classic. For some it will provide answers and for others
it will give the opportunity to play against good competition in a
beautiful place.UCLA Sports Info
Kelly Flannigan
Opponents know that when they step on the court against UCLA,
they will always be given a run for their money.UCLA Sports
Info
Kim Krull
Playing in front of the Hawaii crowd is a challenge.