Remaining healthy was the biggest challenge UCLA would face last season as injuries kept the Bruins from competing in the NCAA Tournament. In fact, '96 marked the first year in program history that UCLA has failed to make the post-season. Now, with everyone at full strength, UCLA should take its regular spot as one of collegiate volleyball's most feared opponents.

Atop the list of priorities concerning head coach Andy Banachowski in '97 will be finding a reliable replacement for middle blocker Kim Krull. After starting every game of every match last season, Krull capped off an amazing collegiate career by becoming the only Bruin in history to surpass 1,500 kills (1,575), 1,000 digs (1,132) and 500 blocks (566) . Other losses to graduation include setter and three-year part-time starter Kelly Flannigan and defensive specialist Alison Zamora, who played in every game but one last season. Two of last year's underclassmen will also be missing in '97 as sophomore, middle blocker Linda Shudlick transferred to be closer to home, while freshman outside hitter Melissa Wendt had knee surgery over the summer and will be unavailable to play this season.

During his 30 years of collegiate coaching as the games winningest coach, Banachowski has trained some of the finest women's volleyball players the game has ever seen. Under his reign, the UCLA supercell has spawned more Olympic, U.S. National Team and professional beach players than any other NCAA institution. Two current Bruins, Kara Milling (Poway, CA) and Elisabeth Bachman (Lakeville, MN), spent their summers touring with U.S. National Teams.

After numerous years of attracting the top players to Westwood, Banachowski is no stranger to the recruiting process. This year he swirled up two of the country's top players in Amy Nihipali (Yorba Linda, CA) and Celeste Peterson (Boca Raton, FL). Nihipali, whose older brother Paul was a three-time All-American and a member of UCLA national championship teams in '95 and '96, is regarded by many as one of the nation's premier incoming freshmen. Peterson, who could see time at both the outside hitter and setter positions, had a superb high school career earning Florida Player-of-the-Year and All-America honors last season. With little warning, these two players have the potential to make a sudden impact in their first year of collegiate play.

"The combination of these two is incredible, "says Banachowski. "Amy likes to compete and is a complete player coming out of high school. She comes from a hard working Orange County volleyball club and should adjust quickly to our style of play. Celeste is a good all around player who passes well. We recruited her as a setter and a hitter, and she'll get time at both spots. Both understand the game extremely well."

THE SCHEDULE

The calm before the storm concludes in early September as the Bruins rip into Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Classic. While in Honolulu, UCLA will have three tough matches against Houston, North Carolina and Hawaii, before heading east to an appropriately named "Tornado Alley" for a pair of matches against Big 12 opponents Texas and Baylor. Coach Banachowski actually looks forward to the early road matches. "I think it toughens us up," he says. "It gets us ready for a difficult conference schedule." Saying the league schedule is difficult might be an understatement as the nation's supreme volleyball conference boasts six teams (No. 1 Stanford, No. 7 Washington State, No. 15 USC, No. 19 Washington, No. 20 Arizona and No. 21 UCLA) in the USA TODAY/AVCA pre-season national poll. During the heart of the season, the Bruins slam into non-conference opponents San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge before rounding out the season in Stockton, Calif. at the Banker's Classic. The path of destruction will end with Florida and either Pepperdine or Pacific before increasing velocity for December's run for another NCAA title.

HITTING

Though a foot fracture sidelined UCLA's most powerful outside hitter last season, Milling should be at full force in '97 as one of collegiate volleyball's most dominant and destructive hitters. Despite playing in only 19 matches last season, this year's team captain battled back to earn Pac-10 Honorable Mention honors for the second straight year. Barring injury, she will finish '97 ranked in the UCLA career top 10 in kills and digs. Without a doubt, big things will be expected of Milling after a successful summer touring with the U.S. National team. "We're counting on her to balance out the attack and allow us to develop a lot more variety in our attacking game," says Banachowski. "She needs to stay healthy for her senior finale."

Banachowski will also be expecting a big year from Tanisha Larkin (Long Beach, CA), who finished last season second on the squad in kills (389), in just her first starting season at the outside hitter position. Peterson, Chaska Potter (Santa Cruz, CA) and sophomores, Lyn Embree (Ladera Heights, CA) and Jennifer Wittenburg (Houston, TX) could all see significant time at outside hitter before season's end.

BLOCKING

Still powerful after an extremely successful freshman campaign, Bachman will rip into this season as one of the country's top collegiate blockers. The only member of last season's top ranked freshmen class to stay healthy, Bachman downbursted a team high 132 blocks (114 BA, 18 BS) in her first season at the Division I level. Her involvement this summer with the U.S. National Team should pay dividends when UCLA makes its championship charge in December. Tamika Johnson (Indianapolis, IN), who saw limited action last season due to tendonitis in both knees, will also be counted on to add rapid force to UCLA's net game at both the middle blocker and outside hitter positions. The addition of Nihipali to the Bruin lineup solidifies UCLA in the middle.

"We need (Bachman) to remain at the high level she finished with last year, " says Banachowski. "She's a very good net player and an imposing blocker. Tamika is a very good blocker and is as good an athlete as anyone we've had in the program."

SETTING

After wrestling the starting spot from Flannigan last season, Kim Coleman (Newport Beach, CA) will shoulder the setting duties in the "vortex" of UCLA's lineup. A starter in 22 of UCLA's 31 matches last season, she enters '97 as the most experienced setter on the squad. "This is her chance to shine," says Banachowski. "She's got the starting position and I think she'll feel more in charge now that this is her team." Peterson will likely see most of her time at the outside hitter position, but could see minutes at setter before the years is over. Freshman Lisa Dunning (Stockton, CA) and NC State transfer Mandi Lawson (Manhattan Beach, CA) will add depth to an already potent area in the Bruin lineup.

PASSING/DEFENSE

With several veterans capable of filling the passing roles this season, coach Banachowski shouldn't be too worried about this area of the Bruins' lineup. Larkin enters '97 as the most proficient passer on the team after starting all of UCLA's 31 games last season. "Tanisha established herself as the best passer on the team last season," says Banachowski. "She has a lot of experience and is extremely athletic." Two experienced players also expected to contribute are Potter and defensive specialist Jennifer Coopman (Fullerton, CA). Potter, a Pac-10 All-Freshman selection two years ago, returns as one of the most consistent passers on the squad. Coopman, who saw action in 30 of UCLA's 31 games last season, and with two solid years of Division I play under her belt, will assume the role of the Bruins' top defensive specialist in '97. Michelle Quon (Dana Hills, CA) will also turn some heads this season as Banachowski thinks she could eventually emerge as one of the better passers in collegiate volleyball. Suzi Morris (Sacramento, CA) and Kim Stainer (Bakersfield, CA) are two freshman that also could see significant playing time at the defensive specialist position.

If everything goes as scheduled, UCLA should follow a northeasterly path to Washington this December, leaving nothing but storm chasers behind.