When Becky Green began her sophomore season at UCLA, she was
just expected to be a solid contributor, providing support for the
team’s five proven seniors.
Little did she know that in the biggest game of the season last
Friday against arch rival USC, she would be the Bruins’ go-to
hitter.
“This is what I came to UCLA for,” Green said.
“I wanted to be counted upon in the most crucial
situations.”
Green recorded 20 kills against the Trojans, the fourth time in
the last five matches she’s led the team in kills. Since the
games have become more significant, Green’s performance has
been that much improved. In the beginning of the season, few would
have thought it. Now, her coaches and teammates have come to expect
it.
“I knew my opportunity would come eventually, and I just
had to keep playing hard.”
At UCLA, her career hasn’t always panned out as she had
envisioned.
Green spent much of her freshman year on the bench, backing up
Heather Cullen and Colby Lyman and for the most part, was not ready
to handle the transition from high school to college.
“I was still growing up last year,” Green said.
“I don’t think I was ready to be out there
yet.”
Even after being given a year to mature, Green was unable to
make much of an impact this season right away. She spent much of
the first half of this season recovering from injuries to her back,
and it looked as if her second season would eerily resemble her
first, with Green looking on from the sidelines.
While Green was understandably frustrated that she wasn’t
out there with her teammates, she was more concerned with the
extent of her injury, and how long it would keep her off the
court.
“I was really scared with the first injury,” Green
said. “The trainer said I could be out from two days to two
months, and I didn’t want to take any chances.”
While Green’s first injury came at a time when the Bruin
squad was relatively healthy, her second injury occurred last month
when UCLA was missing both Cullen and Brittany Ringel from the
lineup.
“When the injury first happened, I was a bit
disappointed,” Green said. “But when the second injury
happened, I felt my team really needed me.”
When Green returned to the UCLA lineup, she was forced to take
on a bigger role with the team. Green has picked up the slack for
the injured Cullen and carried the team on her shoulders.
Now second on the team with 2.89 kills per game, Green has
become one of the Bruins’ most dependable hitters.
“Becky has been a great surprise for us,” coach Andy
Banachowski said. “She has really stepped up her play and
fought through her injuries.”
Ever since the Bruins have switched from their True Blue offense
to a more traditional one, Green’s number of hitting attempts
has skyrocketed. Now that UCLA has seen Green’s true
potential, the Bruins will be looking to Green for leading them
this year and in the future.
“I will be looking for Colby and Becky to assert
themselves and take a bigger role next year,” Banachowski
said. “I think the offense really fits her strengths. And she
adapted well to it.”
If Green’s experience this year is any indication of her
resilience and leadership, the Bruins will be confident next
season. For a long time, however, it didn’t look like Green
would be playing in a Bruin uniform.
During her freshman year of high school, Green’s
volleyball team went an abysmal 1-9, and the Huntington Beach
native was extremely discouraged.
“It was a very humbling experience,” Green said.
“I never thought I could go through something like
that.”
But through hard work and determination, Green eventually turned
that 1-9 team into the section champions by her senior season.
“Becky has always liked a challenge,” said Jeff
Caughthran, Green’s high school coach. “And that has
carried her throughout her career.”
Green’s championship season caught the eyes of coaches
everywhere, and in particular, Banachowski.
“We could see that Becky just loved to play, and her hard
work displays that,” Banachowski said.
But despite the Bruin coach’s best efforts, it
didn’t look like Banachowski was going to have the
opportunity to coach Green.
Green’s high school club, Cal Juniors, was owned by a
member of the Long Beach State volleyball program, and it was
expected that she would attend that school like many members of her
club program.
But for Green, it was not what she wanted.
“Long Beach was all that I knew,” Green said.
“I wanted something different, and UCLA was it.”
The Bruins are thankful for it.