1993_09 The Daily Collegian September 1993

              H^ebnealmp, September 8, 1993
<EIic JBatlp Collegian
O
R
Brown's experience will help spikers
ROBBIE MINER
staffwriter
Junior transfer
Koseanne Brown brings size
and experience to a Fresno
State volleyball team that
desperately lacks both.
Brown, a 6-foot
middle blocker from DeAnza
Junior Collegeln Cupertino.
California. Is one of three
six-footers on a squad which
features six freshmen and
only two seniors.
Second-year player
Tera Booker will duel with
Brown for the starting
middle blocker position this
year. In last week's Dan
Gamel Invitational Tourna¬
ment the two were uaed
frequently, but Brown saw
most of her action when the
Bulldogs were competing
against bigger lineups.
"Roseanne has an
experience and height
advantage overTera," said
head coach Lindy Vivas.
In addition to her
leadership role, she will be
expected to spark the team
defensively wlthher blocking
abilities and at thenet with
her talent of dishing oul
facials.
"My position
requires a lot of moving and
responsibility." explained
Brown.
As a sophomore
laat year at DeAnza, Brown
made a name for herself as
one of the best JC players in
California. She earned
second-team JCAll-America
honors from the American
Volleyball Coaches Assoc ia-
lion. In addition, she cap-
lured first-team All-State,
first-team All-Northern
Conference and All-State
championship tournament
team honors.
"Awards aren't
important to me." Brown
said. " Working as a team
and winning are most
Important."
DeAnza finished
second at the state JC
championships last year.
In 1991. Brown
rewrote the Murray State
University record books,
setting single-season school
records In blocks per
gamel 1 07) arid block
asslsts(83). As only a fresh¬
man, she led the team In
solo blocks(36) and total
blocks! 1191- She was second
on the team in kllls(182) and
fourth in service aces.
" Roseanne's
very competitive
and intense. She
plays her heart
out every
point... "Lindy
Vivas
Her efforts earned
her a selection to the Ohio
Valley Conference All-
Freshman team that year.
Her many awards
and accomplishments at
Murray State and DeAnza
caught the attention of FSU
coaches, but her work habits
were what made the differ¬
ence in recruiting Brown.
"Roseanne's very
competitive and Intense."
said Vivas. "She plays her
hearl out every point and
doesn't have many mental
lapses." f
Besides FSU. Brown
was also recruited by Cal
Poly-San Luis Obispo and
Northern Arizona.
Brown, see page 7
Victor Des Roches-Daily Collegian
Junior transfer Roseanne Brown, middle blocker, was recruited by Cal Poly-
San Luis Obispo and Northern Arizona along with Fresno State.
Wunder tries to get the best out of 'Dogs
Coach starts career at
fresno State having never
had a [osing season
MARK BRYANT
staif f writer
The Bulldog women's
basketball program has been
a consislenl one over the
years, but lately a downslide
has plagued the team.
In 1990. the Bulldogs
were a respectable 21-12,
then 16-13 in '91 and 13-15
In '92. Last season. FSU
experienced a tough Initia¬
tion into the WAC
New head coach Linda
Wunder has arrived to bring
back the winning tradition
the 'Dogs have grown to love.
In eight years as a
collegiate coach, Wunder has
never posted a losing record.
Compiling a 147-73 record
and a .666 winning percent¬
age, she Is accustomed to
success.
"Exactly how well do Is
up to us. Our players have
to work hard and do what
needs to be done. More than
wins and losses. I've always
been able to get my teams to
bring out the best In them¬
selves and each other. And
that's all any coach can ask
of their team." says Wunder.
Wunder. 34. was hired
on July 7 and has had a
busy summer. "I've been
trying to put things into
place." she says.
The coaching spot had
been vacated by long-time
skipper Bob Spencer, who In
12 years was the winnlngest
Bulldog coach In school
history. In his long and
Impressive career, he
coached at the collegiate
level 27 years, with close lo
600 wins. Spencer is the
second winnlngest coach in
Division I women's basket¬
ball.
'I think you Just have
to keep things In perspec¬
tive." says Wunder, who Is
not given to rumors that the
"Dogs will look over their
shoulders. "Obviously, he
was a great coach, or he
wouldn't have won almost
600 games.
"He built a strong
tradition here, and my Job Is
Linda Wunder
to make this program move
ahead, build on that, and
allow thai success to con¬
tinue .*
Says Wunder. "Hope¬
fully, we'll be more competi¬
tive this time around in the
WAC. We have a better idea
of who we'll go up against,
and we can pick up what ll
takes to win in this league."
Her first two years
coaching were spent at
Wisconsin-Stevens Point, an
NCAA Division ill school,
where she won a national
title and went 42-9. For the
last six years, Wunder was
head coach at Miami (Ohio)
University, putting together
a team that went 105-64
over that span. She played at
Illinois and gained Academic
All-Big Ten honors.
"The fact that they
(FSU athletic department)
would go all the way to Ohio
to get a coach is hard to
believe." says Wunder. "Our
program does recruit excep¬
tionally well." she adds,
noting that a large majority
ofthe Bulldogs are out-of
state recruits.
"At Fresno State, we try
and get the best possible
players.
If we have to go oul of
slate, we'll do that. But we'd
eventually like to get and
retain more local talent."
says Wunder.
Looking at the current
Bulldogs, what does she see?
"Suzanne Zahasky's
coming back. Being a great
scorer and a leader, that
should only improve us."
Zahasky would like that role,
too.
"1 haven't really talked
to her yet, but she does have
a good track record, and that
should help us get better."
Zahasky said.
Wunder adds. "Stacl
Oddo had an exceptionally
good freshman year. We
hope that she'll play up to
what she showed a year
ago."
"We have young players
and a young learn. My job is
lo get them to develop, and
make sure the contributors
show up.
Linda Wunder-Career
two years at Wisconsin- Steven's Point 42-9
National Championship
six years at Miami (Ohio) 105-64
two-time Mid-American Conference Coach
of the Tear
Conference champions 1989-90