A Rebuilt U.S. Women’s Team Shows Signs of Improvement

From the U.S. women’s volleyball team that won the silver medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics, only one player, reserve setter Kim Ruddins, is on the team that will compete this summer in Seoul, South Korea. That has forced Coach Terry Liskevych, who succeeded controversial Arie Selinger, to rebuild the program.

It hasn’t been easy. The United States finished 10th in the 1986 World Championships. But if recent results are an indication, Liskevych has the team in position to become a world power again before the 1992 Summer Games.

As for Seoul, he said the U.S. women could finish as high as fourth and probably no lower than seventh.

Recently, the United States finished undefeated in the Canada Cup in Montreal, including a 5-set victory over top-ranked Cuba in the final. The U.S. women have an 11-1 record this year. Nine players already have indicated that they will return next year, but Liskevych has not decided about his future.

“I would consider coming back if they would consider having me back,” he said. “The tough thing about this job is being away from my family.My goal is to leave the program the best it can be, whenever that may be.”