Post by Mac on May 10, 2006 17:06:28 GMT -5
David Russell was a key element in UCLA's mid-season turnaround. This kid deserves major kudos for a job well done. He served many a team off the court on the Bruin's run to the championship, and his rapier quick hits left many an opposing middle wondering what just happened as the ball would sail past. You couldn't find a more humble kid too. Congrats David.
Good reading:
www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/college/article/0,1375,VCS_137_4687530,00.html
Rediscovering a joy for volleyball
By Rhiannon Potkey, rpotkey@VenturaCountyStar.com
May 10, 2006
Two years ago, David Russell contemplated walking away from volleyball for good.
The UCLA opposite hitter wasn't sure where his life was headed, and needed some time off to figure out the direction.
"I just got a little jaded with it all," Russell said. "I had to do some soul searching, and I was seeking God to find out what his plan was for me."
Russell's course of destiny eventually led him back to the court, and the Royal High graduate reached the pinnacle of success last weekend by closing out his career with an NCAA championship as UCLA swept host Penn State in State College, Pa.
"It is amazing," Russell said. "Both the joy of having done it and the satisfaction of proving so many people wrong."
UCLA started the season 12-12, but finished with a furious kick. The Bruins won 14 consecutive matches, including the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title, to capture their NCAA-record 19th volleyball championship.
If not for the hiatus during his junior year, Russell would have exhausted his eligibility last season and would not have been celebrating with his teammates on the Rec Hall court.
"This is the greatest bunch of guys I have ever played with," Russell said. "I couldn't imagine anything better than winning it with them. Everyone was so dedicated and worked so hard to get to this point, and it was truly a team effort."
After his period of contemplation, Russell rejoined the team midway through last season and worked his way into the starting lineup this year. The 6-foot-5, 180-pounder played in 123 games, averaging 1.9 kills and 1.01 blocks per game.
"I was looking back at volleyball and remembered how much fun it was with the guys and asked the coach for a spot," Russell said. "This championship wasn't because of me, but I am just really glad I could be a part of it."
The path the Bruins traveled to State College was symbolic of Russell's collegiate journey.
"I love being the underdog and I love coming back. If you spend a whole year and all you do is win the entire time there is no adversity," he said. "But this year — having all the questions and the skeptics and being able to pull through in the end, I don't know if there is anything much sweeter than that."
Before UCLA's semifinal victory over Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, the Bruins' bus never arrived and the team had to walk from their hotel to the gym. Superstitious UCLA coach Al Scates made the team repeat the march before its final.
"We were walking up fraternity row and they were all out there partying," Russell said. "They were yelling Penn State cheers. It was pretty funny and pretty intense."
With his competitive playing career over, Russell plans to be a graduate assistant at UCLA next season. He'll have a chance to help mentor another Simi Valley outside hitting product — Simi Valley High graduate Ian Jackson — who averaged 2.43 kills in 21 games as a freshman this season.
"This was such a great way to end," Russell said. "To go out with a national championship. I can't really even describe what it means."
Good reading:
www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/college/article/0,1375,VCS_137_4687530,00.html
Rediscovering a joy for volleyball
By Rhiannon Potkey, rpotkey@VenturaCountyStar.com
May 10, 2006
Two years ago, David Russell contemplated walking away from volleyball for good.
The UCLA opposite hitter wasn't sure where his life was headed, and needed some time off to figure out the direction.
"I just got a little jaded with it all," Russell said. "I had to do some soul searching, and I was seeking God to find out what his plan was for me."
Russell's course of destiny eventually led him back to the court, and the Royal High graduate reached the pinnacle of success last weekend by closing out his career with an NCAA championship as UCLA swept host Penn State in State College, Pa.
"It is amazing," Russell said. "Both the joy of having done it and the satisfaction of proving so many people wrong."
UCLA started the season 12-12, but finished with a furious kick. The Bruins won 14 consecutive matches, including the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title, to capture their NCAA-record 19th volleyball championship.
If not for the hiatus during his junior year, Russell would have exhausted his eligibility last season and would not have been celebrating with his teammates on the Rec Hall court.
"This is the greatest bunch of guys I have ever played with," Russell said. "I couldn't imagine anything better than winning it with them. Everyone was so dedicated and worked so hard to get to this point, and it was truly a team effort."
After his period of contemplation, Russell rejoined the team midway through last season and worked his way into the starting lineup this year. The 6-foot-5, 180-pounder played in 123 games, averaging 1.9 kills and 1.01 blocks per game.
"I was looking back at volleyball and remembered how much fun it was with the guys and asked the coach for a spot," Russell said. "This championship wasn't because of me, but I am just really glad I could be a part of it."
The path the Bruins traveled to State College was symbolic of Russell's collegiate journey.
"I love being the underdog and I love coming back. If you spend a whole year and all you do is win the entire time there is no adversity," he said. "But this year — having all the questions and the skeptics and being able to pull through in the end, I don't know if there is anything much sweeter than that."
Before UCLA's semifinal victory over Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, the Bruins' bus never arrived and the team had to walk from their hotel to the gym. Superstitious UCLA coach Al Scates made the team repeat the march before its final.
"We were walking up fraternity row and they were all out there partying," Russell said. "They were yelling Penn State cheers. It was pretty funny and pretty intense."
With his competitive playing career over, Russell plans to be a graduate assistant at UCLA next season. He'll have a chance to help mentor another Simi Valley outside hitting product — Simi Valley High graduate Ian Jackson — who averaged 2.43 kills in 21 games as a freshman this season.
"This was such a great way to end," Russell said. "To go out with a national championship. I can't really even describe what it means."
