JC VOLLEYBALL: VERY YOUNG, VERY GIFTED FRESHMAN-HEAVY PIERCE SEEKS ANOTHER ELITE EIGHT BERTH.Byline: Charlie Kaloustian Special to the Daily News Last season, Nabil Mardini guided the Pierce College In 2006 the Library won a national Excellence award. Academics Pierce College offers associate's degrees, mainly in the arts and sciences. There are also certificate programs in early childhood education, social services, dental hygienist, and others. women's volleyball team to the second round of Elite Eight state championship, an unprecedented feat, then watched every player but one depart. A year later, Mardini and the Brahmas are seeking another trip to the state finals, and even the veteran coach is surprised. Pierce (19-2), seeded fourth in the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Regional, heads into a playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. opener tonight at 7 against visiting San Bernardino Valley The San Bernardino Valley is the hub of Southern California's Inland Empire. It is drained by the Santa Ana River. It is bordered on the north by the San Bernardino Mountains and the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, on the east by the San Jacinto Mountains, and on the south and west (14-4) fresh off a fifth successive Western State Conference title. ``When a bunch of freshmen win the conference - not only win but go 10-0 - it's a pretty good accomplishment,'' said Mardini, who is in his seventh season at Pierce. ``It's almost unheard of Not heard of; of which there are no tidings. Unknown to fame; obscure. - Glanvill. See also: Unheard Unheard in a way, especially at the college level, because every time you talk about freshmen, you talk about rebuilding. But it's all about character.'' Last year's team was athletic and powerful; this season, the Brahmas - with 15 freshmen and one returning sophomore - make up for a lack of power and experience with skill and chemistry. ``This team surprised me, too, on how well we adjusted to each other and how far we've come "How Far We've Come" is the lead single from Matchbox Twenty's retrospective collection, Exile on Mainstream, which was released on October 2, 2007. The music video premiered on VH1's Top 20 Countdown on September 1, 2007. ,'' freshman 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. Jackie Tomas said. ``I don't think this is anything new to (Mardini). ``He's been there, done that. If not, he hides it really well.'' Mardini blended together a talented group, led by Tomas and co-captains Meredith Rice and Kristen Gorman, and worked them into a superb squad that stands two victories from the final eight, Dec. 9-11 in Fresno. ``He pushes us harder than any coach,'' Rice said. ``Every team struggles in areas, and the hardest is to play as one unit. Having 15 new people to a team makes it more challenging, but we were up for it. ``Nabil has more heart than any coach I have ever known of, and I wish everyone could see our practices. That's that only way I think they would know why we are successful.'' Said Mardini: ``It's all about giving it my best. I make myself available, and I feel like I sinned if I don't prepare my team. And I expect my players to have the same philosophy, too.'' Mardini has the Brahmas prepared for the postseason. A victory over San Bernardino Valley would lead to a home match Saturday night against fifth-seeded Cerritos or 12-time defending state champion Golden West of Huntington Beach Huntington Beach, city (1990 pop. 181,519), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific coast, across from Santa Catalina Island, in an oil-producing area; inc. 1909. It manufactures aerospace vehicles, aircraft parts, optical instruments, and heat transfer equipment. . A win there, and it's off to Fresno. ``They're just looking forward to it - I mean they are fired up,'' Mardini said. ``This is a competitive team. But I refuse to be average, I refuse to be mediocre. ``It's not my place to say I know more about volleyball than all the other coaches, but I can tell you one thing: I refuse to be outworked by everybody else. And that reflects the attitude of this team.'' |
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