With March Madness now in full swing it might be a good time to take a look at the commitment that a player must make for a program to excel.
Basketball is in the spotlight right now, but many teams that play in the fall are involved in their spring drills.It's evaluation time for the Cougar women's volleyball team, which is hoping to improve on its final four finish last year that came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Penn State.
BYU coach Elaine Michaelis enters her 33rd year wondering whether her Cougars can take that next step and not only get to the final four, but come away a winner. "That's really I think the key to whether we do it or not - is the leadership and the maturity of the kids," she said.
If the Cougars are to go all the way in 1994, they will have to do it without the help of four key players. Michele Fellows, Carol Rawson, Tamua Matu'u and Shawna Scott are all lost to graduation.
"That's the fun part, you see a group mature and graduate," said the coach. "When it's over you're thinking about the next group . . . It's kind of like hope springs eternal.
"I think we're capable of going back (to the final four). We have a wonderful setter in Charlene Fiaputa. She's first team All- American and is the best setter in the country," Michaelis said. "The setter is your key player."
In 1994, BYU will have six seniors on its team, compared to four in 1993. "But they won't be as experienced as those seniors we had last year," Michaelis added.
The Cougars do have a fine group of recruits to look forward to this upcoming season. Joining the Cougars will be Amy Steele and Korie Rogers, two of the top recruits out of California. Also joining the squad will be Helen Hjorth of Spanish Fork, the top prep prospect out of the state of Utah.
"I don't know many people who win final fours with freshmen," said Michaelis. "But they're great. It's probably the best recruiting class we've had since we got (Fellows and Rawson). In fact, Volleyball Magazine ranked us as the No. 3 recruiting class in the country this year."
Michaelis said playing in last year's final four at least provided exposure to the team that couldn't be acquired in any other arena. "The exposure that we got just opened people's eyes to how fun volleyball is and they now want to see more of it."
Approximately 200,000 people watched BYU's final four match against Penn State on television. "Just that one game really helped a tremendous amount of people to realize we're a first class program."
BYU will host an eight-team scrimmage April 1-2. Michaelis sees that as an opportunity to see what might be in store for the upcoming season. "Players that see the vision, believe in themselves and do what you ask - that's what's great about these kids," she said. "Having been there once, it sure makes you want to go back. They're saying they want to be there but we've got a lot of work to do."