1998 Season Outlook

STANFORD, Calif. - A magical year in Stanford men's volleyball history ended with the Cardinal crowned as NCAA champion in 1997.

Last year's team was strong in so many ways. A dominat front line, strong defense, experience and great team chemistry.

Seven players, including four starters have graduated. The team will definitely look different. The team is much younger, but the goals are still the same; winning another national title.

"The fact that we lost so many players, doesn't mean we can't be real good," said Cardinal head coach Ruben Nieves, who was named the 1997 Volleyball Magazine and AVCA Coach of the Year. "This team has set high goals. This team in fall training gained a lot of confidence as they competed and trained together. Team chemistry is good, and the guys are hungry. The players feel that although they played on an NCAA championship team, they have a lot to prove. The team is looking to prove themselves again. We will not be the pre-season favorites like we were last year. But that doesn't mean we can't do it again."

UCLA, Brigham Young and Hawaii are three leading candidates to win the NCAA title this year. The Bruins return five starters from their NCAA runnerup team. BYU returns all six starters and added several key recruits. Hawaii has asembled another great team. The midwest region is going to be strong. Ohio State, IPFW and Lewis are contenders. In the east, Penn State is the favorite again.

Setters
Three solid players means tough competition for a starting role. All three are excellent players. PK Diffenbaugh brings experience and poise to the position. However, he will be challenged immediately by two freshmen. Brad Griffith brings size (6-foot-5), a strong work ethic and a fierce competitive attitude to the Cardinal volleyball program. Freshman Joshua Lukens is as prepared to run a collegiate offense as a high school setter can be.

Griffith and Lukens were considered the top two high school setters in the country last year. Both freshmen are great additions to the team and compliment each other.

Middle Blockers
Keenan Whitehurst, an All-American candidate in 1998, has been a solid starter the past three seasons. In the 1997 NCAA championship match against UCLA, Whitehurst recorded 17 kills in 26 attempts (.617), nine blocks and four digs. Whitehurst hit .417 for the season, #1 for the Cardinal and #4 in the nation. Tad Hoffman has been a pleasant surprise for the Cardinal, according to the Cardinal coaching staff. Hoffman was exepcted to start in 1998, but he is more than ready to start, according to the Cardinal coaches. Hoffman is ready to be a dominant force in the middle. Along with Whitehurst, Stanford will have a dominant front wall. Jeremy Bart is being shifted from setter to middle blocker and performed well in the Fall. Dan Zhang and Brett Youngberg are excellent freshmen prospects. Their role will depend on how fast they develop.

Outside Hitters
Andy Witt, a first team freshman All-America, is ready to be even more of an offensive force in 1998. Although a freshman in 1997, Witt played like a veteran. For example, at the NCAA Final Four, Witt recorded 31 kills and 29 digs in wins over Ball State and UCLA. Witt can also serve and play defense. Witt set a school record with 39 service aces, and tied with the graduated Stewart Chong for the team lead in digs with 210.

Witt is highly respected as a competitor. Devin Poolman is a starter after being a reserve last year. Devin is another player who brings great arm strength from the outside. Patrick Klein had a great fall, according to the Cardinal coaching staff. Like Poolman and Witt, Klein is a strong offensive player. He appears ready to play a major role on the team. Joshua Palacios redshirted last yar after undergoing shoulder surgery. Palacios is definitely in the hunt for a starting position. He brings improved passing, serving and ball control to the court. Chris Griffith plays a style similar to Palacios; passing and defense are his strengths. Griffith also shines with his intensity on the court. Curtis Graham is a freshman who shows a lot of potential, a good work ethic and a strong team attitude. With improvement, he will help the team down the road. Robin Lamb is a strong team player. The transfer from Vanderbilt is poised on the court. His rate of development will determine his amount of time on the court. Gabe Gardner is as talented a volleyball player as any in the country, according to the Cardinal coaching staff. Gardner, who transferred from USC, will redshirt this year due to Pac-10 and transfer regulations. His presence, however, in the gym elevates the standard of play in practice..

Back Row
Tyler Neal, who had doubled as a setter in previous years, is the only player on the Cardinal varsity this year that will train exclusively at the back row position. As a senior, he is proven at that position. Neal is a great server and digger.

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