PLNC Is Taking Advantage of All Breaks of Game

Point Loma Nazarene has an unusual formula for winning championships: Lose your best player, then close ranks. It worked in women’s basketball when Shannon Abrams broke her hand at midseason and the Crusaders went on a winning streak that led to the Golden State Athletic Conference championship.

It also happened in men’s tennis when Hans Hoegstedt, PLNC’s No. 1 singles player the past three years, suffered a stress fracture in the femur of his right leg in November. Last week, the Crusaders (12-3, 7-0) clinched their first GSAC title. PLNC defeated host Azusa Pacific, 7-2, winning all but the Nos. 1 and 2 singles matches.

Coach Rich Hills has seen better teams in his 10 seasons with the Crusaders. Three years ago PLNC finished second in the NAIA District 3 tournament. Hills knew he had a team that could get the ball across the net this year, but he had no idea they could be champions.

“We were expecting to do very well, but when we lost Hans we weren’t very optimistic,” Hills said. “Every match has been a surprise. They just keep coming through.”

The Crusaders underwent a transformation. After they lost their top player, Hills said everybody took on the responsibility to play better.

“I think some people are doing some extra stuff,” Hills said. “We’ve won more matches because we’re very deep. A lot of guys have been playing very strong.”

PLNC’s surprise season also has a surprise local hero: Sean Willette. The former Serra High player transfered to PLNC after he decided he wasn’t suited for Virginia Tech. In Willette, the Crusaders obtained a Division I player who had four years of eligibility. He’s 13-2 and has won 12 consecutive singles matches.

“I knew he was a player; he was ranked as a junior here for years,” Hills said. “But I wasn’t expecting him to be that good this early. I didn’t know he would be that consistently strong. He’s been a surprise player. He’s had a great year. He’s probably playing the best of anybody.”

There’s also a happy footnote to the Crusader season. Hoegstedt returned to play doubles in Thursday’s clincher over Azusa. Hoegstedt and partner Rob Pearson posted a consecutive-set victory, 6-3, 6-0.

Some Westwood heritage: There are certain fringe benefits that go along with playing basketball at Christian Heritage. Among them is having a former UCLA Bruin and NBA player, Swen Nater, as coach. And postseason banquets can be glamorous. Nater will present John Wooden, his former UCLA coach, as the keynote speaker during the Hawks’ 1991 awards banquet Friday.

Nater will give his old mentor a Lifetime Education Award and praise him not only for his work on the court, but what he did for his athletes away from the game.

“Coach Wooden was very involved in his players’ lives, and has been a tremendous influence on them in much more than basketball,” Nater said. “In fact, he was honored recently (at the NCAA Final Four) for doing just that, teaching them about life instead of just basketball.”

Rankings volley: It is generally accepted that volleyball is dominated by West Coast teams. But last week’s rankings by the coaches’ poll had a suspicious East Coast flavor that left Jack Henn, San Diego State men’s coach, with an unpleasant aftertaste.

The Aztecs, who were upset by Penn State April 7, fell from No. 3 to No. 5 in the poll. The Nittany Lions moved from No. 5 to No. 4. Cal State Northridge, coming off a loss to SDSU, jumped to No. 3. UCLA, which had just handed No. 1 USC its only loss of the season, stayed at No. 6.

“I would venture to guess that a lot of the voting strength came from the East Coast,” Henn said of the curious reshuffling. “And they wanted some representation high in the rankings.”

Two West Coast teams--UCLA and SDSU--apparently were slighted, as another, Northridge, was awarded for doing nothing. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Henn resigned from the top-20 coaches’ panel four years ago.

“I elected not to continue because I think things should be determined on the court,” Henn said. “I think the kids should determine who’s the best.”

Stormin’ Storto: SDSU women’s tennis player Nicole Storto is ranked No. 54 out of 100 Division I singles players by the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches’ Assn., but don’t expect her to be that low much longer. Storto is the hottest player in the Western Athletic Conference, having won 10 of her past 12 matches. She’s won four consecutive, including victories over UC Santa Barbara’s Debbie Goldberger and Arizona State’s Meredith Geiger last week to bring her record to 13-6. In doubles, Storto and Dorey Brandt are ranked 14th.