Painful as it is, loss spares ā98
Roadrunners a headache

By Kyle Ringo
The Metropolitan

The Metro volleyball team almost went too far for its own good.

Of course, no one associated with the program is ever going to agree with that statement. The players and coaches, quite naturally, would rather have advanced past the Nov. 23 Northwest Regional championship game against Regis into the Elite Eight.

But as satisfying as that would have been for this seasonās Roadrunners, it could have become a huge headache down the line. But, even then, it would be an annoyance and not a full-blown migraine.

Why? Because the success of this season is going to breed expectations for the future. If the season was still alive, if Metro had made it to Elite Eight status, what would have been expected next year?

A Final Four appearance at the least. Maybe even a national championship match.

Metro is only losing two seniors who saw significant playing time in Holly Rice and Laurie Anderson, and three total when Tammy Schaible is added in.

That fact alone leaves expectations for next year one step above this season ÷ becoming elite.

While Anderson and Rice led the team through its impressive season, the team already has enough talent to replace them next year.

Senior-to-be Kelly Young will take over the setting duties from Anderson who ended her career setting passing records.

Anderson finishes fourth all-time at Metro in assists with 3,124, missing third by only 98. She accomplished this mostly in her senior year by turning in the fifth best single-season assist mark with 1,628.

The real question that must be answered before next season is whether this team can survive a heart transplant. Rice and Anderson together have been the pump making this thing go.

Rice played through leg injuries much of the year, and Anderson played as if she didnāt care about getting hurt, often diving into scorers tables and the like.

Coach Joan McDermott has proven she is a master recruiter, and the word is she might be signing a duo of Division I transfers.

So having enough talent wonāt be a factor. And judging by the disgusted looks on Roadrunner faces when Regis celebrated its win, heart and determination should come easy, too.

This team looked like it had something to prove the moment the 1997 campaign ended. Despite the lopsided loss, none of the Roadrunners believed the disparity between the teams was as huge as it seemed in the championship game

The fact is, one team was nervous, and it wasnāt the Rangers who had been this far before.

And that is perfectly acceptable for the Roadrunners who went from 13-21 in 1996 to a 28-9 final record this season, and a No. 13 ranking in the nation.

Next year, though, nervousness will only be acceptable if itās Elite nervousness.
Expectations come with success. And the 1997 Metro volleyball was one huge, inspiring success.