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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1998)
lss 8:sept.- alion Sports Page 7 • Wednesday, September 9, 1998 tests last year. Bush said hei an additional i} : next two-yearbiu lor education. f irst and (ors prioritize the scfe right behindihes; the taxpayersoile mine is to makt money back,”B.- Karen Hti{|u spokesperson, v, " school disM suit in a 10- to Building Blocks Middle blocker Woolsey tackles leadership responsibility Li 'op sins si i 01OE : not to attempt an that’s goodii The Texas Criminal Jus&elii tion policy s the stateftti r i,it ion to aGiii the Stirgen : FILE PHOTO/THE BATTALION ,, ,, 1 t, ddle blocker Amber Woolsey is one of only two returning starters for the No. 19 oUi Miry lUw- 1 lot the TexasDep mal Justice, sail' not apply todeaili BY ABBY LITTLE The Battalion ike mother, like daughter. Gayle Bayes convinced her daughter, junior mid- idle blocker Amber Woolsey, to give volleyball a chance her freshman year in high school. Bayes played volleyball for Texas Woman’s University and North Texas State University. Her team at TWU placed sec ond in the 1973 AIAW national champi onship tournament. Woolsey obviously in herited her mother’s ability. When Woolsey graduated from high school, she was named one of the top 50 high school recruits in the nation by Vol leyball Magazine. “My mom pushed me my freshman year [to play volleyball], because there are more chances to pursue a career,” Woolsey said. “She used to take me to the gym and hit balls at me. She still gives me advice, which is nice.” Coach Laurie Corbelli says that Woolsey has a lot of competency in her position. “She has a big responsibility going from antenna to antenna, which is about 30 feet wide, blocking the opponent,” Corbelli said. Woolsey had her best season last year when she set three career-high records with 16 kills and 15 digs against Oral Roberts University and 11 block assists against No. 23 Colorado. Woolsey said she was pleased with her season. “I felt a little inexperienced as far as court time. I was the youngest and there was some pressure. I felt more confident toward the end,” Woolsey said. “I felt like I had to hold my own last year, I didn’t want to be the weak link. ” The confidence at the end of the season must have paid off, because she was named the team’s Most Improved Player. Woolsey ranked ninth in the Big 12 for blocking averages. She picked it up at the end of the regu lar season when she hit .405, averaged 3.40 kills, 1.65 blocks and 2.08 digs per game in the last five matches of the regular season. Woolsey ranks second in the A&M record books with 131 block assists and ninth in to tal blocks with 145,which she set in a single season. In Big 12 matches she had a .286 hit ting efficiency, which also ranked second on the team. “I looked up to the team last year, and this year I am able to give back that experience” — Amber Woolsey Texas A&M junior middle blocker Last year Woolsey was the youngest starter on a team consisting of veterans. This year she is one of two returning starters, which puts her in a leadership position. She likes her position as a leader be cause she looked up to her older, more ex perienced teammates last year. “I like it. I’ve wanted to take on the role, and I feel that the freshmen can look up to me,” Woolsey said. “I looked up to the team last year, and this year I am able to give back that experience.” Senior outside hitter Stacey Sykora said the team looks to Woolsey because she is the returning middle blocker, has court experience and brings lots of ener gy to the team. “Her enthusiasm is her main asset and probably her competitiveness [also],” Sykora said. “She always wants to be in and you know she is going to be there every game. After she hits, she always says ‘Get off Me’, which pumps us up.” Corbelli said she thinks Woolsey will be a good leader with her experience and confidence. “She handled her first year really, really well,” Corbelli said. “She needed that first year under her belt. Her experience shows, [and] if she carries herself with confidence, it’ll catch on to the newer players.” Woolsey was named to the all-tourna ment team this past weekend at the Uni versity of Pacific/Nike Tournament. She recorded 10 kills and led the team with a .286 hitting percentage in the championship game, which the Aggies lost to Pacific. Even though the volleyball team is young, Woolsey said she feels they have the athleticism to compete in the Big 12. “We’re young, but very athletic,” Woolsey said. “I don’t think that we are lacking in any way, in any position. We have a lot of depth.” As a part of the United States 20-and-un- der team, Woolsey was able to travel to Montemonaco, Italy to play in a tourna ment. There were 16 teams from Europe and this was the first time the U.S. was in vited to attend. Sykora said she can tell a difference in the way Woolsey plays because of her ex tra practice in Italy. “I can already tell an improvement. She’s awesome,” Sykora said. In the future Woolsey would like to play professional volleyball in Europe. She said she would love to try out for the Olympics if given the opportunity. M Volleyball Team. Woolsey was named the team’s Most Improved Player. oaqer airtime Price$ All Your School Needs At ATTENTION ENGINEERING STUDENTS UCS is hosting an INFORMATION SESSION for all EET, ID, Computer Science, Computer Engineering and other engineering students to discuss part-time and full-time employment opportunities. Representatives from various departments within UCS will be available to provide information about their areas including Hardware Support, InventoryAA/arehousing, RC. Support and other related fields. Please join us at 7:00 on Wednesday, September 9th in Fermier Hall, Room 110. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided for all who attend. Don’t miss out on this chance to further your career and gain valuable work experience in the process! I f you are unable to attend, please call our Recruiting Office at: 846-1213 www.ucs-systems.com UCS hires non tobacco users only E.O.E. UCS... A Tradition in Quality, A Commitment To Aggieland Dr. «<» B JLJi Jnivetsily Boo* or walk-ins vveicom* 1S welco^ , Join us at First Baptist Bryan this Sunday! On Campus Bus Pick Up 9:15 a.m. Quad • Commons Fish Pond Special Guest Speaker Voddie Baucham Texas Avenue at 28th Street Just 4 Miles North of University Drive www.fbcb.com