Rabello is a Woman for All Seasons

In the days of two-sport athletes Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, Point Loma Nazarene College has Robin Rabello--a five-sport athlete.

Rabello actually plays only three varsity sports--volleyball, basketball and softball at PLNC--but that’s not her fault. Rabello excelled in soccer and golf as a youth and could probably play it on a varsity level, but neither women’s sport is offered at PLNC.

Barb Wnek, who coaches Rabello in softball and volleyball, is not sure which sport is Rabello’s best.

“It’s hard to say,” Wnek said. “I’ve always thought about that. If she put all she had into one, it’s scary to think how good she could be. Because she’s already dominating in two sports now.”

Rabello, who attended Point Loma High, was named first-team All-District 3 and second-team All-NAIA in volleyball this season and is on her way to a first-team All-NAIA season in softball.

She was named District 3 softball player of the week Tuesday for the second consecutive week. Rabello leads the district in hitting (.606), home runs (six), triples (seven) and stolen bases (27).

All this has come while Rabello, 6 feet, has been recovering from surgery performed last fall on her foot that caused her to miss the basketball season.

“It doesn’t surprise me that she’s come out and played this well,” Wnek said. “With the average athlete, I might be. But Robin is not your average athlete.”

Wnek said she became convinced of that this fall when she watched Rabello record 38 kills in a District 3 semifinal loss to Fresno Pacific while playing with a broken toe and three stress fractures in her foot.

And just when she thought there was one sport Rabello couldn’t play, Wnek shot a round of golf with her.

“If we had a women’s golf team, she would play on it,” Wnek said. “She hadn’t played in three or years, but she played like she hadn’t lost a thing. She was hitting the ball farther than most guys.”

Rabello is an outside hitter in volleyball, a power forward in basketball, but in softball she plays almost anywhere Wnek needs her.

She began the season as a catcher, but she is also the Crusaders’ top pitcher with an 8-9 record. Lately, she’s been filling in at shortstop because of an injury to the starter.

Wnek said Rabello’s most amazing statistic might be her 27 stolen bases.

“She’s not necessarily quick, she’s just smart,” Wnek said. “She’s very strong. Some girls have had to learn that the hard way.”

Although Rabello is a sophomore academically, PLNC opponents can expect to see three more years of her in basketball and softball. Because of her redshirt year in basketball, Rabello will only be a sophomore next season. Since the Crusader softball team is in its first season as varsity sport, Rabello is currently just a freshman there.

Who’s No. 1?: University of San Diego tennis Coach Sherri Stephens doesn’t know and frankly, she doesn’t care. As long as sophomores Laura Richards and Julie McKeon keep winning, Stephens will continue alternating them between one and two on her ladder.

Richards, from Vista High, is 10-1 at No. 1 and 5-1 at No. 2. McKeon, from Northbrook, Ill. is 6-1 at No. 1 and 5-1 at the two spot.

Stephens sometimes waits until minutes before the match to decide where to place Richards and McKeon.

“I see what the matchups are and how Julie and Laura are playing at the time,” Stephens said. “I want to make sure they get equal opportunity and I’ve never had two players so close in ability.”

Richards beat McKeon in the fall Rolex Invitational, but McKeon defeated Richards in a spring tournament between USD players. Stephens said, surprisingly, neither player has complained about the constant juggling.

“They’ve definitely had to be team players,” she said. “But they’ve never said a word about it. There’s been no competition between the two of them.”

Richards is ranked 25th nationally, McKeon is 33rd. As a doubles team, the pair is 12-4 and ranked 16th.

Stephens said she sees Richards and McKeon contending for the NCAA individual singles title.

“I’ve never said this before about my players, but I really think either one of them can win the whole thing,” she said.

McKeon defeated Cal’s Lisa Albano, a finalist in last year’s NCAA tournament, 6-2, 6-3, last week.

“Julie is playing smart,” Stephens said. “Last year, she let people play her. This year, she’s just dominating.”