Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Volleyball team relies on health to spark revival

Patchwork lineup has hindered UNLV squad

By JEFF WOLLARD
REVIEW-JOURNAL

For the UNLV volleyball team and coach Deitre Collins, the season has been much like a game of musical chairs.

Each time an injured player gets healthy enough to return to the roster, another goes down. As a result, Collins has spent as much time developing new lineup combinations as coaching.

But for Collins, who hasn't had a healthy squad in well over a year, things might be taking a turn for the better. Though the Rebels are off to their worst start since 1999, 4-15 with 10 straight losses and 0-5 in the Mountain West Conference, help has arrived.

Several key players, including middle blockers Blair Wilkes, Christina Kirschner and Sheila Ocasio-Clemente, have returned in the past two weeks, and Collins hopes they can help to salvage an otherwise disappointing season.

"(Injuries) have hurt us tremendously," Collins said, "because the areas where we've been strong in the past are where we've suffered the most this year. This has forced us to become a smaller defensive team and much less offensive."

Rather than focusing on consistency, Collins has been forced to do a lot of experimentation.

"Pretty much the entire starting lineup we were supposed to have hasn't been here," she said. "I don't think we've played two weeks in a row with the same lineup on the floor. No one can prepare for something like that. No one has that much depth."

Sophomore Ocasio-Clemente (6-foot-5-inches), senior Wilkes (6-3) and junior Kirschner (6-2) are among the tallest players on the roster. Their absence has affected the team's quality of play, as well as the mind-set.

"Their presence is a big deal," said Collins. "Their height helps us to walk onto the floor with confidence."

Wilkes, who has endured three knee operations over the past two seasons, said the wait has been difficult.

"It's been frustrating," said Wilkes, who still is playing with pain. "We know this team was capable of winning the ones we've lost. We definitely have the people to do it. We've just had a lot of bad luck."

Kirschner agreed.

"It's extremely hard," said Kirschner, who was sidelined for four weeks after suffering a concussion while diving for a ball against Depaul last month. "I've just wanted to be on the court. I just try to keep a positive attitude for the team and cheer for the players on the court."

In its 10-match losing streak, UNLV has been swept 3-0 in five of the past seven. The poor start has created a sense of urgency among the returning players.

"We definitely need to make up for lost time," Wilkes said. "I feel like I just need to practice harder and focus on winning games."

Collins also has not written off the season.

"This is such a good year in the conference to really do things," she said. "It's a down year for a lot of teams. I think if we can get back to full strength, we can really compete in this conference."

Wilkes agreed that anything is possible, and hopes the team's misfortune pays off.

"I hope this is going to make us stronger," she said. "I think it will help us to come together as a team."

The Rebels have two opportunities to make their case this weekend at the Thomas & Mack Center. They will play New Mexico on Friday and Air Force on Saturday, with both matches at 7 p.m.