A fitting farewell, a trip to the NCAA tournament, accomplishing the first step toward success, a return to the top of the Pac-10 and capitalizing on the perfect combination of youth and experience.
These goals are only a small part of the ASU volleyball team's season, yet if each is achieved, the final year for head coach Patti Snyder-Park could be the best in recent history.
Preseason prognosticators pick the Sun Devils to finish sixth in the always-competitive Pac-10. But Snyder-Park is quick to point out that the ranking was conceived due to her team's 10-16 mark in 2001.
"That ranking is mostly based on last year's record more so than the potential of what's still to come," Snyder-Park said. "We have as good a shot as any to finish in the top of the Pac-10. We have just as much talent as anyone else in the conference."
After a season of learning, several of ASU's starters are entering their junior seasons with more experience than that of their opponents.
"We are a much more veteran team," Snyder-Park said. "We're not senior-laden, but because we've been so young in the past, we played sophomores, and now they have a lot more experience.
We're really excited that we're returning our starting core. We've only lost one (starter)."
Although many people aren't giving the Sun Devils much of a chance, Snyder-Park expects her team to find success.
"We expect to be more competitive," Snyder-Park said. "The newcomers we've added (freshman libero Nora Pirzynski, freshman outside hitter Sarah Watkins and junior outside hitter Julianna Escobar) should add depth and power to the team."
ASU's unity and strength will undoubtedly be tested early this season.
"Our preseason is very tough," Snyder-Park said. "We open up with two top 20 teams, then go up against Texas Tech, and then start against the best teams in the Pac-10."
ASU is scheduled to play national contenders South Carolina and Pacific on Sept. 6-7 in Columbia, S.C. The Pac-10 season will start Sept. 20-21 with two home matches against top-ranked USC and fourth-ranked UCLA.
"We really have our work cut out for us early on," Snyder-Park said. "USC and UCLA are the cream of the crop."
As team captain, senior middle blocker Julia Leddy knows ASU's best years may take place without her. But Leddy realizes her senior season is her time to shine.
"I want to make it to the NCAA tournament," she said. "We have so much talent this year, and I would really like to go far in the tournament because it's my senior year."
The team's future also is on Leddy's mind. Leddy likes this year's new players.
"I have no doubt that (the team) will be fine for years to come," Leddy said.
One former player is doing her part to ensure the future welfare of the program. Former outside hitter Terri Cox has returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach.
"(Coaching at ASU) is awesome," Cox said. "To coach at the collegiate level has always been a dream of mine, but to get to coach at my alma mater is just 10 times better."
Having played in college and having been a student-athlete, Cox has a unique insight into the lives of the players she coaches.
"Because I have been there before and know what they are going through, it becomes easier to sell (the coaching role)," Cox said.
During her collegiate career, Cox was the recipient of many accolades. She hopes to continue a high level of success on the sidelines.
"I'm a very competitive person," Cox said, "and now I have an opportunity to instill that into the players."
The Sun Devils begin their 2002 campaign looking to do more than improve in the Pac-10 standings. Although the players know their coach will be leaving after this season, they are trying to keep the thoughts away from their minds until the right moment.
"(Snyder-Park) doesn't want us to really talk about it right now," Cox said. "She wants us to focus on our season until the time is right."
Reach the reporter at cameron.eickmeyer@asu.edu.
