Post by roy on Jan 11, 2005 18:24:15 GMT -5
Digging a new role
Heralded recruit improved work ethic in transistion to college game
By Sagar Parikh
DAILY BRUIN REPORTER
sparikh@media.ucla.edu
When a player has a bad practice on the UCLA men's volleyball team, he is relegated to the second court at Pauley Pavilion behind the blue curtain.
For heralded freshman Tony Ker, being placed on the second court was his official introduction to the UCLA volleyball program.
"I had never played on a second team before," Ker said. "It was kind of a slap in the face. It was definitely an eye-opening experience, and it's what UCLA is all about."
On a team full of weapons, and one that is expected to compete for the NCAA title, Ker, UCLA's top recruit and a member of the U.S. Junior National Team, has had to take a back seat to walk-on Eric Chaghouri in his transition to libero this season for the Bruins.
Ker has already been placed on the second court twice and was on the bench for the start of the Bruins' season-opening tournament in Santa Barbara.
"He didn't show up with energy at Thursday's practice," UCLA men's volleyball coach Al Scates said. "And we had other players ready to step up in his absence."
For a two-time CIF MVP who expected to contribute to the program immediately, Ker was definitely taken aback by the move and gained a new sense of dedication.
"I was not very happy with the decision," Ker said. "But it made me realize how much harder I have to work for my position."
Ker, an attacker during high school, did not start playing libero until two years ago as a member of the junior national team.
At only 5-foot-10, however, Ker did not have many options regarding what positions he could play if he wanted to move on to the collegiate level.
"It was a very tough transition for him," said U.S. National Coach John Speraw, who was an assistant at UCLA under Scates. "He loves to attack the ball, but he realized that libero was going to be his best chance to play in college."
Despite the demotion, Ker has adjusted well thus far, starting in five preseason matches and entering the championship match in the second game of UCLA's season-opening tournament.
Ker replaced Chaghouri, a redshirt freshman who had started the two previous matches and recorded 34 passes without committing an error.
"That is the beauty of our team; anyone can come out and contribute," Scates said. "Every player must be prepared in practice."
If anyone has the background and preparation to handle the demands of the program, it's Ker.
His father, Walt Ker, was a volleyball coach at Cal State Northridge from 1976-1993 and led the Matador women's team to three NCAA titles.
Walt coached his son during his first two years at Valencia High School and for three years on the club level, and has attended all of his son's matches. He spoke with Tony following his demotion this past weekend, and felt that he could learn from the situation.
"The message was sent out to him really hard," Walt Ker said.
"Tony has always had the skill and ability. It's just the everyday preparation and discipline of UCLA that will be a challenge for him."
Ker started playing volleyball in the seventh grade for the Southern California Volleyball club, as he and his father drove nearly an hour and a half to practice everyday.
But it was his intensity in matches that caught the eyes of recruiters, in particular Scates.
"That is why we wanted him," Scates said. "We knew he was a gamer and could do what was needed for the team."
Ker's first major exposure on the volleyball circuit came as a member of the U.S. Junior National Team at age 16. He trained in Lake Placid, N.Y. and gained some international experience at a very young age.
"The Olympic experience was a great opportunity for him," Walt said. "It gave him the chance to play libero and helped him realize he could make an impact at the position."
Ker's greatest benefit at the collegiate level is his preliminary exposure on the international volleyball scene.
"The speed of the game was so fast," Ker said. "Many of the players had already played in college and I knew what to expect coming into UCLA."
It's not the college game that has been the lesson for Ker so far. It's the work ethic and determination required that has been the learning experience for him.
"This is why people come to UCLA," Ker said. "They know that someone else is always right behind them, and that is what makes our program great."
Heralded recruit improved work ethic in transistion to college game
By Sagar Parikh
DAILY BRUIN REPORTER
sparikh@media.ucla.edu
When a player has a bad practice on the UCLA men's volleyball team, he is relegated to the second court at Pauley Pavilion behind the blue curtain.
For heralded freshman Tony Ker, being placed on the second court was his official introduction to the UCLA volleyball program.
"I had never played on a second team before," Ker said. "It was kind of a slap in the face. It was definitely an eye-opening experience, and it's what UCLA is all about."
On a team full of weapons, and one that is expected to compete for the NCAA title, Ker, UCLA's top recruit and a member of the U.S. Junior National Team, has had to take a back seat to walk-on Eric Chaghouri in his transition to libero this season for the Bruins.
Ker has already been placed on the second court twice and was on the bench for the start of the Bruins' season-opening tournament in Santa Barbara.
"He didn't show up with energy at Thursday's practice," UCLA men's volleyball coach Al Scates said. "And we had other players ready to step up in his absence."
For a two-time CIF MVP who expected to contribute to the program immediately, Ker was definitely taken aback by the move and gained a new sense of dedication.
"I was not very happy with the decision," Ker said. "But it made me realize how much harder I have to work for my position."
Ker, an attacker during high school, did not start playing libero until two years ago as a member of the junior national team.
At only 5-foot-10, however, Ker did not have many options regarding what positions he could play if he wanted to move on to the collegiate level.
"It was a very tough transition for him," said U.S. National Coach John Speraw, who was an assistant at UCLA under Scates. "He loves to attack the ball, but he realized that libero was going to be his best chance to play in college."
Despite the demotion, Ker has adjusted well thus far, starting in five preseason matches and entering the championship match in the second game of UCLA's season-opening tournament.
Ker replaced Chaghouri, a redshirt freshman who had started the two previous matches and recorded 34 passes without committing an error.
"That is the beauty of our team; anyone can come out and contribute," Scates said. "Every player must be prepared in practice."
If anyone has the background and preparation to handle the demands of the program, it's Ker.
His father, Walt Ker, was a volleyball coach at Cal State Northridge from 1976-1993 and led the Matador women's team to three NCAA titles.
Walt coached his son during his first two years at Valencia High School and for three years on the club level, and has attended all of his son's matches. He spoke with Tony following his demotion this past weekend, and felt that he could learn from the situation.
"The message was sent out to him really hard," Walt Ker said.
"Tony has always had the skill and ability. It's just the everyday preparation and discipline of UCLA that will be a challenge for him."
Ker started playing volleyball in the seventh grade for the Southern California Volleyball club, as he and his father drove nearly an hour and a half to practice everyday.
But it was his intensity in matches that caught the eyes of recruiters, in particular Scates.
"That is why we wanted him," Scates said. "We knew he was a gamer and could do what was needed for the team."
Ker's first major exposure on the volleyball circuit came as a member of the U.S. Junior National Team at age 16. He trained in Lake Placid, N.Y. and gained some international experience at a very young age.
"The Olympic experience was a great opportunity for him," Walt said. "It gave him the chance to play libero and helped him realize he could make an impact at the position."
Ker's greatest benefit at the collegiate level is his preliminary exposure on the international volleyball scene.
"The speed of the game was so fast," Ker said. "Many of the players had already played in college and I knew what to expect coming into UCLA."
It's not the college game that has been the lesson for Ker so far. It's the work ethic and determination required that has been the learning experience for him.
"This is why people come to UCLA," Ker said. "They know that someone else is always right behind them, and that is what makes our program great."
