***For the full text of this post - and for the best coverage of college women's volleyball all season long - visit the best college volleyball site on the Internet, the Collegiate Volleyball Update at:         http://www.dynpro.com/dynpro/www/vb/index.html 1996 Predictions - Tight, tight tight!    1.  Stanford    2.  Washington State    3.  USC    4.  UCLA    5.  Arizona State    6.  Washington    7.  California    8.  Oregon State    9.  Arizona   10.  Oregon ..Will 1996 be the closest race for the Pac-10 crown ever?  The parity at the top has never been more even, and it's anyone's guess who the ultimate victor will be... Marquee Returning P_layer_s...A few 'Must See' in '96, some of the nation's hottest volleyball p_layer_s:   Jamina Marinkovic, sophomore middle blocker, USC   Kristin Folkl, junior outside hitter, Stanford   Sarah Silvernail, senior outside hitter, Washington State  Angela Bransom, senior quick hitter, Washington   Kelly Flannigan, senior setter, UCLA   Barb Bell, senior outside hitter, Arizona Newcomers of the Year:   Kerri Walsh, Stanford - The next Cary Wendell??   Erin Borske, junior transfer (Illinois), Arizona State - The Big Ten meets the Pac-10   Jennifer Kriste, California Team on the Rise:   California - with very little fanfare

  __CONTINUED__    __CONTINUED__    __CONTINUED  

Hello, RSV =) As primarily an indoor p_layer_, I find the summer topics of conversation on this group less fun to read than the fall indoor NCAA season.  So in the interest of posting something lots of folks (indoor and outdoor) will read and enjoy, I thought I'd post a celebration of the 'Volley babe'. Volleybabes are a special sort of woman.  My last two girlfriends have been volleybabes, and even though things didn't work out in the long run, I still consider them both to be fine people.  I've seen many marriages made from this fine sport, and they do seem to be good matches...of course time will tell there I could probably type all day about the many virtues of the volleybabe, however I will try to sum it up with a top ten list. 10.  Volleybabes are tall.  (being 6'3 myself I like having someone up in the air with me) 9.  Volleybabes are quick thinkers.  Perhaps there's something about the game that attracts people who can recognize and act in a hurry.  This isn't to say they are all Brainiacs, they just tend to be pretty sharp 8.  Volleybabes are active.  They tend to like physical activities like mountain biking and rollerblading and of course they'll run out to the yard to play pepper when you are looking for stuff to do together. 7.  Volleybabes don't complain.  There is a difference between bitching and complaining.  Bitching is normal; complaining and whining is irritiating- volleybabes are always on the good side of that fine line. 6.  Volleybabes are used to hard work.  After a number of years going through HS, JO, and perhaps college ball, they are used to putting forth an effort towards what they want. 5.  Volleybabes take good care of themselves.  As representatives of their schools, they know how to keep up appearances.  That feels really good when they look nice before a night out- you can see the pride spill over. 4.  Volleybabes are healthy.  They know how to eat right and they just look healthy.  (Sexy!) 3.  Volleybabes are coordinated.  They are perfect companions for active men who want to play coed tennis, softball and (of course) volleyball, and they look good doing it. (really good!) 2.  Volleybabes are competitive.  Show me a woman who hates to lose, and I'm ready to ask them out!  The competitiveness makes them goal oriented, and menally tough. 1  Volleybabes are fun!  Perhaps it's the team comeraderie, or just being in a group with a common focus, but volleybabes are well adjusted and get along with others.  That makes them fun to be with when you're out in a group and on a tear! I love volleybabes!  I salute you all  =) Kent Booker Ann Arbor, MI

***For the full text of this post - and for the best coverage of college women's volleyball all season long - visit the best college volleyball site on the Internet, the Collegiate Volleyball Update at:         http://www.dynpro.com/dynpro/www/vb/index.html  More like...       http://www.dynpro.com/vb/index.html

Perry, Enjoyed your analysis of the Pac10 women.  I noticed you didn't mention a couple of foreigners who were impactive.  Have they left? Pia Ahlengard OSU Vesna Dragicevic USC