NOTEBOOK : Welch’s Trying Season a Boon for Northridge

Beth Welch used to joke that when she died she would bleed crimson and gray. That’s how much the former Thousand Oaks High volleyball player loved Washington State.

Her first two years in Pullman, Wash., were a joy. She was the Cougars’ starting setter and she developed a great relationship with her coach, Karen Lamb.

But Lamb left the program and that all changed. The team went 9-29 in Welch’s junior season, including 2-16 in the Pacific 10 Conference. She was miserable.

Pac-10 player-of-the-week honors and selection to an all-tournament team barely eased the pain. With a heavy heart, Welch decided to leave her friends and the school she loved behind. Seven other players also left the program.

“It came to a point where I realized if I wanted to enjoy volleyball again I had to leave,” Welch said. “It was the hardest decision not knowing if anyone would want a senior. I had to do a lot of fast talking and moving because I wanted to leave at semester, in January.”

Welch narrowed her choices to San Diego State, Fresno Pacific and Cal State Northridge, finally selecting the Matadors because of Coach Walt Ker, who had recruited her out of high school.

“I didn’t even think of Northridge because I grew up near there,” Welch said. “But Walt invited me down to talk. We talked for two hours without one mention of volleyball. Walt wanted to know how I felt about going back home to school, my career, everything about me. I never thought I’d find a coach who took such a personal interest in me. That personal interest in players sold me.”

Welch did not have to sit out a year. The administrators at Washington State, with whom she became acquainted through her job in the athletic department, prepared the paper work and persuaded Cindy Fredrick, the new coach, to sign a release.

Welch’s arrival provided the Matadors with the skilled setter they would need to make the transition to Division I. Not only has she adapted to a complex offensive attack featuring myriad off-speed and quick sets, Welch digs and blocks and at 5-foot-7 even spikes with authority.

Destined to dig: Former Agoura High setter Dawn Krenik has to wonder about her timing. When the 5-7 sophomore transferred to CSUN in January from Portland State she thought she would be competing against sophomore-to-be Alison Wool for the starting setter position. Then Welch arrived and Krenik found herself playing back-row specialist again.

As a freshman at Portland State, Krenik was a back-row reserve because the Vikings had two senior setters ahead of her. Just as she was about to inherit the starting setter job, Krenik tore a ligament in her left knee and had to undergo major reconstructive surgery.

It took 1 1/2 years to rehabilitate, and less than three months ago Krenik could not jump without waking up the next day with a stiff and swollen knee. Then one day, her knee felt dramatically better.

During her rehabilitation Krenik decided to leave Portland State.

Not only did she miss boyfriend Rick Lopez, she disliked the weather.

“The rain . . .,” Krenik said. “I could never get used to it. Since I had another option, I knew Walt (Ker), I decided to transfer.”

Ker recruited Krenik out of high school, but she had no interest in Northridge in those days.

“I wanted to get away,” Krenik said. “I didn’t want to live in the Valley, and Portland State offered a full scholarship. At the time I liked the place. It is beautiful.”

Ironically, CSUN’s move to Division I had nothing to do with Krenik’s decision to transfer.

“I had no idea they were going Division I until I got down here,” said Krenik, whose Portland State team beat the Matadors in the NCAA Division II championship match her freshman year.