Sports
Gregory makes 'contenders' from 'pretenders'
By Craig Harris
Emerald Sports Reporter
When Gerry Gregory took
over the Oregon volleyball pro
gram last year he believed he
could field a contender in the
Pacific-10 Conference.
Right.
Gregory inherited a squad
that graduated All-America Sue
Harbour, had only one senior,
and a starting lineup that in
cluded a pair of true freshmen.
So what did Gregory do?
He guided a scrappy no-name
team to a 22-12 record, claimed
a 15 ranking in both national
polls, and hosted Stanford in
the first round of the NCAA
Volleyball Championships
For his accomplishments
Gregory won the honor of Nor
thwest Region Coach of the Year
and wus named assistant coach
for the World University Games
that took place in Yugoslavia
last July.
Hut last year’s gains didn't
seem to grant Oregon any
respect, because the 1987
coaches' poll predicted the
Ducks to wallow in mediocrity
and finish no higher than fifth
"People have underestimated
players at the university of
Oregon," Gregory said
■‘Coaches seem to forget how
important experience is.
(Oregon returned their whole
starting lineup) USC was picked
ahead of us and all their talent is
in their freshmen and
sophomores. Our talent is a lit
tle older.”
The Ducks started the year
losing three straight on the
road, but then reeled off nine in
a row to receive all and 12
ranking in the coaches' and
NCAA polls Two of the teams
they knocked off on thier streak
were UCLA and USC, both
ranked ahead of the Ducks in
the national |>olls.
Does Gregory have a magical
touch to turn pretenders into
contenders?
“I wouldn't call it magic, but
it's something close to that.”
assistant coach Peg Rees said
“He has excellent knowledge of
the game and gets maximum
performance from his players "
All-America candidate Teri
Kramer agreed
"He’s seen so much interna
tional play that he expects more
out of us. He expects us to com
pete with the top 10 teams in
the nation. He's excited to play
UCLA and teams of that caliber
His confident attitude rubs off
on us," Kramer said.
Although the Ducks dropped
a pair this weekend to Califor
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nia and Stanford, they're only a
game out of first place and still
have a shot to win the con
ference crown
"We would like to finish in
the top three in the conference,
ranked in the top 10 and make it
past the first round (of the
NCAA tournament). I believe
the team could accomplish
those goals." Gregory said
Gregory's beliefs also extend
off the court.
"My family comes first and
then my job after that," Gregory
said.
Although volleyball isn't
Gregory's number-one priority,
it surely is one of his first loves.
And his background speaks for
itself.
Gregory's seven-year tenure
as a major college coach in
cludes a 157-109-3 record with
a 584 winning percentage and
not a single losing season. Dur
ing his playing days. Gregory
was a ten-time NCAA and
USV'BA All-Ainerica selection,
played on the U.S. National
team from 1974-1979 and held
the post of captian from
1977-1979.
In 1984 Gregory received
what he calls his greatest per
sonal honor by being inducted
into the USVBA Mall of Fame
But Oregon would have never
had Gregory at the volleyball
helm if not for the persistence of
Chris Voelz, who gave up the
post to take an associate athletic
director's position.
Voelz called Gregory three
times to persuade him to leave
Wyoming, a decision Gregory
said wasn't easy.
"I had a good team coming
HI* photo
Oregon volleyball coach Gerry Gregory displays the intensity
which has enabled him to produce winners everywhere he has
coached. This year is Gregory 'a second at Oregon alter a suc
cessful stint at Wyoming.
r
Iwick at Wyoming and I had
recruited well Hut, after a lot of
prayer and thinking I decided it
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