THE COLLEGES : Pierce Volleyball Victories Become Habit

Gina Johnson serves as a gauge of the Pierce College women’s volleyball team’s improvement since last season.

Not that there was all that much room for improvement.

Pierce finished 18-3 overall and in second place in the Western State Conference last season, 10th in the state.

Johnson, a 5-foot-5 outside hitter, was a starter and earned all-conference honors.

This season, through no fault of her own, she hasn’t been able to crack the starting lineup of a team that is undefeated through eight matches.

“It’s not a reflection on her,” Coach Steve Gazzaniga said. “She’s playing much better than she did last year. It’s more of a plus to our other girls. It’s a tribute to their talent.”

Pierce’s starters at outside hitter are 5-7 Carina Sailer, another returning all-conference choice, and 6-1 Nathalie Zodan, a transfer from Cal State Northridge.

At middle blocker are 6-0 Andrea Banducci--you guessed it, a returning all-conference selection; Marvette Williams, a 5-10 transfer from Santa Monica City College; and Lori Mertes, a 5-10 freshman from Chatsworth High.

Williams and Mertes can leap high enough to touch a basketball rim. “We’re more talented than ever,” Gazzaniga said.

It seems that way every season.

The season before Gazzaniga took over at Pierce, the team placed seventh in the conference. That was three years ago. Since then, Pierce has been one of the top programs in the state.

A major reason: an influx of well-schooled club players.

“Steve has done a real good job of tapping in and getting club players,” said Ken Stanley, coach of the Pierce men’s team. “The girls feel they belong. They like him, plus he’s doing a good job of coaching.”

Gazzaniga used his connections with the Zuma Bay Volleyball Club to scout and recruit top players.

Securing Mertes is a prime example.

Mertes was one of the state’s top high jumpers while at Chatsworth and she originally intended to accept a track and field scholarship from Brigham Young. However, only a month before she was set to graduate, BYU informed her that she was one math class shy of meeting entrance requirements.

Gazzaniga was waiting in the wings. He had seen Mertes play volleyball two seasons before, when he was coaching Zuma Bay and she was playing for the Southern Cal Volleyball Club.

“I actively recruited her while she was at Chatsworth, but she was one of those that you just don’t think you can touch them.”

Mertes enrolled at Pierce to play volleyball and in the spring she will compete in track and field for Valley College. Since Pierce does not have a women’s track program, the Los Angeles Community College District allows her to compete for another district school.

Players such as Mertes are especially important to Pierce because they are already seasoned competitors.

“The real key is experience,” Gazzaniga said. “It shows in the little finesse things these girls do. They’ve been on the court all the time and it makes a huge difference. Plus, they’re used to working. They’re not afraid to sweat.”

Pierce is competing at the College of the Sequoias tournament this weekend before playing host to defending conference champion Cuesta on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Passing fancy: If Cal State Long Beach defeats New Mexico State today, it will mark the first time since 1985 that the 49ers have won three consecutive football games in a season. Led by quarterback Todd Studer, formerly of Simi Valley High, Long Beach defeated Boise State, 21-20, last week. Studer completed 20 of 38 passes for two touchdowns and a season-high 318 yards.

Sean Cheevers, Long Beach’s junior kicker, is four for four in field-goal attempts this season and eight for eight in conversions. Cheevers is a walk-on from Moorpark College and Thousand Oaks High.

Briefly: Northridge Coach Bob Burt and Portland State Coach Pokey Allen both are seeking milestone victories tonight when their football teams meet at North Campus Stadium. A Northridge victory would be No. 31 for Burt, making him the winningest coach in CSUN football history. A Portland State victory would be No. 42 for Allen, tying him with Mouse Davis for the top spot on the Vikings’ all-time football coaches’ list. Burt and Allen both are in their fifth season.

The difference between Portland State and the rest of the Western Football Conference in recent years has been quality depth at every position. The same applies this season--at least at the quarterback spot. With starter Darren Del’Andrae on the sidelines last week, Don Bailey took over and completed 16 of 24 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns.

Portland has scored 56 points in the first quarter, more than any other WFC team. Northridge has allowed three points in the first quarter, the fewest of any conference team.