Thursday, November 13, 1997
VOLLEYBALL:
Towering setter plays pivotal role on court, in community By
Jennifer Kollenborn
Daily Bruin Staff
As the starting setter for the UCLA women’s volleyball team, Kim
Coleman is used to getting more than her share of assists. But even
though she currently is leading the nation in assists with 1,239
and averaging 15.30 per game, the biggest assist of her career
didn’t happen on the court; rather, it happened several months
before the season.
That was when she became a teacher for disabled children in a
Los Angeles hospital. In June, at the end of five months of long
conditioning workouts, Coleman accepted the job. Her message: Get
out there and work hard  and that means both physically and
mentally.
"I wanted to go to Club Med last summer, but I decided that I
should stay here and work out in the gym and at the hospital,"
Coleman said, who is only seven assists shy of the prestigious
3,000 mark surpassed by only three Bruins so far.
"I became stronger both physically and spiritually. That is what
my day consisted of  I’d wake up and work out with (the UCLA
trainer) which made me physically stronger, then I’d go to the
hospital and work with kids who only had one leg and one arm, and I
would just thank God every day for what I had, and that has made me
stronger."
It showed. Coleman, a candidate for post-season honors, played
in every game of every match this season, leading to her current
No. 1 national ranking in assists. Coleman’s milestone total 1997
season assists is on pace to break the Pac-10 Conference single
season, including her career high of 81 in the Bruin’s 3-0 sweep
over UC Berkeley on Oct. 3 in Pauley. The UCLA victory gave the
Bruins a home win, boosting spirits after losing to the Washington
schools the previous weekend and vaulted UCLA onto the AVCA top 25
poll.
UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski knows Coleman is the focal
point of the team because she touches the ball more than any other
player.
"She really wants her hitters to be successful, and that’s one
of the things that she works hard at all of the time  trying
to put her hitters in the best position possible  that’s what
I think she is getting better at as the season progresses, is
making the right decisions out there."
Right decisions Coleman has certainly made, becoming only the
fourth UCLA player in history to surpass the 80-mark in assists,
but Coleman’s talent doesn’t stop there.
A solid blocker and steady defender, she is ranked among the
conference blocking leaders, averaging 1.17 bpg and stands second
on the team with 18 solo. She has racked up 95 total blocks to lead
the team and is second in the Pac-10 with a 3.11 average. In
addition to all of this, Coleman leads UCLA with an outstanding
attack percentage of .307, ranking her tenth in the Pac-10.
Banachowski realizes that Coleman is one of the strongest
setters that the Bruins have ever seen, as well as his best
blocking setter.
"Kim (Coleman) brings a lot of energy to the court, and that is
something that we need; when she is bringing her energy to the
court, we are much better," Banachowski replied. "Being as tall as
she is allows us to pass the ball tighter to the net; it’s not in
the air because she can jump set that ball and it’s allowed her to
be the great blocker that she is."
Standing 6-foot-1-inch, Coleman has an advantage most setters
don’t  a panoramic view of the court.
Her height is so rare that people are shocked when she tells
them she plays the setter position.
"The outside players on opposing teams don’t expect me to be so
tall, so when they come up against me and find out that I can block
them, it is huge for our team."
It is only appropriate that Banachowski gave Coleman the
starting role of setter last year. Kim has proved her athleticism,
as she beat out also-talented teammate Kelly Flannigan.
Coleman hopes her senior year will end in glory for the No. 24
Bruins en route to the NCAA tournament. However, Coleman has other
plans for her future besides volleyball.
"I’d like to try to play beach volleyball, but as long as I can
keep riding my horse and helping handicapped and disabled children,
volleyball will never be number one in my life," Coleman said. "I’m
working with special Olympics right now, so I want to get more
involved with that."
Coleman plans to stay close to her family, who lives in Newport
Beach, and continue to ride her horse, Millbrook, and explore the
outdoors.
GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin
Senior setter Kim Coleman helps disabled children in a Los
Angeles hospital when she is off-court.