Heavy Hitter : Clements, Northridge’s All-Time Leader in Kills, Makes Sure They Count

Her coach dubbed her “Game Player,” early in the season because of her propensity to play at a dramatically higher level in matches than in practices, and Missy Clements of Cal State Northridge says the nickname fits her to a T.

Clements, who has more kills than any player in Northridge volleyball history, doesn’t loaf in practice, but neither does she train with the same high intensity as her teammates.

“It’s not like she doesn’t try,” teammate Heather Anderson said. “She’s not that bad. But for a game, she definitely picks it up a notch.”

Or two, or three.

“I don’t know any athlete that plays at the same level from practice to games, but I just happen to be one of those players who goes from way down here to way up here,” Clements said, raising her hand from near the floor to above her head.

“I’ve just never been a practice player. I’ve hated practice.”

Put her in a match, however, and the usually laid-back senior becomes the driving force for a team that opens play today in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in Kansas City.

“Every game, I’m just really psyched up,” she said. “I love to play under pressure. I love to play in front of crowds. If they could get a crowd to go into practice, I’d be fine.”

In spite of that, the 5-foot-11 Clements has racked up some big numbers during her four-year career.

She has 1,372 kills and is averaging a school-record 4.83 kills a game this season.

Her 459 kills this year are a career high and rank second on the all-time Northridge list behind Kristy Olson, who had 546 in 1984.

Led by Clements, Aimee Stone (366 kills) and Anderson (318), Northridge (17-8) is a high-powered attacking team, although how well the Matadors block and play defense will ultimately determine their success in the 20-team NIVC.

Although Northridge’s players were disappointed Sunday when they were not selected to play in the 48-team NCAA Division I tournament, Clements is grateful to be competing in the postseason as the clock winds down on her college career.

For Clements, Anderson and Ana Kristich, the four-year odyssey is filled with ups and downs.

All three players were recruited by then-Matador Coach Walt Ker out of high school.

Clements, Cal-Hi Sports’ 1990 State player of the year, and Kristich were teammates on a La Habra High team that won State Division II titles in 1989 and ’90. Anderson played for a Clovis High squad that posted a 69-6 record during her final two seasons.

As freshmen, Clements and Kristich started on a Northridge team that posted a 16-18 record.

As sophomores, Clements, Anderson and Kristich played key roles as the Matadors (27-8) advanced to the Division I playoffs for the first time.

Although they were swept by USC in the first round, the future looked bright for Northridge.

Then the program began to unravel.

Ker, who had a 401-144 record in 14 seasons, resigned in January, 1993, citing “family considerations.”

It was later learned that two members of the 1992 squad filed sexual harassment charges against him with the school and several former players alleged that he had consensual sexual relations with team members in the past.

When Northridge couldn’t find a replacement, Matador men’s Coach John Price agreed to coach the women for one season even though he never coached women before.

“We had to go through hell with John, but it was for a purpose,” she said. “Our year with John made us a lot more competitive with each other and with other teams, but it just didn’t pay off right away during the season.”

Price guided Northridge to a runner-up finish in the 1993 Division I men’s tournament, but the women posted a 12-17 record and failed to qualify for postseason play for the first time since 1978.

The hiring of Lian Kang Lu last December steadied the team.

Lu, an assistant at UC Santa Barbara from 1984-93, is regarded as one of the top technical coaches in the world.

“I’ve learned so many more things from him in one season and in the spring than I have in years of playing for someone else,” Clements said. “I totally believe that he knows what he’s doing when he coaches women.”

Lu frankly discusses Clements’ strengths and weaknesses.

“In the game, she always fights, she always wants to win, she’s always positive,” he said. “But it’s hard to get her to practice. . . . She is a very good attacker. Her wrist work is very good. But her passive skills, her blocking, her passing, her digging, are not so good.”

Clements hasn’t decided to play after college. She wants to let her body heal--she has dislocated her left knee three times during her career--and after that her plans are best described as unclear.

She has lost interest in her major, environmental health, and isn’t close to graduating.

Clements said wistfully she would like the job of Julie McCoy, cruise director on the television series “The Love Boat.”

“I mean, how great a job is that? I’m a people person. I love being around people. I have a great time with them. I already know that I can’t have a desk job for the rest of my life.”

Clements’ Career

Missy Clements is the all-time kill leader at Cal State Northridge.

Year Kills Pct. 1994 459 .284 1993 405 .232 1992 206 .228 1991 302 .170 Totals 1,372 .233