UCSD’s Promotions: Service With a Smile

Doug Dannevik, UC San Diego women’s volleyball coach, has won six NCAA Division III titles in the past 10 years. So it is hard for anyone to question his coaching methods.

It is also becoming difficult to question Dannevik’s promoting methods.

Dannevik, a loyal fan of the Grateful Dead, held a “Tie-Dye Night” last year for one of his team’s games. His players wore tie-dyed uniforms--the band’s trademark--and a Dead favorite, “Friend of the Devil” was sung before “America The Beautiful.”

The promotion drew almost 400 people on a weekday night to UCSD’s gym. The tie-dyed uniforms were designed in school colors of blue and gold by the father of Triton player Elizabeth Tan. The Tritons made their fashion statement last season in the NCAA Division III regional final and the championship game.

The team was also pictured on the cover of The NCAA News in its tie-dyed uniforms.

The second Tie-Dye Night is Saturday, and Dannevik said he is expecting the biggest crowd of the year for Division II Chapman College.

Dannevik said players’ parents have bought tie-dyes for the game. A Dead song, probably “Sugar Magnolia,” will be sung instead of the national anthem, and the pep band will play Dead songs before the game.

“I kind of did it as a lark,” Dannevik said. “But it’s become kind of a unity thing with our players.”

Said Bill Gannon, UCSD’s sports information director: “When Doug approached me with the idea, I thought it was a great idea. It will probably become a tradition.”

What did UCSD Athletic Director Judy Sweet think of the Dannevik’s promotion?

“She didn’t know about it at first,” Dannevik said. “But she heard a lot of positive things. She told me, ‘I’ll be damned.’ ”

Streaking Tritons: There is little doubt UCSD will make the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Tritons are 14-2 and have won 11 consecutive matches and 30 consecutive games. When the first NCAA Division III rankings come out later this week, UCSD (10-0 against Division III competition) is expected to be ranked No. 1.

Dannevik said two of the biggest reasons for the Tritons’ success are sophomores Julie Fabian and Heather Holtzclaw.

Fabian, a setter, played little on last year’s championship team, but this year she already has been named MVP of UCSD’s tournament.

“I keep forgetting that I’m giving her more than she’s able to handle,” Dannevik said. “But Julie has handled the job better than our senior did last year.”

Holtzclaw, a middle blocker, started last year’s NCAA finals, but Dannevik said she wasn’t quite ready for it.

“She didn’t handle it well,” Dannevik said. “She almost gagged. But Heather has really grown up and is playing well.”

Holtzclaw was named to the all-tournament team at UCSD.

Go Cal Lu!: Channel 8’s Hank Bauer was in a particularly jovial mood Sunday at the Charger-Chief game. After three defeats, his alma mater, Cal Lutheran, won its first game this season. It defeated the University of San Diego, 21-20, on a quarterback sneak with 13 seconds left on Saturday.

“I’ll be flying high all week,” Bauer said. “Cal Lu finally won one.”

No Replays Here: Torero Coach Brian Fogarty still hasn’t seen proof that Cal Lutheran quarterback Adam Hacker crossed the goal line on the fourth-and-one touchdown that gave the Kingsmen the victory.

There were no replays. Film taken of the second half did not develop, and Fogerty was waiting to receive Cal Lutheran’s reel.

“Our guys still swear he didn’t make it,” Fogarty said. “And we’ll probably never know.”

But the coach made no excuses. Fogarty added, “But we should have stopped them earlier in the (73-yard) drive.”

Nice Comeback: Jose Luis Noriega improved his record to 11-2 for the National Intercollegiate Clay Court Tennis Championships when he reached the finals Sunday in Wilmington, N.C.

Noriega, who won the event in 1989 and reached the quarterfinals last year, lost in the finals to Mohamed Ridaoui of Mississippi, 6-4, 6-4. The tournament marked the first time Noriega had picked up a racquet since the Toreros’ season ended last June.