Water Polo Dives In
The No. 1 Stanford men’s water polo team (12-2, 1-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) splashed into Avery Aquatic Center this season with two U.S. National Team members—senior Peter Hudnut and redshirt sophomore Tony Azevedo—as well as freshman Thomas Hopkins, who spent the summer with the U.S. Junior National Team. At press time, Azevedo led the team and conference in scoring with 3.43 goals per game, and three-time All-American goalkeeper Nick Ellis, ’02, was averaging an MPSF-best six saves per game.
Losing a Coach, Winning a Top Ranking
In late September, the Cardinal women’s soccer team achieved a No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history. Led by Marcia Wallis, ’03, Marcie Ward, ’04, Kelsey Carlson, ’03, and goalie Nicole Barnhart, ’04, the team recorded six shutouts in its first eight games. The squad is co-coached this year by former assistants Stephanie Erickson and Paul Sapsford, who took over after head coach Andy Nelson resigned September 3. Nelson allegedly shoved three players during an August 27 practice. The Santa Clara County district attorney’s office declined to charge him with a crime.
Men’s Soccer Hopes to Stay Strong
In his second year as head coach of men’s soccer, Bret Simon hopes to repeat last year’s success: a school-record 19 wins, the Pac-10 title and a Final Four finish. This year’s second-ranked team (9-1 as of early October) is grounded by five returning seniors, including All-American candidate and leading scorer Roger Levesque, and also will draw on four talented freshmen as well as players from Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland. The Pac-10’s soccer coaches picked the Cardinal to repeat as conference champion.
On the Volleyball Court, Some Familiar Faces
After winning its fifth national championship last season, the No. 4-ranked women’s volleyball team (13-2, 4-1 Pac-10 at press time) is expected to retain the Pac-10 crown. Senior outside hitter and 2001 American Volleyball Coaches Association player of the year Logan Tom was averaging 4.57 kills per game as of early October, and Lindsey Yamasaki is back on the court after a three-year hiatus. A former Stanford basketball standout, Yamasaki, ’02, spent the summer with the WNBA’s Miami Sol, but returned to campus in the fall to finish her sociology degree and decided to don a Cardinal volleyball jersey one more time. What else to watch this season? The new “libero” ball-control position in the back row.
