PSU Magazine Fall 1988

Spikers eye national title After winning national championships in 1984 and 1985, the Portland State volleyball program faced a tough task: rebuilding. Two years later, it appears that task is nearly completed. In 1986 Coach Jeff Mozzochi fielded a team that, at times, started three freshmen and compiled a solid 20-16 record . Last season Portland State was better. Despite an injury to Cathy Kuntz, a starter on the '85 NCAA championship squad, and a late-season injury suffered by Shelly Rumberger, the Vikings finished 24- 15 and were ninth in the NCAA II . After four years as head coach, Mozzochi is 113-40, a .739 winning percentage. As the 1988 season dawns, the Vikings are again ready to challenge for the NCAA title. Four players standing six feet tall and led by All-Region star Jenny Norlin, will be joined by the 5'9" Kuntz and setter Patty Lopez. Outside hitter Rumberger also returns. Her ankle injury forced her to miss the end of last season and PSU's trip to the Regionals. Rumberger will be joined by 6'2" Kari Kickier and 6'1" Maria Rickman in middle blocker roles. Rumberger and Norlin are both 6'. Three talented freshmen have been added to the squad . Dawn Krenik is a · 5'7" setter from Agoura Hills, Calif. ; Miki Derrick is a first team all-stater from Pendleton ; and Shannon Thordarson is a 5'11" outside hitter from Seattle. Both Krenik and Thordarson were voted the Most Valuable Players of their leagues. 1988 Volleyball Home games Oct. 4 George Fox College, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 Western Oregon , 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 Lewis and Clark , 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 University of Portland , 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 Oregon State, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 Gonzaga, noon PSU 28 I SPORTS PSU Volleyball team is ready to win. At the Olympics Portland State can claim a mother's pride as the world's attention is turned to the 1988 Summer Olympics. Among the nations' best, are three athletes with PSU beginnings. Fencer Robert Marx ('79), is com– peting in individual and team epee as his brother, Michael , competes in foil. Trainer for the U.S. team is former PSU coach Yves Auriol, who also coached the brothers in the 1984 Olympic games. When not at the Olympics, Auriol is at Notre Dame where he is head fencing coach and where Michael Marx serves as assistant coach. Michael is pursuing his physical education degree at nearby University of Indiana, South Bend . Robert Marx , a chemist at Optical Data in Beaverton, has been coached this year by PSU's current fencing coach, Regis Mantzer. Wrestler Anthony Amato is also in Seoul , Korea , competing in the 125.5 pound, Greco Roman category. "He is right there as far as winning a medal ,'' says PSU Coach Marlin Grahn. Amato won the NCAA Division II Cham– pionship in 1984 and was runner up in 1985 under Grahn. This last year he took fourth in the World Championships, mis– sing by a "couple of close matches," says Grahn. On a two year hiatus from his studies at PSU, Amato has been serving as an assistant coach to Grahn while training and competing. He will be returning to school winter term . Cable carnes Vikings Portland State football is getting un– precedented television exposure this season . Every home game and at least one road game is being shown at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday on four local cable systems - TCI Cable, Rogers Cable TV, Columbia Cable and Willamette Cable TV. The media blitz has everything to do with the team's favored rating for the 1988 NCAA Division II title. Football Digest ranked PSU No. 1 in its pre– season poll . The team has made a strong showing in the opening season games and more is expected from " the best recruiting class in Portland State history,'' says Coach Pokey Allen , as well as the team's 16 returning starters. The Vikings posted an 11- 2-1 record last season, losing to Troy State in the Division II national championship game at Florence, Ala.