Lady spikers preparing for 1997 title run

Look into the eyes of the players. Look into the eyes of the coaching staff. Look real hard.

There are no signs of disappointment, no signs of anger, but there is only a burning desire to finish what they have started.

The eyes of the Penn State women's volleyball players hold a feeling that they left something undone as they returned to Happy Valley in December. That something is a Final Four berth that was grasped by Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers battled back from a 10-4 deficit to beat Penn State in a match considered one of the most exciting in NCAA tournament history.

So as the Lady Lions returned to the court for a month of spring practice in mid-March, there was a new sense of motivation running through their minds. Their goal is cut and dry: Repeat as Big Ten champions and win their first-ever national title.

"The kind of team that we have, we're so stacked that anything but a national championship will be a disappointment," outside hitter Nikki Higley said.

Although the bitter defeat at Lincoln, Neb., remains in the players' minds, the thought of returning to practice seemed to spurn the Lady Lions on.

"We've been very focused," setter Bonnie Bremner said. "We have a tough fall season. Everyone knows we need to work hard right now."

If Penn State could have gotten that one kill in that wild fifth game against Nebraska, it would have faced Stanford in the Final Four. The Lady Lions didn't, but they will have some retribution Friday, when they travel to Palo Alto, Calif., to scrimmage the defending national champions.

It's a preview of the long line of top talent on the Penn State fall schedule, as it not only faces the Cardinal in the regular season but also other powerhouses like Texas, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

"It's going to give us an idea of the kind of level we need to be at to win a national championship," Higley said. "We need to take a good look at Stanford and see what it takes."

Penn State lost three key players to graduation, two of them their best defensive players.

Angie Kammer and Heidi Rottinghaus were in the top 10 in digs in Big Ten play. Now Penn State coach Russ Rose must search for players who can pick up the defensive slack.

"We have a long way to go defensively," he said. "We're looking for leadership and to improve on areas we need to work on."

Another concern for Rose is the hole left at the backup setter position, which was opened when Samantha Spink transferred to Washington State in January. Rose says he will tinker with the other players on the team to see if they can become a suitable backup for Bremner.

"We weren't prepared for Sam to leave," Rose said. "We're going to be looking at some setters on our team."

The Lady Lions seem to have everything else intact. Terri Zemaitis, a first-team All-American last year, has solidified the leader position.

Other returning players include opposite hitters Christy Cochran, Emily Stout and Lindsay Anderson.

The battle for backrow positions will be among Jen Burdis, Tomuke Ebuwei, Kalna Miller and Amanda Thomas, who is returning to the Lady Lions after redshirting last year with an injured shoulder.

The 1996 freshman class of Bremner, middle hitter Lauren Cacciamani and outside hitter Carrie Schonveld looks to improve its individual game after posting stellar rookie seasons.

"We have a lot of talented players," Rose said. "We are strong in the middle, with Terri and Lauren, while Emily and Christy have to gain some confidence. We want to work on individual skills, working on ball handling and finding replacements for who's graduated."

The Lady Lions host a scrimmage tournament April 19 at Rec Hall, bringing in teams like Georgetown, North Carolina and Maryland.

Although the work and sweat is hard for the players and coaches, and since it's months removed from August and the official start of the 1997 season, spring practice may help pay off in the form of a national title.

"The spring is not as enjoyable as the fall," Rose said, "but it's still part of the season."