USC FRESHMAN A SHINING LIGHT.

Byline: JILL PAINTER University Beat

Bibiana Candelas spends most of her day in an intensive English course at USC. She likes the class because she's with people who are in a similar situation.

Most know a lot of English but their grammar could use a little tweaking. They struggle with slang and often grow frustrated or uncomfortable if they don't understand a word or two.

Candelas, who grew up in Mexico, spends her afternoons with others unlike her at least in one respect. She's a 6-foot-5 freshman middle blocker for USC's women's volleyball team, one of only four 6-5 players - including teammate Emily Adams - in the history of the program.

And she's been all she was advertised as. At least in practice.

Candelas has practiced with the Trojans for only a week - she was a late arrival because she was playing with the Mexican national team - but already she has shown she has the ability to transform the middle.

``(Monday) was her best day ever,'' USC coach Mick Haley said. ``She simply took over the gym. I've never had an athlete do that before. Her dominance at the net was absolutely the most impressive thing we've seen in a long time.''

Haley already knew what Candelas could do. The rest of us won't get a chance to watch her, however, at least for a bit. USC, ranked No. 1 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll for the first time since 1984, likely won't use Candelas this weekend when it opens Pacific-10 Conference play Friday and Saturday at Arizona State and Arizona, respectively.

``I'm not quite sure when we'll get her out there but probably not this weekend,'' Haley said. ``You can disrupt your chemistry pretty badly if you just interrupt things. She's appreciative of that, and she wants to be part of the group. She understands.''

Like many big-time college volleyball programs, USC made a big push for Candelas. The University of Texas and USC were the lone schools to visit Candelas in her hometown of Torreon, about 750 miles south of El Paso, Texas. She appreciated that, too.

``I think the volleyball program here is best for me,'' Candelas said. ``I can learn so much, especially in blocking and defense. I think it's a very good team. All the players are very good. I think we can do a lot of things in the Pac-10.''

She also said she liked USC's journalism program. Candelas wants to become a sports writer and believes the Los Angeles market is a great place to start.

Plus, she plans to hit all the tourist attractions. She's embarrassed to admit it, but Disneyland is a high priority on her list.

Not that Candelas has much free time. She's only been in Los Angeles for a week and has had to move into her dorm room with freshman teammate Staci Venski. She's hardly homesick because she's traveled and played with the Mexican national team since she was 13. And she spent her final year of high school in Puerto Rico.

``My first tournament with the national team was very exciting,'' Candelas said. ``We won that tournament. I really like it because no older people can represent the country. I am proud for representing my country.''

And now proud to be a member of USC's volleyball program. Candelas just wants to help. But she's sure to do more than that.

``I'm very excited,'' Candelas said. ``The only thing I want is to help the team keep that No. 1. I will do the best I can to help the team. That's all I can do.''

Haley said the team has taken to Candelas. And that's made her transition an easy one.

``I've missed time with my family and friends, but I'm here in L.A. now,'' Candelas said. ``I'm happy because I can meet other friends. It's a different kind of life. I am excited about that - to know more people, to learn about volleyball programs and another (education).''

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Bibiana Candelas, a 6-foot-5 freshman from Mexico, has joined the USC women's volleyball team.

Courtesy of Dan Avila/USC