UCI Begins Brande Era in Women’s Volleyball

Charlie Brande led UC Irvine to its most successful men’s volleyball season in only his third year as coach in 1999, when the Anteaters finished 14-11.

Now Brande, a highly successful club coach in Orange County, will try to revitalize the UCI women’s volleyball team, beginning with its season opener tonight at 7 against Northwestern in Crawford Hall.

“I don’t know how we’ll finish this season,” Brande said, “but our goal will be to get better every day.”

Last season the Anteaters finished last among six teams in the Big West Conference’s Western Division. Irvine was 8-20 overall.

The Big West will become a single-division conference this year, with the departure of New Mexico State, Nevada and North Texas, but that won’t make it any easier for the Anteaters--or anybody else, for that matter--because the conference’s perennial powers are still around.

Long Beach State is ranked No. 4 in the American Volleyball Assn. coaches national poll and the 49ers are the preseason favorites to win the conference. Pacific is ranked 12th nationally, and UC Santa Barbara 14th.

Irvine will be led by five seniors, including outside hitter Brooke Witt and middle blocker Larissa Carter. Witt had a team-leading average of 3.52 kills per game and was third on the team in digs with a 2.41 average last season. Carter averaged 3.26 kills as a junior. “They’ll be dominant players for us,” Brande said.

Sophomore setter Jamie Pilbeam was selected to the Big West All-Freshman team last season. Irvine has also added three transfers: Sophomore outside hitter Chanda McLeod, a two-time all-county player for Marina, has joined the team after playing one season at Arkansas, and junior middle blocker Rebecca Larsen has transferred from Orange Coast College. Lucy Weiner is a transfer from Pittsburg State in Kansas.

Brande also expects contributions from two freshmen: Outside hitter Brenda Waterman, who played on Newport Harbor’s state championship teams in 1998 and ‘99, and Amanda Sellers, who earned all-Southern Section honors at Cypress High.

“Chanda and Brenda played for me on my club team in the past,” Brande said. “They’ve added a lot of spark and made our practices that much more intense.”

Laura Alford, who coached Cincinnati to a 28-7 record and a Conference USA championship last season, has been hired as Brande’s associate head coach. She played at Foothill High, Golden West College and Hawaii.

“When they asked me to be director of volleyball, I told them the first thing they needed to do was get Laura Alford to come home,” Brande said. “She had also played on my club team.”

VANGUARD HOPEFUL

Vanguard women’s volleyball Coach Tim Johnson was undeterred after his young team was swept by Cal Poly Pomona in its season opener.

“We don’t have any seniors, so we will be looking to our juniors and other returners for leadership,” Johnson said. “I’m excited about this year’s team and I’m looking forward to having a successful and fun year.”

Junior outside hitter Carly Birkhauser did not play against Pomona because she has a hip flexor injury.

“She could have helped us tremendously,” Johnson said. “She has great ball control, can put the ball away, and has great court leadership.”

Junior Megan Godfrey is expected to be the team’s “go-to player,” Johnson said, and freshman Michelle Tucker, a 6-2 middle blocker can “put the ball away.” Freshman Debby Baeder “has a firecracker personality that gets everybody pumped up,” Johnson said.

Concordia Coach Jody Wise, who has only two starters returning, has a positive outlook for her team despite a five-game loss in the opener against Cal State Dominguez Hills, an NCAA Division II team.

“Our goal is to make the playoffs,” Wise said. “We have quality players and though we are a new team, I think we’ll surprise some people.”

Starting right-side hitter Annie Sand, middle blocker Laura Welch, and defensive specialist Nicki Mathieu, who had 267 digs in 1999, return. But replacing graduated setter Angie Barkin, who holds the school career record for assists, may fall on the shoulders of Theresa Gunsaulus, a transfer from Long Beach College.

NOTEWORTHY

The installation of lights at the UC Irvine track/soccer stadium is scheduled to begin by the end of the month, according to Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. The Anteaters’ first night event was supposed to be a men’s soccer game Sept 21 against UCLA. The first women’s soccer night game is slated Oct. 6 against Boise State. . . . Track Coach Vince O’Boyle has said the lights will allow for extended practice times, particularly during the winter, and also give him the opportunity to consider hosting a night track meet or two next spring. . . . Vanguard softball Coach Beth Renkoski has been hired full-time by the Lions. She will continue to handle sports media relations, in addition to the softball team. . . . The UCI men’s water polo team, which opens its season Saturday, is ranked sixth in the coaches’ preseason poll. UCLA is No. 1. . . . Five Cal State Fullerton gymnasts have earned Scholastic All-American honors from the National Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches Assn. Robin Cannady, Elizabeth Schneider, Melissa Lewis, Andrea Boggs and Joanna Hughes were among 344 athletes selected.

*

Staff writer Paul McLeod contributed to this story.

*

If you have an item or idea for the college report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at lon.eubanks@latimes.com or paul.mcleod@latimes. com