Ready For The Next Step New Vandals Volleyball Coach Looks To Make Idaho National-Level Contender

The sound system in his car probably blasts the words of Rick Pitino’s new book “Success Is a Choice.”

The bookshelves in his new office in the Kibbie Dome are lined with inspirational publications such as “Finding a Way to Win,” by Bill Bradley; “Everyone’s A Coach,” by Don Shula; and James E. Loehr’s toughness training books.

To Carl Ferreira, the 36-year-old coach who was hired in July to take over the Idaho volleyball program, WIN is simply an acronym that stands for What’s Important Now.

And now, Ferreira is devoted to helping the Vandals become successful at the national level. He took over the program when Tom Hilbert left after eight successful seasons for the head coaching job at Colorado State.

He inherited a program that lost starting setter Lynne Hyland, who holds the school’s all-time assist mark (4,786). But the Vandals return four starters, including All-Big West Conference middle blocker Jessica Moore.

During the last three years, Ferreira guided Cal State Bakersfield to a 100-13 record and three top-five finishes in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

“We were always the ones that were trying to set a tempo for what the national level was,” said Ferreira, who also coached at Santa Rosa Junior College, Fresno State and briefly at Stanford.

The Vandals used to set the tempo in the Big Sky Conference, winning the title four straight years from 1992-95.

“One of the big things I’m going to try to do here at the University of Idaho is help us be successful at the national level,” Ferreira said. “I think the University of Idaho program has had a lot of success in the Big Sky Conference, but the Big West Conference is much more of a nationally recognizable conference.”

Idaho’s 13-3 Eastern Division record (25-6 overall) last season earned it the top spot in the coaches’ preseason poll. However, the powers are in the Western Division with Long Beach State, ranked No. 5 in the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 preseason poll; No. 10 Pacific; and No. 12 UC Santa Barbara.

Last season, the Vandals finished 0-4 against the big three, losing to Pacific in the second round of the conference tournament. Their closest match was a five-set loss to UCSB, No. 19 at the time.

“I think last year was the first part of the transition being in the Big West,” Ferreira said. “Our players can play at that level, we just have to get used to playing at that level all the time.”

Ferreira’s makeover begins at his rigorous two-a-day practices.

Blink, and an athlete might miss break time.

“We have a water break and we’re right back into another drill,” said Moore. “They’re very productive.”

Ferreira’s coaching team includes assistant coach and wife Ellen Bugalski-Ferreira. The two-time All-American middle blocker was a member of the Cal Poly SLO top-ranked teams in 1985 and 1986.

Ferreira also brought in Torie Sumner, a second-team All-American middle blocker, who played for him the past two years.

“We have a whole new digging, passing pattern,” explained Moore, admittedly disappointed, but understanding over Hilbert’s departure.

“It’s amazing because they’re so technical,” she said of the plays. “It’s good, don’t get me wrong, because all of our team is learning at the same time.”

Moore finished second in kills last year in the Big West with 403 behind LBSU’s Nique Crump, who had 415. Crump is a senior. The other returning Vandals starters are senior middle blocker Jeri Hymas (366 kills) and outside hitters Beth Craig (362 kills), a junior, and senior Kyle Leonard (163 kills).

Senior middle blocker Jemena Yocom, sophomore outside hitter Shalyne Lynch and Alli Nieman of Sandpoint also will contribute. Lynch is representing Canada in the World University Games and missed preseason training.

Nieman, the Big West Conference 1996-97 freshman basketball player of the year, will begin her first of four years in volleyball. She’ll also play her second year of basketball when the volleyball season ends.

The setting spot will be filled by either freshman Loni Kim or sophomore Anna Reznicek.

“Carl is working with the setters every day and they’re doing very well,” Moore said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Three sidebars appeared with the story: 1. PRESEASON BIG WEST COACHES POLL Eastern Division 1. Idaho 72 (12) 2. Boise State 52 3. Nevada 46 4. New Mexico State 29 5. North Texas 6. Utah State Western Division 1. Long Beach State 71 (11) 2. Pacific 57 3. UC Santa Barbara 52 (1) 4. Cal Poly SLO 32 5. Cal State Fullerton 26 6. UC Irvine 14 (x) First-place votes

2. IDAHO VANDALS Coach: Carl Ferreira (first year) 1996 record: 24-5, 13-3 (Big West Eastern Division, first place) Ferreira’s 1996 record at Cal State University Bakersfield, 28-4. Players to watch: OH Beth Craig (6-1, Jr.); MB Jessica Moore (6-0, Jr.); OH Jemena Yocom (5-11, Sr.); OH Kyle Leonard (6-0, Sr.). Key newcomers: OH Alli Nieman (6-1, Fr.); MB Regan Butler (6-1, Fr.) Spikes and digs: Ferreira wants to test his team against ranked opponents. There are five Top 25 teams on the schedule. … The Big West Volleyball Radio Network is available worldwide on the Internet at either www.cableradionetwork.com or AudioNet.com. Idaho at Nevada (Sept. 26, 7 p.m.) and Idaho at Cal State Fullerton (Oct. 17, 7 p.m.) are on the schedule. Outlook: The Vandals should easily win the seven-team Big West Eastern Division. Ferreira’s goal of getting them to be as competitive as the Western Division’s elite three will take time. However, he seems to be a good motivator.

3. IDAHO VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 29-30 at University of Washington Tournament with Michigan, Washington and Rhode Island Sept. 3 vs. Utah 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5-6 Idaho Classic, Moscow, with Bulter, Portland and Wyoming Sept. 9 vs. Gonzaga 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at Washington State 7 p.m. Sept. 19-20 at Connecticut Tournament with Boston College, Harvard and Connecticut Sept. 26 at Nevada 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Utah State 2 p.m. Oct. 2 vs. Pacific 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Boise State 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at Eastern Washington 7 p.m. Oct. 9 vs. New Mexico State 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 vs. North Texas 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at CS Fullerton 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at UC Irvine 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 vs. UC Santa Barbara 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 vs. Cal Poly SLO 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at North Texas 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at New Mexico State 4 p.m. Nov. 6 at Long Beach St. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 vs. Boise State 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 vs. Utah State 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 vs. Nevada 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22-24 Big West Tournament