PSU Magazine Winter 2006

P O RT S Mozzochi sets volleyball up to win In only four seasons afLer a winless 2000 campaign, the 2005 Viking vol– leyball team won 21 matches creating a school record for NCAA Division I and revitalizing fan support for the game. Jeff Mozzochi. is the coach behind the drastic change. He reLUrned to Lhe team in 2001 excited Lo reestablish a tradition of winning. "If we improve our work eLhic and intensity on the coun, then Lhe wins and losses will take care of Lhemselves," said Mozzochi before his return. From 1984 to 1992, Mozzochi coached the Vi.kings to the NCAA's highest heights. PSU won four NCAA Division 11 national championships and produced 19 All-Ame1icans. The spon's overall record under Mozzochi stood at 287-75, and the Vikings developed a rich volleyball tradi– tion through the groundwork Mozzochi laid. Following the 1992 season and the Vikings' fourth naLional championship, Moz– zochi accepted the head coaching job al Oregon Slate University: His depar– Lure left liule wake for the next three seasons as Lhe Vikings continued to produce wins. From 1993 to 1995 , PSU was 83-27. In 1996 Lhe cracks began to show for Lhe program as PSU entered iLs first season as a Di vision I sport and a member of the Big Sky Conference. The once mighLy green and while fell to the bottom of Lhe barrel. The 1996 Vikings finished ninth in Lhe Big Sky with a record of 12-18. The Vikings continued a downward spiral as the seasons piled up. They won 13 matches in 1997, seven in 1998 and two in 1999. When Portland Stale offered Moz– zochi his former coaching job in 2001, he had completed six successful sea– sons at Oregon State, coached in Lhe USA national training program, and been inducted into the Portland Slate Athletic Hall of Fame. But even with Lhis prestige, Mozzochi looked at the offer in a different light than some might have. "I have strong feelings about the Portland State program," Mozzochi said, "and I think I can help turn things around. " The effon Lo build back up was slow but steady: The 2001 team fin– ished 4-16, 2002 was 10-14, 2003 was 14-14, and 2004 was 14-17 overall. Mozzochi's rebuilding efforts came to fruition this pasL season and the Big Sky Conference took notice. He was honored as the 2005 Big Sky Confer– ence Coach of Lhe Year. 2005 volleyball highlights ♦ Improved record by seven matches from 2004, finishing 21-9 overall, 10-4 in Lhe Big Sky Conference. The Vikings earned their highest Division l seeding, second, at Lhe Big Sky Conference Tournament. ♦ Beal Sacramento Stale and EasLern WashingLon, Lwo of the Big Sky's elite teams , for the firsL time since joining the Big Sky Conference. ♦ Junior outside hitter Jessica Brodie, junior outside hitter Jessica Vanzant and senior setter Stephanie Lavigne earned a toLal of four Big Sky Player The 2005 volleyball team, which built a 21-9 record, their best since joining the NCAA Division I level, had much to cheer about. of the Week honors, the mosL for any Vikings team ever. ♦ Brodie and Vanzant were named Lo Big Sky Conference first team; Lavi– gne was named to Big Sky Confer– ence second team. D GET ALL OF THE LATEST sports news at www.GoViks.com . Game stories, statistics, schedules, team information, press releases, and much more are available and updated daily. You can also listen to live broadcasts of football and men's and women's basketball games, or archived broadcasts. Buy season and single game tickets online at www.GoViks.com or call 1-888-VIK-TIKS or 503-72S-3307. WINTER 2006 PSU MAGAZINE 23