Patience is Vo-Tech coach’s greatest virtue

James Yodice

Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Barbara Yohnka remains committed to the cause, even if she hasn't technically been committed.

"I think last year at this time," the Vo-Tech girls' basketball coach said with a laugh, "I was ready for the looney bin."

Although the Roadrunners have dropped 31 consecutive games since girls' basketball was reinstated as a sport last season at Vo-Tech (after a near 20-year absence), Yohnka says time eventually will help the program get over the hump.

"When you continually lose, it's a little demoralizing, but my girls never -- ever -- give up," she said emphatically. "We practice hard two hours a day, like most schools do, but a coach can only do so much. They have desire and they have athletic ability, but they're novices."

Yohnka says the lack of junior programs was a blow when Vo-Tech decided to give girls' basketball another try. As a result, Vo-Tech's depth doesn't compare to most schools. Yohnka carries only nine players on the varsity.

Vo-Tech plays host to Las Vegas Friday night as it attempts to win its first game after 13 straight losses to open the season.

"They're very determined," said Yohnka of her players. "They've got a lot of pride and they've got a lot of class. They've demonstrated more sportsmanship under duress than any team I've ever seen."

Local All-American

Jeff Galyean, a Clark graduate, recently completed his football career at Southern Utah University in Cedar City by picking up a postseason honor.

Galyean, a defensive end, this week was named to the first-team NCAA Division I-AA All-American squad by the Sports Network. He was second on the team with 75 tackles, had one interception and two forced fumbles. He finished his career with 44 sacks, a SUU record.

"Jeff is a four-year starter who walked on to the team originally, worked very hard and has seen his labors pay off," SUU athletic director Jack Bishop said.

Coming home

The UNLV volleyball team has signed three Las Vegas products -- all Division I transfers -- to compete next fall.

Rebels coach Deitre Collins has picked up transfer Angie Sylvas (Cimarron-Memorial) from San Jose State, Staci Smith (Green Valley) from Iowa State and Leslie Markling (Green Valley) from Utah State.

Sylvas, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, led the Spartans in kills last season with 3.41 per game. Smith, a 5-10 sophomore outside hitter, had 2.74 kills per game for Iowa State, third on the team. Markling, a 5-11 middle blocker/outside hitter, played in 14 matches for the Utags last season.

"She was one of the best players San Jose State had," Collins said of Sylvas. "She is a good blocker and has good ball control, which will add to our team. We will use her in a much more versatile role than San Jose State did."

Of Smith, Collins said, "She is very athletic. If we can continue to make her better ... that makes us a lot better as a team."

UNLV recruited Markling out of high school.

"She had the opportunity to move back home and we are happy that she is here," Collins said.

Because all three were released by their former schools, they won't have to sit out a year before being eligible to play for UNLV. Sylvas, Smith and Markling are enrolled at UNLV.

Softball camp

Green Valley softball coach Cindi Davis will conduct a softball camp on Feb. 22. The camp is open to girls ages 8-12. It is a hitting and sliding clinic which runs from 10 a.m.-noon.

Entry fee is $14 by the Feb. 12 deadline. For groups of seven or more, each player can enter for $10 apiece. For more information, call Davis at 799-0950, ext. 238.

Quick hits

Chris Thelen, a Chaparral product now swimming for Washington University in St. Louis, won the 1,000-meter freestyle race at a meet in Indiana with a personal-best time of 10:24.19. He leads the team in five events. ... The KLAV (1230 AM) boys' basketball game of the week Friday night is Eldorado at Green Valley at 7 p.m. Another Friday boys' game, Rancho at Chaparral, is being televised by Prime Cable. It will be broadcast Wednesday night at 7 on channels 1 and 48. ... Eric McCauley, a North Las Vegas resident and Green Valley High graduate who is a sophomore basketball player at Seattle Pacific University, is third on the team in assists with 43 in 16 games.