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Post by robonthemic on Apr 27, 2006 17:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by shankapotamus on Apr 27, 2006 17:57:10 GMT -5
Alright, I'll post it here instead:
From UCI Today
John Speraw
Head coach, men's volleyball
Winning formula
Coach John Speraw guides men’s volleyball team to first MPSF title
John Speraw likes to study coaches. In particular, the head coach of the UCI men’s volleyball team likes to read up on how coaching greats turn teams into champions. If the Anteaters keep winning like they did this season, however, coaches soon will be studying Speraw.
This year, Speraw led the Anteaters to their first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and the No. 1 national ranking. UCI hosts the MPSF semifinals tonight at the Bren Events Center. They’ll play No. 2-ranked Long Beach State at 7:30 p.m., after No. 3-ranked Pepperdine and No. 5-ranked UCLA compete at 5 p.m. If things go according to Speraw’s plan, the Anteaters will play in the finals at 7 p.m. Saturday, then advance to the NCAA Championship at Penn State May 4 and 6.
“Everyone’s playing great. Long Beach is hot. Pepperdine is hot. The teams are peaking at the right time,” Speraw says. “I’m a little concerned we might be rusty because we had a bye and were off for 10 days, but I’m not worried about our focus. This team can focus – our 21 consecutive wins speak to that. I think we’re ready.”
Talk about a turnaround: UCI was 27-3 overall this season compared to 9-20 in 2005 – an 18-match improvement. The Anteaters’ previous conference best was fifth in 2003. Speraw calls this winning season “the culmination of a lot of things.”
“Last year we were really, really young, but we learned a lot,” he says. “We’ve determined what our strengths are – we’re not big, so we’ll dig more balls. We’re better at passing, setting and defense.
“At the start of the season, we had a choice: Is our emphasis going to be on winning or on effort? We’ve focused on effort, and we’ve been able to deliver. The wins have come as a byproduct.”
Changes in training also have led to many firsts – and many broken records – for the team. Their perfect record at home – 16-0 – is a school first.
Another first: UCI swept the MPSF postseason awards. Speraw was named Coach of the Year, outside hitter Jason Jablonsky was Player of the Year, and Brent Asuka was Newcomer of the Year – the first UCI players to receive those titles. (Charlie Brande, head coach of UCI’s women’s volleyball team, was MPSF Coach of the Year in 1999.)
Speraw came to UCI four years ago from UCLA, where he was assistant to Al Scates, the legendary volleyball coach who has led the Bruins to 18 national championships. (While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular genetics, Speraw played middle blocker for the Bruins from 1990-95 and was a member of two national championship teams, in 1993 and 1995.)
“I watched what Al Scates did and tried to observe what made his teams successful,” Speraw says.
Good thing Speraw took notes.
– Kathryn Bold
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Post by fuzzball on Apr 27, 2006 18:04:15 GMT -5
He also makes his team read 3 specific books in the summer, on or by coaches, and report on them. What a concept. No wonder they're all on the same page.
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Post by fingrbustr on Apr 27, 2006 17:59:53 GMT -5
Awesome post, rob. Since I've been on volleytalk I haven't really needed Rainbow Volleyball News...this place is THE BEST OUTLET to keep in the know  |
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