RETURNING LETTERWINNERS AIR FORCE VOLLEYBALL 13

Transcription

1 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS THE COAING STAFF 13

2 HEAD COA RETURNING LETTERWINNERS PENNY LUCAS-WHITE Head Coach 12th season As the team enters the 2007 season, head coach Penny Lucas-White celebrates over a decade at the helm of the Air Force volleyball program. Lucas-White joined the Academy staff in 1996, just as the Academy made the jump from Division II to Division I status. After 11 years, she remains the only coach in the Falcons' Division I history. "I am so very excited to be with this program," Lucas-White said. "We're making great strides and I'm excited to see how far we can go. We're growing and building. It's going to be fun to watch." During her tenure on the Falcons' bench, 14 different cadet-athletes have been named to the academic All-Mountain West Conference team (including one MWC Scholar-Athlete of the Year), while four others earned academic All-Western Athletic Conference honors. Three have been named to various academic all-district teams and two others have been named to the All-MWC teams. Lucas-White joined the Academy staff in 1996 from the University of Memphis, where she compiled a record in five seasons as head coach of the Tigers. She guided the team to a 27-8 record in 1994 and their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. That team recorded a perfect record in conference play and picked up its second Great Midwest Conference title. One year earlier, the Tigers nabbed the conference title with an 11-1 record. Lucas-White earned conference Coach of the Year honors in 1993 and 1994 for her spectacular seasons. The Falcons' mentor draws her coaching expertise from an impressive playing career at the collegiate, national and international levels. Lucas-White earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors, as well as the Most Valuable Player award, in her first season playing at Louisiana State University. Lucas-White is still ranked among the program's top-10 for assisted blocks in a season (129) and digs in a season (400); both which she set during her junior year. After an outstanding three-year career at LSU, Lucas-White opted to leave the collegiate ranks to play on a higher level overseas in the German Professional League. Two years later, the United States National team came knocking at her door and the middle hitter was chosen to play with America's best in the NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean) tournament and at the 1985 Pan-American Games. Remaining stateside, Lucas-White spent two years playing professionally in the U.S. Pro League, splitting her time between the Dallas Belles and the Chicago Breeze. While there, she received awards for both blocking and spiking efficiency. 14

3 RETURNING LETTERWINNERS HEAD COA THE LUCAS-WHITE BIO Graduated from Tara HS in Baton Rouge, La.... was a member of the high school volleyball, basketball, softball and track teams... attended Louisiana State University from , playing volleyball all three years... earned a bachelors of science degree in Physical Education from Memphis in 1993, following an impressive professional volleyball career. COLLEGE ATHLETIC HONORS First-team All-SEC (1980) Team MVP (1980) PRO PLAYING EXPERIENCE German Pro League ( ) U.S. Pro League ( ) Italian Pro League ( ) National Volleyball Association ( ) PROFESSIONAL HONORS Two-time all-tournament selection (Argrigento League) Blocking and spiking efficiency awards (United States Pro League) Most Valuable Player (National Volleyball Association, 1997) All-Pro Team (National Volleyball Association, 1997) Overseas play called once again and Lucas-White departed the United States to join the ranks of the Italian Professional League in Matera. During the season, she competed with the team in Argrigento and was named to all-tournament teams twice in three years. Also during the season in Argrigento, Lucas-White served as a player and coach. While competing professionally in the United States and Europe, Lucas-White remained active during the collegiate season as an assistant coach with the Auburn University women's program from The Auburn team boasted a record in her tenure, achieving back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1988 and When her tour with the Italian League ended in 1991, Lucas-White accepted a position as the head coach at the University of Memphis. While there, she combined skill on the court with skill in the classroom, as her Tiger players maintained an average grade-point-average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. As a player, Lucas-White continued to hone her skills, earning both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors for her United States Volleyball Association Open team in the summer of While coaching at Memphis, she finished her education, earning a bachelor's degree in physical education in Lucas-White continued her professional play during the 1997 season with the Colorado Thunder of the National Volleyball Association (NVA). The Thunder voted her to be the league's most valuable player and its number one pick in the NVA inaugural draft. In addition to her coaching duties at the Academy, Lucas-White has also been an active member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). In 2003, she helped the AVCA receive a NCAA minority women's coaches grant for a program entitled "Volleyball: Live It! Love It! Coach It!" and has served on the board of directors as the at-large representative for minority coaches. A resident of Colorado Springs, Lucas-White has two sons, Kyle and Keefe, and a daughter, Kayla. USVBA EXPERIENCE Rookie of the Year (1993) Player of the Year (1993) All-Rookie Team (1993) All-American First Team (1993) Memphis Silver Division Championship Team (1993) INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE U.S. National Team (1985) COAING EXPERIENCE Italian Pro League -- Player/Coach ( ) Auburn University -- Assistant Coach ( ) University of Memphis -- Head Coach ( ) Air Force Academy -- Head Coach (1996-present) 15

4 ASSISTANT ANT COA VERNA JULATON Assistant Coach 12th season Verna Julaton continues to lend her expertise to the Falcon volleyball program, as she is entering her 12th season as an assistant coach. In addition to administrative, recruiting, scouting, summer camp and on-court coaching duties, Julaton works primarily with the Falcon setters. A native of Colorado Springs, Julaton returned to her stomping grounds in 1996 from just up Interstate 25, where she coached at former Air Force Academy rival Metropolitan State College (Denver). She spent five years as an assistant coach for the Roadrunners before acting as the interim head coach for five months in early With the Roadrunners, she gained experience in scouting, recruiting and practice organization, as well as strength and conditioning program development. She helped lead Metro State to two conference championships and two NCAA Division II regional berths. During her tenure, she also acted as a coach and administrator for the Metro Roadrunner Volleyball Camp for three years and as the director of Metro's summer volleyball doubles tournament. A keen administrator as well as coach, she also served as the facility coordinator and travel coordinator for eight other sports during her five year stint at Metro State. Prior to her coaching days, Julaton was a complete impact player at Metro State. She was a two-year letterwinner for the Roadrunners in 1987 and 1988, after spending two years at Mesa State in Grand Junction ( ). As a freshman at Mesa State, Julaton earned Rookie of the Year honors. One year later, she led the Mavericks to the district championship and a seventh-place finish in the NAIA National Championships with an overall record of Primarily a setter, Julaton also dominated the court at Metro State, garnering first-team All-Continental Divide Conference honors in her first year. Julaton's second season was even more impressive, as she earned most valuable player honors from the conference and was named a first-team all-south Central region selection. She compiled 2,703 assists and an 8.98 per game average in two seasons with the Roadrunners. Those marks ranked her fourth and fifth, respectively, on the Metro State all-time career charts. In 1989, she earned the Sportswoman of Colorado All-Around Award for her significant achievements in both volleyball and basketball. Julaton was also inducted into the Metro State Athletic Hall of Fame in In 1997, she spent the spring as a defensive specialist/setter on the Colorado Thunder professional volleyball team, helping the Thunder to the inaugural National Volleyball Association (NVA) championship. Julaton earned her bachelor's degree in physical education (recreation administration minor) from Metro State in She is a 1985 graduate of Widefield High School in Colorado Springs and is a first-degree black belt. 16

5 ASSISTANT ANT COA KYLE ROBINSON Assistant Coach 2nd season Kyle Robinson is entering his second season as an assistant coach with the Air Force volleyball program. With one year of coaching under his belt, the former member of the U.S. National Team understands the rigors of Academy coaching. While assisting with the day-to-day operations of the team, Robinson will work primarily with the outside hitters and liberos. In addition, he will play a strong part in the recruiting phase for the Falcons' program. Currently the co-owner of Stellar Sports in Colorado Springs, Robinson comes to the Falcons with two successful terms with the USA Volleyball National Team. He first joined the team in March 2001 as a candidate for the 2004 Olympic team and played with them until May Robinson returned to the national team for a nine-month stint in In addition to his experiences with USA Volleyball, the Philadelphia, Pa., native has also earned valuable international playing experience. Robinson began his professional career in 1998 with the volleyball club, Zorgvliet Antwerpen, in Antwerp, Belgium, where he was a three-year starter in the country's highest division. He also claimed the Top Foreign Player award each year. Following his time with the U.S. national team, Robinson returned to the international field. As a member of the Ethnikos Volleyball Club in Alexandropoulos, Greece, he was a team captain and was ranked fourth on the league's scoring lists. He also spent a season playing with the Criollos Volleyball Club in Caguas, Puerto Rico, where he was the league's leading scorer. In 2003, Robinson returned to Greece as a starter on two different professional teams. He was the league's fifth-best scorer as a member of the Aris Volleyball Club in Thesaloniki, before spending the 2004 season with the Poak Volleyball Club in Thesalonik. A 1998 psychology major from Long Island University, Southampton Campus, Robinson was a team captain and All-American honoree at the middle and opposite positions. In addition to his background as a player, Robinson has served as the head coach of the Pikes Peak Volleyball Club and as a coach and trainer at the All-American Volleyball Camps. 17

6 2005 SEASON IN REVIEW ATHLETIC TRAINER/STRENGTH COA DEANNE ZAMORA Athletic Trainer 13th season KIM PINSKE Strength Coach 1st season DeAnne Zamora begins her sixth consecutive season as the athletic trainer for the Air Force volleyball program. Zamora is in her 13th year as an athletic trainer at the Air Force Academy. With the exception of over-seeing several other sports during the 2001 season, she has been responsible for the health and well-being of the Falcon volleyball program for 12 years. In addition to working with the volleyball program, Zamora also serves as the primary athletic trainer for the men's and women's tennis teams. Zamora came to the Air Force Academy in January of 1995 from the University of Michigan, where she received her master's degree in kinesiology in While at Michigan, she worked with the Wolverine men's and women's track and field, cross country and tennis programs. She received her bachelor's in exercise science and physical education from Arizona State in 1990, and her associate degree from Oakland Community College (Mich.) in She worked with all sports at Scottsdale Community College while attending ASU. A native of Detroit, Mich., Zamora and her husband, Mark, currently live in the Black Forest area of Colorado Springs. They have a seven-year-old son, Gannon. Kim Pinske is entering her first season as the strength and conditioning coach of the Air Force volleyball team. She is in her second year working in the Academy's sports medicine division, having served as an intern during her first season with the Falcons. In addition to her work with the volleyball program, Pinske oversees the conditioning programs for several sports, including men's and women's diving, wrestling and water polo. She also assists with football and teaches several classes in the Academy's physical education department, including SCUBA and Combatives. Pinske recently completed her Masters in exercise science from North Dakota State. As a graduate assistant at NDSU, she worked with the baseball, women's golf, soccer and volleyball teams, as well as overseeing the Bison's throwers from the track and field team. A native of Gary, Minn., Pinske earned a B.S. in sport and recreation management from the University of Minnesota (Crookston) in She also earned an A.A.S. in management and marketing, with a minor in information technology. A four-year letterwinner in volleyball, Pinske was a three-time NSIC academic all-conference selection. The defensive specialist was a two-time team captain and holds the Eagles' record for aces in a season. She is also ranked in the top-five for aces in a career, as well as digs in a career. As a senior, she was named a National Strength and Conditioning All-American, for her dedication to strength training and conditioning, athletic accomplishments, academic and personal achievements, community involvement and leadership qualities. 18

7 2005 SEASON IN REVIEW OFFICER REPRESENTATIVES TIVES LT. COL. KELLY GREENE Officer Rep. 1st season DR. KEN LAVIN Officer Rep. 7th season Lt. Col. Kelly Greene, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the Air Force Academy, is beginning her first season as an officer representative for the Falcons' volleyball program. As the squad's O.R., she will oversee the academic well-being of the cadet-athletes, while assisting with the logistical needs of team travel. Greene graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1990, with a degree in operations research. Following her commission, Greene attended the Air Force Institute of Technology, where she received a M.S. in Operations Research in She also received a Ph.D. in Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Greene was assigned to the Foreign Aerospace Science and Technology Center at Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio, as a Project Engineer in the Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) branch from In 1993, Greene was reassigned to Hurlburt Field, Fla., as a Flight Test Analyst at the 18th Flight Test Squadron. She attended the one-year Flight Test Engineer program at the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, Calif. Greene graduated from Test Pilot School in 1999 as a member of Class 99A and was then assigned to the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB as a Flight Test Engineer on the CV-22A Osprey tilt-rotor and C-130J test programs. She was the Assistant Test Director for the successful first flight effort of the CV-22A Osprey tilt-rotor. Dr. Ken Lavin enters his seventh season as officer representative for volleyball program and his first since the 2002 season. As the squad's officer representative, he will oversee the academic well-being of the cadet-athletes, while assisting with the logistical needs of team travel. Lavin is the Academy's director of graduate studies programs in the student academic services center, office of the registrar. He is also an associate professor of foreign languages (German) at the Air Force Academy. In 1990, Lavin earned his doctorate in educational administration from the University of South Dakota in Vermilion. He earned his master's in education from Marywood College in Scranton, Pa., and his bachelor's in history and education from William Patterson State University (N.J). Lavin has been working at the Academy since Prior to his current assignment, he was the chief of the academic advising division in the office of the registrar. He transferred there from the department of foreign languages, where he held a number of different positions - the last being chair of the German language division. Greene returned to the Air Force Test Pilot School in 2001, as the Chief of Flight Research, while also performing duties as a Flight Test Engineer Instructor. She provided instruction in the air and in the classroom, covering various topics in performance, flying qualities, systems and test management. In 2003, Greene reported to the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS) in Orlando, Fla., as the Chief of Experimentation. In this position, Greene was responsible for providing modeling and simulation (M&S) support to wargaming, experimentation, acquisition and test. She is the recipient of the 2005 Air Force M&S Award in the Test and Evaluation Category and the 2005 Department of Defense Outstanding Achievement in M&S in the Test and Evaluation Category, for her contributions in advancing the usage of live-virtual-constructive distributed environments to conduct test and evaluation. With involvement in both development test and operational test, Greene has flown in over 45 different types of aircraft, with her favorites being the B-25H Mitchell bomber, the HU- 16A Albatross flying boat, the NF-16D VISTA (Variable-stability In-flight-Simulator Test Aircraft) version of the F-16 Viper and the F-15E Strike Eagle. She and her husband Christopher, a captain with Southwest Airlines, have two daughters - Amelia and Olivia. 19

8 SUPPORT STAFF JORDAN BOBBS Cadet Manager 2nd season NICOLE HARTIG Cadet Manager 1st season VALERIE PERKIN Media Relations 4th season KAREN SMITH Events Manager 6th season RIS ZELSNACK Admin. Assistant 2nd season NOT PICTURED: Jessica Guy - Cadet Manager (First Season); Camilya Boykin - Cadet Manager (First Season) 20