Sarah Gregg was like an innocent bystander deemed guilty by
association. And the guilty turned out to be innocent.
Last season, as the Bruins prepared for their Round of 16 match
against Washington, the NCAA suspended all players who were natives
of Great Britain. Allegations that the players did not meet the
eligibility requirements forced Gregg, who had been a staple in the
middle of the Bruins’ lineup, out of the team tournament.
“(The NCAA) didn’t understand our schooling
system,” Gregg said.
The timing of the allegations was not intended to target Gregg
specifically. She feels it was perpetrated by a coach looking to
eliminate some of the British elite from the individual tournament,
particularly Northwestern standout Cristelle Grier.
“It was a stupid, random accusation,” Gregg said.
“There’s no way we shouldn’t have
played.”
The players’ eligibilities were restored before the
individual tournament, but the suspensions still played a role in
the Round of 16 match. Ironically, the NCAA’s actions may
have helped the Bruins, as the Huskies had to play without their
No. 2 player, Claire Carter.
The increased scrutiny of all foreign student-athletes has
forced Bruin coach Stella Sampras Webster to make sure everything
is in order when she recruits internationally. She anticipates no
problems with current Serbian freshman phenom Daniela Bercek.
SELECTION COMMITTEE QUESTION: When the Bruins
take to the court for their first round match against Long Beach
State this Friday, Sampras Webster will have a question for 49er
coach, Jenny Hilt-Costello, that has nothing to do with her
team.
Hilt-Costello is a member of the NCAA selection committee that
seeded both USC and UCLA below Washington in the tournament, even
though the Huskies finished behind both teams in conference
play.
“I’ll probably ask her about it,” Sampras
Webster said, noting that she feels Hilt-Costello has done a good
job representing the Pac-10.
MCGOODWIN’S STATUS: Although freshman
Alex McGoodwin has spent the last three months on the sideline,
Sampras Webster is not ruling out playing her in the NCAA
tournament.
Despite the prolonged absence, Sampras Webster believes
McGoodwin will be effective if she does play.
“She’s played under pressure her whole life,”
Sampras Webster said.
Should McGoodwin sit out, she will be able to redshirt this
season.