Not Enough Surplus To Suit Them Star Setter Helps WSU Return To Ncaa Tournament

Kali Surplus was keeping her hopes up that everything would go down as according to plan.

Preseason volleyball practice had started at Washington State University and Surplus, the Cougars’ prize 6-foot setter from the class of ‘98, was prohibited from doing anything but watch.

She was enrolled as a freshman, a newcomer to Pullman by way of Gresham, Ore. She couldn’t wait to begin her four years on the volleyball team.

But there was a snag. Or as Surplus would soon find out, a stumbling block that couldn’t be moved by a long-haul 18-wheeler. She said the problem stemmed from a class she took during her sophomore year at Burns High, the small-town Oregon school she attended before her parents split and her mother moved the family to suburban Portland. The class was called English Fundamental.

“It was a regular 10th-grade English class,” Surplus explained. “But the (NCAA) clearinghouse would not accept it.”

A letter-writing campaign was launched. Her Grandpa Bud went so far as writing an Oregon state senator. There was an appeal. The appeal was denied.

“Cindy (WSU coach Fredrick) got a fax and she told me,” Surplus said. “I was bawling my eyes out. I never thought this would happen.”

Fredrick, who was set on building her team’s offense around Surplus for the next four years, also felt the pain.

“I was devastated when we didn’t get her,” the 16th-year coach said. “I didn’t agree with the NCAA ruling. It hurt me, it hurt our program and it hurt Kali (pronounced Kay-lee). It was a very difficult time.”

It has been more than two years since Surplus suffered through her lowest moment in sports. One of her highest comes today as the Cougars (18-9) prepare to face the Tennessee Lady Vols (23-9) in an NCAA tournament Pacific Region first-round match. The match is the first of two, with host and defending national champion No. 8 Penn State (27-5) vs. James Madison (21-9) to follow.

WSU has been away from the national tournament spotlight for two years, the same two years Surplus was earning her associate of arts degree and playing volleyball at Salt Lake Community College. With Surplus at setter, the Bruins were the NJCAA national tournament runners-up last season. But coming out of high school as a Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 senior, Surplus never imagined that she would enter the junior college ranks.

“It was hard, to say the least,” she said.

After failing to meet NCAA requirements, Plan B called for her to play junior college volleyball for one year. Then, she would redshirt her sophomore year to save three years of her eligibility for Pacific-10 competition.

Fredrick, friendly with Salt Lake coach Tom Peterson (now at Utah State), helped decide which junior college would be right. Problem was, Surplus’ attitude didn’t budge.

“I didn’t want to be there, mainly because I didn’t think I’d be there,” she said. But she finally allowed herself to like it. She liked it so much, she played her second year.

“When I decided not to redshirt, she (Fredrick) was a little upset,” Surplus said. “I don’t regret it at all. My (second-year) coach (Jean Widdison) was amazing. She really taught me a lot.”

During Salt Lake’s national runner-up season, Surplus was named a first-team NJCAA All-American and she was co-MVP at the national tournament. Her team was so good she claims it “probably could beat half the Division I teams.”

So how could Fredrick blame her super setter for sticking around Salt Lake?

“I was disappointed, I won’t say I wasn’t, but I understand why,” Fredrick said. “It got her team to the national championship. It’s a compliment to Kali. Anyone would love to have Kali in a program for four years.”

The Cougars have had to settle for two. The best WSU setter to come along since second-team All-American Keri Killebrew (1990-92) is averaging 13.09 assists per game, fourth in the Pac-10. Her 14.12 average in conference games is second-highest. She also is one of the better blocking setters to come along for Fredrick. Two weeks ago, Surplus received All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention.

So what makes Surplus, who mostly played middle blocker under her mother’s coaching at Burns High, so good?

“She has a terrific temperament on the floor,” Fredrick said. “If hitters don’t get the job done, she doesn’t reveal that through her emotions.”

That’s not to say she doesn’t express herself well. As a communication major, Surplus is personable, articulate and at ease when talking about herself.

“I bring in a little of a calming attitude to the team,” she said. “We have a tendency to get a little freaked out in tight situations. But the hitters have been on fire and that helps my job a whole lot. And the passing has improved tremendously.”

Today’s match will be the first in the NCAA tournament for all of the players on both teams.

WSU, the region’s sixth-seeded team, last played in the tournament in 1997, losing to Florida in the third round. The Cougars have a 5-6 record in six appearances.

Tennessee’s 12th-seeded Lady Vols last played in 1993 and are 4-5 over five tournaments. They represent the Southeastern Conference, which, known for its basketball dominance, is ruled by Florida in volleyball.

The regional winner advances to the second round, Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (PST).