A PERFECT ENDING? : GYMNAST FISCHER GOES FOR HONORS AFTER `10'.

Byline: Kathy Orton

Dee Fischer didn't need a perfect vault. She just needed a good one.

If UCLA was to win its fourth consecutive NCAA West Regional, the Bruins had to have a strong performance on the vault. They trailed Pacific-10 Conference rival Oregon State by a mere .05 entering the final rotation.

Fischer's vault became even more crucial when a teammate fell. UCLA's title hopes rested upon the 5-foot-3 senior, the final vaulter of the evening.

``I knew how close everything was,'' Fischer said. ``There's a tiny bit of pressure, but I didn't let it get to me because I'd done this vault for so long.''

So Fischer, competing for the final time at Pauley Pavilion two weeks ago, executed a flawless handspring front pike, scoring a perfect 10. It was the first 10 of her career and only the second ever on the vault by a UCLA gymnast.

``I was just thrilled,'' Bruins coach Valorie Kondos said. ``You know the difference between a 9.9, a 9.95 - which she has gotten time and time again - and a 10 is so minute. There's not much difference there.

``The biggest part for me is that she's a senior. It was the last time she's competing at UCLA and what a way to go.''

Ironically, as close as Fischer had been to recording a 10 on her previous vaults was about as close as she once came to not being a UCLA gymnast.

``That was a nightmare,'' Kondos said.

Four years ago, UCLA was recruiting the talented Liz Crandall. But she was being wooed by several schools and with a fear that Crandall might decide to go elsewhere and they would lose both gymnasts, the Bruins coaches decided to be safe by pursuing Fischer.

``I was recruiting Liz Crandall because of the name,'' Kondos said. ``She is a great gymnast. And then we recruited Dee. And in recruiting Dee, it clicked. We realized that was the perfect match. . . . And at that point, even though you've offered (a scholarship) to Liz, you want to say `You know, Liz, you go do your thing. We'll be fine.' ''

Turns out, the Bruins were fine. Crandall signed with BYU, Fischer with UCLA.

Kondos doesn't feel the Bruins lost out in the least.

``You like to think the athletes that end up coming to you, (that) there is a reason, there is a plan,'' Kondos said.

Everything has just about followed that plan, too. Fischer had three goals as a collegiate gymnast: to win the UCLA Invitational, to score a 10 on the vault and to become an All-American. So far, two of the three have come true.

``Hopefully at nationals I'll be able to achieve that final goal,'' Fischer said.

To earn All-American honors, Fischer must make the finals at the NCAA Championships this weekend in Alabama.

UCLA is seeded sixth for the meet hosted by No. 1-ranked Alabama. Competition begins Thursday.

The future looks bright: As pleased as she is with this season's success, Kondos is equally excited about the next.

``We're going to be so strong next year,'' Kondos said. ``The four recruits we've got coming in are unbelievable.''

Kondos signed three gymnasts during the fall signing period - Kerri Strug, a 1992 Olympian who recently won the American Cup; Deborah Mink, an elite national champion in 1995; and Heidi Moneymaker, California state champion. Kondos expects to receive a letter of intent from her fourth recruit this week.

Kondos on Strug: ``She could bring in 10,000 people. She's amazing.''

Northridge tennis sweeps: Amy Petersen, the No. 1 singles player for Cal State Northridge, was named the American West Conference Player of the Year.

Petersen, a junior, helped the Matadors dominate the American West Conference tennis tournament as Northridge came away with the team championship as well as the singles and doubles titles.

Northridge defeated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 5-3 on Friday in the finals. On Sunday, Petersen beat the Mustangs' No. 1 singles player, Tracy Arnold 7-5, 7-3 for the singles championship, then paired with freshman Barbara San Juan to win the doubles championship 6-2, 6-2 over the Cal Poly doubles team of Arnold and Julie Acres.

Stars and Spikes tour update: The USA women's volleyball team capped off its Stars and Spikes tour with a 15-11, 7-15, 15-10, 15-12 victory over Russia at the Roanoke (Va.) Civic Center. Team USA split its series with the 1992 Olympic silver medalists, ending the six-match tour deadlocked at 3-3.

Team captain Tammy Liley of Westminster led Team USA with 21 kills, two blocks and two service aces in the final match.

Team USA returns home to San Diego for four matches against China, beginning May 8 in Irvine. The China matches are the last pre-Olympic contests in the United States.

MEMO: Kathy Orton is a Daily News staff writer. The Women In Sport column appears Wednesdays in the Daily News.

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Photo: (color) UCLA's Dee Fischer scored a perfect 10 on th e vault in the West Regional and looks for All-American honors at this weekend's NCAA Championships at Alabama.

Evan Yee / Daily News