AVILA BACK ON THE COURTBUT WITH DIFFERENT ROLE THE MASTER'S EX-PLAYER RETURNS TO COACH MUSTANGS.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer NEWHALL - Beth Avila is 24 and just four years removed from juggling life as a student-athlete at The Master's College History The Master's College was founded as Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary on May 25, 1927 to meet the need for a fundamental Baptist school on the West Coast. . And although she's relatively new to the coaching business - the former Mustangs standout has assisted at the club and junior college levels before taking over as head coach of The Master's women's volleyball team this year - she brings a unique perspective to the program. ``Off the court, she is a great mentor,'' said senior middle blocker Rosemary Franklin, who played one season at The Master's with Avila in 2000 and redshirted last year. ``And she's great with our age because she's just been there. And she cares for us a lot.'' Funny thing is, Avila wasn't sure she wanted to pursue coaching after she finished playing collegiate col·le·giate adj. 1. Of, relating to, or held to resemble a college. 2. Of, for, or typical of college students. 3. Of or relating to a collegiate church. volleyball under her maiden name maiden name n. A woman's family name before she is married. Used of a surname that is replaced by a woman when she marries. Also called birth name. , Barrington. When she married ex-Mustangs baseball standout and current Philadelphia Phillies “Phillies” redirects here. For other uses, see Phillies (disambiguation). The Philadelphia Phillies are a professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. minor-leaguer Rob Avila, the couple moved to her hometown home·town n. The town or city of one's birth, rearing, or main residence. Noun 1. hometown - the town (or city) where you grew up or where you have your principal residence; "he never went back to his hometown again" of Ukiah. Avila was approached by Mendocino Junior College head coach Ed Schweitzer, who coached her in high school. She joined his staff as an assistant. ``He has been a mentor all through high school and college,'' she said of Schweitzer. ``He really developed me as a player before I went to college. I just learned so much (coaching for) him. When you're playing in college, you don't pay as much attention to the coaching and what to do. So I learned a lot in that one year.'' When Rob Avila returned to The Master's in the offseason to complete his degree, Beth was working in a noncoaching job. Then, when Karen Peterson quit as the Mustangs' head coach. Avila was encouraged to apply for the vacancy. She still wasn't sure if coaching was right for her, but Rob's profession and the travel demands of baseball got her thinking about the possibility. ``What could I do that would utilize my strengths?'' said Avila, who, despite her age, was impressive in the interview process and accepted the job. She was able to join Rob, who played most of 2003 at Single-A Clearwater in the Florida State League The Florida State League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the state of Florida. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth step , for most of his season before preseason practice began for volleyball. ``I feel comfortable in my element on the volleyball court,'' she said. ``Just because that's where I've lived the past 11 years every afternoon, playing year-around. I like to plan, I like to organize. And I love being a part of the (players') lives.'' And the feeling is mutual. Franklin returned for her senior season after sitting out 2002 to be a resident assistant at the dorm on campus. The Mustangs lost their strong middle blocking tandem of Kat Kern Kern, river, 155 mi (249 km) long, rising in the S Sierra Nevada Mts., E Calif., and flowing south, then southwest to a reservoir in the extreme southern part of the San Joaquin valley. The river has Isabella Dam as its chief facility. and Erika Sansoni. But there is experience on the outside with Franklin and returning junior Lacey lac·ey adj. Variant of lacy. Brueggeman (Geinger). Katie Folden and Natalia Durso are promising replacements in the middle and Saugus High product Julie Bolt is playing well as the new setter setter: see sporting dog. setter Any of three breeds derived from a medieval hunting dog that would set (lie down) when it found birds so that it and the birds could be covered with a net. Setters have long hair on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. . Franklin said finishing among the top four in the Golden State Athletic Conference The Golden State Athletic Conference is a college athletics conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference commissioner is Dr. Cliff Hamlow of Azusa Pacific University. Conference leadership is shared among the member institutions. , one of the NAIA's premier conferences, is a realistic goal. The Master's started 4-1, losing just a five-game match to conference rival Christian Heritage Christian Heritage can refer to:
Chris Cocoles, (818)713-3607 chris.cocoles(at)dailynews.com AT A GLANCE Head coach: Beth Avila (first year) Last season:: 22-16 overall, 9-11 in Golden State Athletic Conference Key returnees: Lacey Brueggeman, Jr., OH; Lindsey Floch, Jr., RS; Julie Bolt, So., S; Natalia Durso, Jr., MB; Katie Folden, So., MB. Top newcomers: Rosemary Franklin, Sr. OH; Mary Franklin, Fr., MB. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Katie Folden is one of several key returnees for The Master's. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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