UNLV Volleyball team optimistic after tough first year

Steve Carp

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997 | 9:41 a.m.

ONE GLANCE at the Western Athletic Conference preseason volleyball poll tells you the amount of respect UNLV has garnered -- virtually nil.

And that's fine with Deitre Collins, whose second-year program can play without pressure and maintain its course for gradual improvement after going 5-22 a year ago.

"We're still a very young team," Collins said Monday as the Rebels worked out at the Lied Gymnasium (formerly known as the South Gym) in preparation for their 1997 season opener at the Taco Bell Invitational in Reno Aug. 29. "But we've got some experience as well as some depth, so I think we're going to surprise a lot of people."

UNLV is picked ahead of only Air Force in the eight-team WAC Mountain Division, where Brigham Young is the favorite. Hawaii is the top choice in the Pacific Division.

"It's fun to be the underdog," said Collins. "We come in here every day knowing no one works as hard as we do."

And the 17 players who toil daily have no choice but to work hard. There's too much competition for the 12 spots on the plane for the traveling squad.

With six additional scholarships at her command, Collins brought in some talented freshmen as well as a couple of transfers with Division I experience and a couple of junior college transfers.

"People really don't know what we've got," she said. "I think that's why we were picked so low in the (WAC) poll."

Collins is hoping the arrival of junior outside hitters Angie Sylvas from San Jose State and Staci Smith from Iowa State will bolster the UNLV attack. Justine Kamelamela, a 6-foot-2 freshman from Aiea, Hawaii, also is expected to contribute right away.

"We're going to look to set the tempo and attack more this year," Collins said. "Last year, we were playing not to make mistakes and not to lose. This year, we're looking to score."

Having some weapons to feed should make the game fun for junior setter Meri-de Boyer. The 6-0 junior led the team in assists and digs before breaking a bone in her foot which forced her to the sidelines for the final seven games. But Boyer is 100 percent and will be the team's leader.

Returnees Liz Goyet, Kendra Wilkinson and Erica Enfield picked up valuable experience a year ago and all will contribute, especially on the defensive side.

"There's competition in practice and that's going to make us better," Collins said. "We've got stability and depth."

The goal is to double last year's win output. And while winning 10 games won't constitute a winning record, it would indicate progress.

"What we do this year is critical," Collins said. "It will go a long way toward determining how we do in the future."

As for the immediate future, Collins said the opening tournament will go a long way in showing how far her team has come, and how far it needs to go.

"The first weekend is important because it's going to set the tone for our season," she said of the Taco Bell Invitational which includes matches against host Nevada-Reno, Kansas and Oregon.

"I think overall our schedule gives us a chance to win some matches. It's up to us to try to get some success early and get some momentum heading into the WAC season."