RULES MADE TO BE BROKEN? NOT AT AV.

Byline: Rizza Yap Daily News Staff Writer

Better be ready to hit the floor when you say the words ``shut up'' in front of Antelope Valley College women's volleyball coach Jane Cwayna.

Two years ago, a player was caught and had to do push-ups at Disneyland (while in line for Space Mountain), said sophomore returner Connie Medina. Last year, Medina herself uttered the words in front of assistant coach Karen Valencia and carried out the sentence in her hotel room. Teammate Brenda Lewellen had to perform a set in a San Bernardino Carl's Jr. restaurant.

Chewing gum or wearing an untucked shirt in practice or competition is also cause for punishment.

``I used to own a dog, and people would tell it to shut up, and I just don't like the way it sounds - it's a thing I have,'' Cwayna said. ``Chewing gum . . . you might choke on it, it gets on the gym floor. The tucked shirts - how you look, how you present yourself are all very important.

``It's called discipline.''

For the most part, her players don't seem to mind abiding by the rules.

``Coach is strict, and in a lot of ways, it's a good thing,'' said defensive specialist Jennifer Griego. ``She wants us to conduct ourselves in a positive way. The rules keep us focused on what we're doing and what we're (on the court) for.''

Sometimes, however, the guidelines also follow players outside the court.

``Wherever I am, I either hesitate to say (`shut up'), or I expect to be given push-ups when I do,'' said Medina, a graduate of Palmdale High School, where women's volleyball coach Connie Burns ordered push-ups when her players yawned. Medina said that rule still haunts her.

``After two years, I'm still catching myself yawning underneath my shirt,'' she said. ``Then I'd think, `Ha! I don't need to do that anymore.' I just don't have to say `shut up.' ''

And just exactly how many push-ups does it take to redeem oneself?

``Depending on what kind of mood she's in, coach will assign anywhere from 10 to 25,'' said Medina, who at 5-foot-9 has a 28-inch vertical jump. ``Sometimes she'll multiply two people's jersey numbers, and the total is how many we have to do. We try to get the incoming freshmen to get low numbers.''

Medina - who wears the No. 4 - is quick to say that Cwayna's demands on the court are matched by the coach's own hard work and generosity. Just this weekend at the Cuesta College scrimmage tournament, the team stayed in beach-front accommodations and took a stroll by the ocean after practice.

Relaxing by the beach helped the team recover from a daylong tourney of scrimmage games against nine different teams, including formidable Santa Barbara and rival college of the Canyons. On the day, the Marauders won four games - all of them against Northern California schools. It was a learning experience for the freshman-laden team, which returns only three players from last season's squad.

``We've got a lot to learn yet,'' said Cwayna, who is entering her 17th season with the team. ``We're going to have to be quick, pass well, serve tough and play good defense.''

Sophomores Medina, Griego and Lewellen are back from 1996's 4-5 team that placed third in the Foothill Conference Northern Division with a 3-2 league record. Shannon Alvarez, the only other freshman from last year's team, transferred to College of the Canyons. Cwayna expected seven freshmen this season until Janell Lessing - the tallest player at 5-11 - hurt her knee while running last month and may sit out the season if she requires surgery.

Lessing's injury was just enough to reaffirm Medina and Griego's theory that Antelope Valley is accident-prone.

The idea came up last year, when Medina injured her back and three teammates hurt their ankles. In one game, a player broke her ankle and another sprained it within five minutes of each other. Later in the season during a Halloween scavenger hunt, the Marauders' setter sprained her ankle while hopping a wall. This year, Lessing's knee is hurt, and Lewellen - who wears a bright yellow hair scrunchie for good luck - is still recovering from a back injury.

``Any time we see anybody on the team fall to the floor, Jennifer and I look at each other and say, `Great,' '' Medina said. ``In Jennifer's words, this is the most accident-prone team I've ever played on.''

With hopes of staying healthy, the Marauders are looking forward to another good preseason workout by hosting their own scrimmage tournament Wednesday at 2 p.m. The event will feature games among Antelope Valley, Taft, Glendale and Moorpark.

``I think this is a team that can improve a lot through the season,'' said Griego, who - under coach's orders - must braid her longer-than-waist-length hair during practice and games. ``We'll be a good defensive team, really scrappy. We're definitely a team that's not afraid to hit the floor.''