The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 491

J18 INUKSDAY. AI'KII. 5. I'WU I ANT II I IS I IMIS Waves of the Future Pepperdine Tennis Team Builds on Success senior at Brentwood High, has opted to attend Pepperdine instead of UCLA he was offered partial tennis scholarships from both schools in the fall. Nathan, who was ranked fourth in Southern California last year by the Southern California Tennis said Puccinelli, his private coach, played a role in the decision.

The affable Fox and Gallien closed the deal. "I don't think the players feel a definite need to win, and I don't think they feel threatened when Allen or Rich walks on the court," Nathan said. "It seems like everybody matters. It's not only the top two or three guys on the team." Others, too, are scheduled to arrive via the Puccinelli pipeline. Most notable of the new recruits is Cary Lothringer of San Antonio, who was ranked 15th in the country last year in the U.S.

Tennis 18-and-under division. By SAM FARMER TIMES STAFF WRITER What might look to the casual observer like a mere wrinkle in a string of successful seasons for the Pepperdine men's tennis team resembles a chasm deeper than Malibu Canyon to Waves Co-Coach Allen Pox. Pepperdine dipped temporarily last season after the loss of Robbie Weiss, the 1988 NCAA singles champion, Canada's Andrew Sznadjer, and doubles standout Craig Johnson. The Waves, who had never finished below seventh among NCAA Division I schools in Fox's 12-year tenure, ended the season 13-13 and 17th in the nation. It was an enviable finish for many programs, but that was small consolation to Fox.

"Everybody from the players Landing Lothringer was a minor coup, considering that until recently he had no plans to play on the West Coast. "If the tennis was the same in Texas, I didn't feel like I should go out of state," Lothringer said, adding that the presence of Puccinelli played a role in his decision to accept the Waves' scholarship offer. "I've known him for the past four or five years, and that made a big difference." After surveying area talent earlier this year while playing at the Adidas Invitational tournament in Indian Wells, Lothringer was sold. "I truly thought that my game could go further out in California," he said. That conclusion was reached to the coaching staff was disturbed by what happened last year," he said.

"Everybody came back with renewed energy and desire." The drop -off proved to be a speed bump, not a brick wall. The team has posted a 21-3 record this season and is ranked fourth in the nation. "We've got a lot of tough players that are winning very close matches," Fox said. "Our work has just been harder this year," If tension exists, it isn't readily apparent. Fox and Co-Coach Richard Gallien wander calmly from court to court during matches, occasionally offering a player advice during a set break.

Their placid demeanor coincides Co-Coach Allen Fox and Mancisidor huddle at a match between sets. Sill --ir fljl Illlll PSiiisilllillfilillfc llllSilillIillSiiM by several team members, as well. In fact.the program has gained international appeal: Marc Le Clair is from Montreal, Howard Joffe is from South Africa, Christophe Van de Weghe is from Belgium, Tomer Zimmerman is from Israel, and Alejo Mancisidor, the Waves' No. 2 singles player, won the 16-and-under Spanish national championship. The Pepperdine coaching staff has specialized in helping its players grow to meet their potential.

Often that entails plucking a less-sought-after recruit and molding him during his college years. "The easiest way to do recruiting is to go down the list one, two, three, four, and knock off as many good ones as you can," Gallien said. "Our particular success has been getting the type of player that you can develop." That is not to say the Waves would turn up their collective nose at a gem. Recruiting is extremely difficult, however, because Pepperdine must compete for players with perennial California tennis powerhouses such as USC and UCLA. Stanford is a particularly troublesome recruiting foe.

"If it's a choice between Stanford and anyone, more often than not they would choose Stanford," Gallien said. "The fact is, they do the best job. Their academics are fabulous. Their coach does a great job, from A to Fox, a former NCAA singles champion, is regarded as somewhat of a deity among the tennis elite. To Gallien's chagrin, however, Fox has never been named NCAA Coach of the Year.

Please see PEPPERDINE, J19 with their peaceful, sun-drenched surroundings. Unlike many coaches, the two refrain from wringing hands and barking instructions. "Our nature is not to be yellers and screamers," Gallien said. "I think the players appreciate that. We don't do it with a whip." That is not to say the two won't lower the boom if a situation warrants it.

Lou Addesso, a sophomore from New York City, was asked to leave the team recently because, Fox said, he wasn't making an effort to improve. Offsetting the co-coaches' easygoing attitude is that of assistant Pat Puccinelli, an ex-pro on the European and American circuits nicknamed "The Enforcer" by Gallien. Fox insists Puccinelli is occasionally stern but mild compared to those who take a jugular-bulging approach to coaching. "Pat would be more normal, so to speak," Fox said. "Not what you'd call a disciplinarian.

Rich and I slant to one side, Pat's more down the middle." Although he was hired on a temporary basis in the winter, Puccinelli will probably be promoted to full-time status soon, Gallien said. "He's been a gigantic help," said Gallien, a former All-American at Pepperdine promoted from assistant to co-coach in 1988. "His overall enthusiasm has given everyone a shot in the arm." Because of his experience coaching top-ranked juniors, Puccinelli has also been an invaluable boon to recruiting efforts. The dividends are already paying off: Ari Nathan, a KAREN RACINA Los Angeles Times Pepperdine's Alejo Mancisidor, seeded No. 2, has won a 16-and-under Spanish national Bruin Puts Team at Top of His Priorities Times Honors Westside Players and Coaches rasa V- Volleyball: Back problems sidelined Mike Sealy for a year, and his starting position went to a teammate.

But he says the championship is all that really matters. By RAY RIPTON TIMES STAFF WRITER Freshman Mike Sealy, the former Santa Monica High School volleyball setter, is fighting to regain his starting position on the defending national champion UCLA team. But he says that helping the Bruins win another NCAA title is more important than starting. Sealy has been in a battle with another freshman, Albert Hanneman, to regain his place in the lineup. Sealy, who was named the Ocean League's most valuable player one year, was twice selected to AU-CIF Southern Section teams.

That kind of prominence naturally drew the attention of UCLA Coach Al Scates, long revered as the nation's best college volleyball coach. Scates recruited him, and he has been starting as a freshman for most of this season. Recently, however, he gave way to Hanneman of North Torrance High. Back problems caused by weak muscles forced Sealy to forgo playing volleyball his senior year in high school, and he thinks that the long layoff may' have had something to do with being relegated to a reserve's role. "People have told me that late in the year your legs start feeling really rubbery," he said, adding that they were right.

"I'm sure it has something to do with being out of shape from not playing last year." The 6-foot, 6V4-inch, 180-pound Sealy is still seeing plenty of action. He said that Hanneman has been starting the first two games of a match and that he has been replacing Hanneman beginning with the third game. In college volleyball, the team that first wins three games is declared the winner of a match. Sealy is not distressed that he has lost his starting job. In fact, he said, the competition between him and Hanneman may be better for the team.

"It pushes us both and makes us both better players. The only thing that really matters is if we win or not." It has seldom been "or not" for Scates and his Bruins, who have won 13 NCAA championships since 1970. This year top-ranked UCLA 18-2 overall as the week began) is considered a good bet to repeat as national champion. One of the reasons the Bruins win so often is that Scates recruits the nation's best players, who intensely compete against each other for starting positions. Even UCLA All-American middle blocker Trevor Schirman, a senior who has won many honors, does not consider himself exempt from such competition.

Earlier, he said he has to fight to keep his job on the team. "You can play miraculous matches," Schirman said, "but at the end of the season you could be out of there because some guy is playing better than you and has worked harder." Scates said that practices lately have been "so competitive you can't tell who the starters are going to be for the next match." He added that he used 1 1 different starting combinations during five recent matches. Ho said Sealy and the 6-3 Hanneman have been neck-and-neck in practice lately, and "both keep getting better. From a motivational standpoint, that's tremendous, because it's also happening at other The Warriors, who were 10-0 in the Coastal Conference's Metro League, went to the Los Angeles City 3-A finals, where they lost to defending champion Marshall. University finished with a 17-4 overall record.

Peisner, who had four sophomores on this year's varsity, said she doesn't stress winning but does "emphasize playing to one's potential. We have a very strong team concept, which is one reason that we did so well." After five lean years as Hamilton's head coach, Uyeshima guided the Yankees' return to prominence. Hamilton won the Metro League championship with an 8-2 record and finished 19-7 overall, losing by one point in the City 3-A quarterfinals to North Hollywood, which went on to win the 3-A championship. Uyeshima, who also coaches varsity baseball and the and basketball teams, said that Hamilton has lost a lot of talent in the past few years because of the closing of Louis Pasteur Junior High School, which used to send many good athletes to Hamilton. But the talent was there this year, he added, and he had plenty of help from his volunteer assistant coaches: Marvin Menzines, Gradison Johnson and Walter Carpenter.

Besides Banks, members of the All-Westside girls team are sisters Alana Collins of University and Stephanie Collins of Brentwood, Anael-Stephanie Edwards of Westlake School for Girls, Shaney Fink of University, Katrina Ra-malho and Kimberly Robinson of St. Bernard, LaNae Solomon of Marlborough, Faye Stapleton of Crossroads and Erika Threadgill of Westchester. In addition to Micelli, members of the boys team are Jahi Bacon and Cleveland Jackson of St. Monica, Ryan Hickman and John Wool-ery of Fairfax, Greg Hooks of Culver City, DeWayne Lewis of Hamilton, Jonah Naulls of Beverly Hills, Greg Vernon of University and Damian Wilson of By RAY RIPTON TIMES STAFF WRITER Peter Micelli of Beverly Hills High School, Jamila Banks of Crossroads High, Coach David Uyeshima of Hamilton High and Coach Patricia Peisner of University High received top honors for the Westside at The Times' annual basketball awards program. The ceremony at a breakfast Sunday at the Anaheim Hilton saluted 240 prep all-star boys and girls from 12 Southern California areas.

Banks, a senior forward -guard, and Micelli, a senior center, were named players of the year. Peisner, 32, was named girls coach of the year, and Uyeshima, 43, the top boys coach. A double-figure scorer and a fine rebounder for three years for Coach Larry Weiner, Banks was named the most valuable player in the Delphic League for the last two years. She was named to All-Westside teams for three straight years. This season she averaged 22.2 points and 9.1 rebounds, was chosen the most valuable player at the West-lake School for Girls tournament and made the Cabrillo all-tournament team.

Micelli may have been an ordinary player last year, but he became extraordinary this year through hard work and determination. After his junior year, he began an early-morning weightlifting program, adding pounds and muscle that helped him against bigger centers, and he also jumped rope and ran to improve his hand-eye coordination and stamina. This year he averaged 23.5 points, 14.8 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots. He was also named the most valuable player in the Bay League and was selected on the All-CIF Southern Section Division II first team. In her seventh year as University's coach, Peisner, who also coaches junior varsity basketball, took her 1989-90 squad further than any of her previous teams.

1, it UCLA setter Mike Sealy is fighting to regain his starting position, positions." Each brings different attributes to the setter position, Scates said. "Hanneman was a swing hitter in high school, so he is a good offensive threat. He is also quick to the ball and a good, aggressive leader. "Sealy, at 6-6, is a better blocker, is technically very sound and makes the right choices on offense." Sealy may have "great technical skills," he said, "but he came into the program without being able to exercise or jump for six months. He couldn't spike or block because he was physically so far behind the Please see BRUIN, J19.