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Banachowski digs frosh recruits

By Daily Bruin Staff

Aug. 11, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 11, 1996

W. volleyball looks to improve record with new additionsBy Grace
Wen

Summer Bruin Senior Staff

Hailed the No. 1 recruiting class by Volleyball Magazine, the
UCLA women’s volleyball team looks to improve on last year’s 23-9
record with the addition of four Fab 50 prep standouts. Elisabeth
Bachman, Tamika Johnson, Melissa Wendt, and Jennifer Wittenburg
will boost a lineup that returns four starters.

Gone from the Bruin roster are middle blockers Michelle Mauney
and Amanda Selby and outside hitter Jenny Johnson. Mauney and
Johnson completed their eligibility while Selby, who pushed Mauney
for the starting spot in the middle last season, transferred to
Cal.

It is no coincidence that all the incoming freshmen are 6 feet,
2 inches or taller. "One of the things we wanted to do was get
bigger and stronger at the net. We certainly did that just with the
size of our recruiting class, " UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski
said. "Everybody is taller than the players they’re replacing."

Height, however, is not the only thing the new recruits have in
common. According to Banachowski, all four bring impressive
credentials and tools with them to the court. Elisabeth "Wiz"
Bachman is a 6-foot-3-inch, high school All-American middle blocker
who was a member of the USA Junior National Team.

"Wiz is going to be a very good middle blocker for us. She’s
going to be extremely effective at the net," Banachowski said.

Along with Bachman, 6-foot-3 inch Tamika Johnson will also be
competing for a starting spot in the middle. Johnson, a two-time
state MVP and high school All-American, also has the talent to play
on the right side.

"Tamika is a very impressive hitter. She’s got a very quick
arm," Banachowski said. "She can play in the middle, she can play
on the right side, and she also knows how to hit on the left side.
We’ll probably look at her a little bit on the right side and some
in the middle."

Although the battle in the middle will be fierce since returning
middle blocker Kim Krull has a lock on one spot, competition for a
starting role on the outside will be even greater. Besides
returnees Chaska Potter, Tanisha Larkin and Kara Milling, newcomers
Melissa Wendt and Jennifer Wittenburg are expected to contend for a
place in the lineup.

Wendt is the most likely freshman to crack the starting lineup.
A 6-foot-2-inch All-American outside hitter from Huntington Beach,
Wendt was rated the No. 2 player in California. Banachowski
believes that Wendt is the most complete player of the four. She
has solid blocking and hitting skills and passes, serves and digs
extremely well.

"I really look for her to be the first of the freshmen to step
on the court for us," said Banachowski. "With her size and her arm
speed and all her other skills, she’s the most likely of the
freshmen to be the first one to break into the lineup."

Despite the fact that she was a two-time All-State selection as
a middle blocker, Jennifer Wittenburg will be moving to the outside
for UCLA. The position is not new for the 6-foot-2-inch Wittenburg
who played as an outside hitter for Texas Elite 18 Volleyball
Club.

"She’s not as complete as Melissa (Wendt) as far as her skills
go but she’s a very powerful hitter and a good blocker. She’s got
good instincts on the court, she’s going to be able to help us in
spots this year," Banachowski said.

While the freshmen are expected to have an impact on the season,
Banachowski says that it will take some time for them to get
adjusted and comfortable with the system.

"It may be a matter of time before we can figure out how to best
use them.

"Everybody’s going to be challenged," he added. "I think that’s
the neat part about this freshman class that we’re bringing in.
They’ve made our returners very cautious. There’s going to be a lot
of competition early on in our practice sessions."

Daily Bruin File Photo

UCLA will miss middle blocker Amanda Selby this year, but hope
to make a strong showing with four fabulous freshman recruits.Daily
Bruin File Photo

Andy Banachowski

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