LONG BEACH STATE NOTEBOOK / JASON REID : Boychuk Works Overtime to Sell Women’s Basketball Team

Dallas Boychuk works well with the public. After the Long Beach State women’s basketball team committed 41 turnovers in her first game as coach of the 49ers, Boychuk explained to fans that there was really no need to worry.

Her communication skills have been in full use since a 98-78 victory over an alumni team Nov. 5 at the Pyramid.

Understandably, the turnovers caused concern. Most know the team isn’t expected to be great--Long Beach was selected eighth in the Big West Conference coaches’ poll--but 41 turnovers? In a victory?

And this had the fans really worried: Akia Hardy, the starting point guard, committed 18.

“Yeah, I know that’s a lot,” Boychuk said. “But it really wasn’t as bad as it looked. A lot of those turnovers came from double-teaming, and we hadn’t worked on that yet.

“Up to that point, we were just trying to put in our offense. When you’re coming in new, you even have to teach the drills you do in practice. We hadn’t put everything in yet.”

As for Hardy’s performance, Boychuk doesn’t expect 18 turnovers again.

“She has done a much better job in practice,” Boychuk said. “That’s why we play games like that.”

The next tuneup comes Sunday. Long Beach plays host to the Mexican national team at 2 p.m. at the Pyramid.

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Same road, different purpose: Boychuk is busy recruiting, something she knows how to do.

In her three seasons as recruiting coordinator at Purdue, Boychuk became known as one of the game’s best.

Boychuk is looking for players during the 49ers’ break between exhibition games. Her first trip for 49er recruits went nicely, she said.

“I know a lot of people throughout the country, so I wrote to all my friends when I got the job to let them know where I am,” she said. “It’s obviously good to know people in a lot of places, but recruiting is tough no matter where you are.”

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Motivational stuff: Her colleagues’ assessment of the 49ers doesn’t faze Boychuk. The underdog thing has its benefits, she said.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Boychuk said. “No one expects much from us, but [the players] think they are a lot better than that. I put a copy of the poll in everyone’s locker. We’ll see.”

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Tournament madness: A cost-cutting decision to eliminate the ninth-place team from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation water polo tournament angered coaches.

They voted last season to include all teams in the tournament, which was scheduled to be played Nov. 24-26 at Long Beach State. But during the middle of this season, federation administrators decided they could save a substantial amount of money by eliminating one team.

Ah, bad idea. The coaches moved swiftly, letting their athletic directors know what they thought of the idea.

“Yeah, you’re darn right we were upset,” said Ken Lindgren, Long Beach State water polo coach. “We voted unanimously to include all the teams, and then they just decide to change it.”

The problem is resolved. The tournament will be played at Newport Harbor High to reduce costs. The field will include all teams.

Just call it the great water polo compromise.

“They did the right thing,” Lindgren said. “You just can’t do something like that in the middle of the season.”

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Still rolling: Water polo player Kip Parsons (Villa Park High) is having one of his best seasons. He has been especially hot lately.

Parsons leads Long Beach with 42 goals. Opponents design their game plans to stop him, but Parsons remains productive.

“Sometimes it’s tough for the guys to get the ball to me,” he said, “but they’ve been doing a good job lately.”

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Bigger job: Guard James Cotton, a tireless worker, loves the 49ers’ new scheme because it makes him work harder. Coach Seth Greenberg switched to an attacking, fast-paced offense and defense to best use his players’ skills.

Cotton said his coach won’t be disappointed.

“We all wanted to run,” said Cotton. “We’re in shape and we just want to keep going.”