Post by rayb_14 on Aug 13, 2004 13:21:54 GMT -5
(she's not redshirting this season.)
Golden Opportunity
Coach: Nnamani being on Olympic team a 'no-brainer'
By Douglas Hamm
dhamm@pantagraph.com
STANFORD, Calif. -- John Dunning has won three NCAA championships and coached 18 All-Americans during his storied 20-year career.
The fourth-year Stanford University women's volleyball coach figured he'd seen it all after leaving Pacific and taking over the Cardinal program in July 2001.
Then along came University High School graduate Ogonna Nnamani, who already had signed with Stanford when Dunning arrived at the school.
"She's very gifted and, to some degree, a unique athlete," Dunning said. "She jumps higher than anyone else, and she's very fast and very strong."
U.S. Olympic women's volleyball coach Toshi Yoshida took notice and made the 21-year-old Nnamani the youngest member of a veteran-laden American squad that begins play Saturday in the Summer Games in Athens.
Dunning never had any doubts his 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter would make the final Olympic cut.
"I thought it was a no-brainer, but I'm biased," Dunning said. "It's a huge accomplishment. She's the only player on the team still in college. She not only made the team, but she has played a key role in some of the (pre-Olympic) matches."
Blessed with an other-worldly 36-inch vertical jump, Nnamani led U High to two Class A state titles while being named the 2000 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year.
At Stanford, Nnamani and Olympic teammate Logan Tom helped the Cardinal win the 2001 NCAA title and post a runner-up finish in 2002. Nnanami was named an All-American for the third time last season when she led Stanford to a Sweet 16 berth in the NCAA Tournament.
"She can play at a higher level than anyone," Dunning said. "If she gets hot, she can beat any block because she gets so high. She plays higher than the typical person -- just about everybody. She's someone that can go in and change a match."
Dunning said Nnamani's individual talent often overshadows her team play.
"She does everything for the sake of the team," Dunning said. "Whenever I talked to her this winter and spring while she was training with the national team, she would say 'I'm getting closer to achieving my goal of being on the Olympic team. I'm here because I'm getting better and it will help my Stanford team.'"
"People don't always talk that way. She talks that way and means it," Dunning said.
He said Nnamani's outgoing personality and youthfulness will add another dynamic to the U.S. Olympic team.
"There are a lot of very seasoned veterans on their team, so it was probably a good idea to mix a little bit of youth in there," Dunning said. "They're exuberant, and they're thrilled to be there. She's still celebrating making the team.
"She's a bit of a card. She's very funny. As you go up the ladder in these really amazing (international) competitions, it can get very serious. It's OK to have someone on the team who can add a little levity. She's going to help them whether she's on the court or not."
Dunning said Nnamani, who didn't play volleyball until junior high school, has blossomed while training regularly with the national team.
"She has really improved since she's been there," Dunning said. "Since she had a bit of a late start in volleyball, I thought if she could train and get high reps every day for months and months that was really going to help her get better.
"Someone who had been in volleyball a long time, the reps aren't going to add that much on a daily basis. With Ogonna, it's helped. And she's getting great coaching and playing against great players."
Nnamani is the third Olympian Dunning has coached, joining Tom and former Pacific standout Elaina Oden. Nnamani will rejoin her Stanford teammates following the Olympics and Dunning expects her to play in Stanford's Sept. 3 season opener.
"To get to coach one Olympian, let alone three, it's ridiculous," Dunning said. "I'm trying not to expect too much, but when players get this kind of experience and then come back to college, they have an advantage.
"No one gets this kind of experience playing against the best players for eight months and playing against teams like Cuba, Brazil and China."
Golden Opportunity
Coach: Nnamani being on Olympic team a 'no-brainer'
By Douglas Hamm
dhamm@pantagraph.com
STANFORD, Calif. -- John Dunning has won three NCAA championships and coached 18 All-Americans during his storied 20-year career.
The fourth-year Stanford University women's volleyball coach figured he'd seen it all after leaving Pacific and taking over the Cardinal program in July 2001.
Then along came University High School graduate Ogonna Nnamani, who already had signed with Stanford when Dunning arrived at the school.
"She's very gifted and, to some degree, a unique athlete," Dunning said. "She jumps higher than anyone else, and she's very fast and very strong."
U.S. Olympic women's volleyball coach Toshi Yoshida took notice and made the 21-year-old Nnamani the youngest member of a veteran-laden American squad that begins play Saturday in the Summer Games in Athens.
Dunning never had any doubts his 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter would make the final Olympic cut.
"I thought it was a no-brainer, but I'm biased," Dunning said. "It's a huge accomplishment. She's the only player on the team still in college. She not only made the team, but she has played a key role in some of the (pre-Olympic) matches."
Blessed with an other-worldly 36-inch vertical jump, Nnamani led U High to two Class A state titles while being named the 2000 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year.
At Stanford, Nnamani and Olympic teammate Logan Tom helped the Cardinal win the 2001 NCAA title and post a runner-up finish in 2002. Nnanami was named an All-American for the third time last season when she led Stanford to a Sweet 16 berth in the NCAA Tournament.
"She can play at a higher level than anyone," Dunning said. "If she gets hot, she can beat any block because she gets so high. She plays higher than the typical person -- just about everybody. She's someone that can go in and change a match."
Dunning said Nnamani's individual talent often overshadows her team play.
"She does everything for the sake of the team," Dunning said. "Whenever I talked to her this winter and spring while she was training with the national team, she would say 'I'm getting closer to achieving my goal of being on the Olympic team. I'm here because I'm getting better and it will help my Stanford team.'"
"People don't always talk that way. She talks that way and means it," Dunning said.
He said Nnamani's outgoing personality and youthfulness will add another dynamic to the U.S. Olympic team.
"There are a lot of very seasoned veterans on their team, so it was probably a good idea to mix a little bit of youth in there," Dunning said. "They're exuberant, and they're thrilled to be there. She's still celebrating making the team.
"She's a bit of a card. She's very funny. As you go up the ladder in these really amazing (international) competitions, it can get very serious. It's OK to have someone on the team who can add a little levity. She's going to help them whether she's on the court or not."
Dunning said Nnamani, who didn't play volleyball until junior high school, has blossomed while training regularly with the national team.
"She has really improved since she's been there," Dunning said. "Since she had a bit of a late start in volleyball, I thought if she could train and get high reps every day for months and months that was really going to help her get better.
"Someone who had been in volleyball a long time, the reps aren't going to add that much on a daily basis. With Ogonna, it's helped. And she's getting great coaching and playing against great players."
Nnamani is the third Olympian Dunning has coached, joining Tom and former Pacific standout Elaina Oden. Nnamani will rejoin her Stanford teammates following the Olympics and Dunning expects her to play in Stanford's Sept. 3 season opener.
"To get to coach one Olympian, let alone three, it's ridiculous," Dunning said. "I'm trying not to expect too much, but when players get this kind of experience and then come back to college, they have an advantage.
"No one gets this kind of experience playing against the best players for eight months and playing against teams like Cuba, Brazil and China."
