High Hopes for Volleyball Team

It's the start of a new year at Yeshiva University, which means a fresh season ahead for the school's volleyball team. Last year's disappointing record does not seem to have lowered the team's expectations for 1997, and the hopes of the players and coaches are high. The return of key players and the addition of promising new talent might just be what coach Sheng Sheng Jiang ordered. To top it all off, the new sports director, Dr. Richard Zernick hopes to enhance the program and give the team much sought after support. The combination of coaching, skills, and experience could very well be the formula for the squad's overall success.

Among the returning players coach Jiang will have available this year are: Captain and offside hitter Ruslan Kimyagarov, weakside hitter Andrew Harary, middle man Elie Hochhauser, offside hitter Mike Vogel, defensemen Steven Bernstein and Shamsian Behnam, and setter David Waknin. Packing an abundance of energy, this bunch should impressive with their intense style of play both on the offensive and defensive sides of the court.

The new squad members have already marked their presence in practice as well. Among the rookies are Canadian Steve Martinek, who looks to give an extra hand to fellow teammate Waknin at the setter position, and Robert Itshowitz, a power hitter who shows that Pittsburgh has more than just a good football team. From further "south of the border" come Joel Avery and Joshua Spotts, two players that have impressed coach Jiang from day one, by showing both skill and determination at practice sessions. Last but not least, are the West Coast boys, Mark Hecht and Shai Samet. Both pack excellent skills and instincts, showing why California is the mecca of beach volleyball.

With this combination of both old and new, veteran experience and youthful enthusiasm, this year's Macs seem to have found the much sought after group chemistry, an essential component to every successful sports team. The future looks bright, with on-court success beckoning.