CSUN VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW : EXPERIENCED NORTHRIDGE BEGINS ANEW.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

Dr. Lian Lu, widely considered a genius on the subject of defensive volleyball, might as well have been talking about quantum physics.

See, Lu has this big, tattered, folded, portfolio-type board, the contents of which he uses in his lectures around the world. Inside are diagrams upon diagrams, cross sections of cross sections, pink and blue and black markings.

When Cal State Northridge assistant women's volleyball coach Kathleen O'Laughlin walked into the Matadors' practice gym and saw the big, tattered, folded, portfolio-type board open and Lu expounding on his quick offense to a visitor, she rolled her eyes and smiled.

Lu loves his big board, but he does not use it when coaching Northridge. Not yet.

``Last year I couldn't teach anything,'' he said, referring to his freshman-laden 2-29 team.

Lu then proceeded to act out his coaching method from last year:

``You just cover your eyes,'' he said, doing just that, ``and, OK, pray.''

This season, the board might get some use. Later.

For now, Lu will say only that his team is better, coachable, even promising.

For one thing, the Matadors are more experienced. Many matches last season, Northridge started five freshmen and one junior-college transfer. Everyone who was on the team last season got a lot of playing time. And this year's transfers are experienced.

For another, there is a new attitude. Last year is something the returning players shut the door on the minute the final match was over.

``We've just forgotten about it and moved on,'' said setter Heather Hofmans. ``Kind of like a bad relationship.''

And, speaking of bad relationships, Lu has none with his assistant coaches. Last year, he and assistant Trisonya Abraham were openly hostile toward each other. The players noticed.

O'Laughlin, who played one season for Lu when the Matadors finished 23-8 and won the 1994 National Invitational Volleyball Championship title, and served as an undergraduate assistant last season, stepped up to the top assistant spot last spring.

``I understand what he wants out of the girls,'' O'Laughlin said.

And even if the beginning of the season is rough as it was last season, Northridge is not an independent for the first time since it moved to Division I in 1990. Playing for a Big Sky Conference title, the Matadors say, will help in setting goals. (The Big Sky coaches' poll released Tuesday had the Matadors picked last. Sacamento State was picked to win the conference.)

``We have more goals and higher goals, especially now that we're in a conference,'' Hofmans said. ``Last year we didn't have a lot of promise, nothing to shoot for (once things started going badly).''

Hofmans will likely be the setter when Northridge opens the season Friday at the University of San Diego tournament. She will be pressed by freshmen Nicki Midwin and Ellie Flato.

``We'll probably start the season with the more experienced players,'' O'Laughlin said.

Carrie Kapfenberg, a key player last season, will likely start on the outside. Also outside, transfer Kendra Dousette (University of Toledo) and returner Crystal Newquist will battle for time. On the opposite side, returning junior Rene Goth is the likely starter.

In the middle, transfers Getty Dimitrova (College of Southern Idaho) and Allwyn Fitzpatrick (University of Memphis) are the leaders. Dimitrova, at 6-foot-4, brings some height to a team that was badly in need of it.

Outside hitter Holli Sierra, who was Holli Hansen last season, resumed practicing this week after having a baby last month. Sierra (6-1) will probably be ready for match play in a few weeks. The coaches are also hoping Nancy Ma, a 6-1 outside hitter, gets back into the game quickly. Ma, from Zheng Zhou, China, had reconstructive knee surgery and has not played competitive volleyball for a few years.

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PHOTO Setter Heather Hofmans will lead Cal State Northridge in Friday's opener.

David Sprague / Daily News