Thursday, November 5, 1998
Selsor sizzles as sensational setter
FEATURE: Powerhouse Bruin offense completed by phenomenal
freshman "quarterback" of top volleyball squad
By Nick Taylor
Daily Bruin Contributor
The 1998 UCLA women’s volleyball team has been led this season
by two freshmen in the spotlight: outside hitters Kristee Porter
and Ashley Bowles.
While they continue to impress with their outstanding
statistics, none of their exploits would be possible without fellow
freshman Erika Selsor.
"Erika is critical to our offense," says head coach Andy
Banachowski. "For a freshman to come in and (make that big of an
impact) is huge."
Senior Chaska Potter agrees.
"Erika is very important  I mean, she’s our setter. She is
the next step in our offense."
So how did Selsor get to be so prominent in the Bruins’ plans
this year? She was recruited from Linden, Calif. and chose to
attend UCLA over Texas A&M and Oregon.
"UCLA was my first choice all along," Selsor says. "I’m really
happy it worked out like it did."
UCLA reciprocates Selsor’s sentiments. Selsor has provided a
spark in the Bruin offense. The team’s gameplan is to have the ball
in Selsor’s hands as much as possible.
As the setter, she is similar to a quarterback because she calls
the plays. Just like UCLA’s prized quarterback, Selsor must also
take into account the type of defense she observes. The difference
between her and Cade McNown (besides the obvious) is that her
options depend on the type of pass she gets.
"It is difficult to play the setter position," she explains. "I
just have to adjust to the offense."
When the defense retrieves the serve on a dig, it is Selsor’s
objective to put the team in position and prepare to set, or pass,
the ball to the hitters up front for the attack. Selsor must use
whatever pass she gets and turn it into the perfect set.
"It’s a known rule that the second ball belongs to the setter,"
Selsor later remarked.
Most setters will take the ball under any circumstance, and
Selsor is no different. Banachowski says, "She’s quick and wants to
set that ball."
When Selsor sets the offense, she has many options. She must
decide what kind of set to give, where to send it and who will hit
it. While the Bruins do not expect Selsor to get lots of kills,
they would like her to mix in her tap-kills more.
"I’d like Erika to do it more," Banachowski says, "because she
is deceptive when she does it."
In order for the tap-kill to be successful, it needs to catch
the defense by surprise. Explains Selsor, "I don’t use the tap-kill
too often, but it keeps the defense honest."
Selsor also tries to mix up the defense with her own attempts
because it helps the Bruins’ outside hitters.
"The longer the defense is with you," she says, "the shorter
time that they have to stay with our hitters."
Selsor says she has a lot of fun playing in the program, and is
excited with the opportunities that it creates.
"There are so many opportunities for me (at UCLA), it’s just
incredible."
The 1998 team is filled with freshmen, and they all feel they
have bonded on and off the court. Selsor is no exception.
"The freshman class gets along well as a whole. The
upperclassmen have made a considerable effort to include us."
There certainly is a feeling of camaraderie among the team, and
as they head down the home stretch, their confidence is buzzing. "I
really expect us to play well in this stretch," says Selsor.
As the NCAA tournament approaches, Selsor is focused on making
the tournament.
"I’m really focused on winning our (upcoming) matches and
getting in (the postseason). As long as I’m doing my job and
getting the hitters (attacks), I’ll be happy."
She adds that once UCLA makes the tournament, "records are
thrown out," because any team can beat their opponent. As in the
USC match, Selsor and the Bruins feel that they have shown they can
play with anybody in the country.
With Selsor running the offense, they certainly can.
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